HASAN, Wan, and HUSAIN, ful'skn, also written HAssAx and Hosmr, brothers, the eldest of the three sons of Fatimah, daughter of Mohammed, and Ali (q.v.), cousin and adopted son — as well as son-in-law — of the Prophet. Hasan and Husain were born in A.D. 625 and 626 respectively. After the death of his father (Ali) in 661, Hassan was proclaimed caliph by the Arabians. But he was a faint hearted, poor-spirited creature, entirely differ ent from his valiant father and masterful grandfather. Ali's powerful rival, Moawiya, now determined to assert his title to the whole Moslem empire. Already recognized as caliph in Syria and Egypt, he gathered an army and marched against Kuf a to oust Hasan. The latter, however, nicknamed °The was more intent on varying the composition of his ever-changing harem than on the business of public life and military enterprise. After a brief and inglorious reign of six months Hasan resigned the caliphate to Moawiya, and retired with his household and his brother to Medina. Here Hasan died by poison (A.D. 670) adminis tered by one of his wives, who had been bribed with promises to commit this act by Yezid, son of Moawiya. Yezid succeeded his father (680) as the second caliph of the Ommiad dynasty (q.v.). Meanwhile, Husain had married a Persian princess and had attracted a large fol lowing among the Shiites (q.v.), in opposition to the Sunni sect. He refused to acknowledge Yezid as the lawful caliph, and, yielding to the desires of his adherents, he started on his journey from Medina to Kufa, the seat of Moslem government. He was accompanied by
his family and relatives, including women and children, to the number of 80. Promises of support came from Kufa and other districts if he would appear in the city and claim his rights. Arrived on the plain of Kerbala on the confines of Irak, where Kufa is situated, the party of Husain, now strengthened by a num ber of Bedouins, was surrounded by an army of 80,000 horse. Seeing their cause hopeless, the Bedouins withdrew, and in the general slaughter that ensued Husain was killed, to gether with his two sons, six brothers (sons of Ali), two sons of Hasan and six descendants of Abu Talib (father of Ali). The women and children, and a load of 70 trunkless heads, were carried into the city. A thrill of horror and grief ran through the Moslem empire. Yezid disclaimed responsibility and received the sister of Husain and her two little sons with every mark of honor. The tragic scene was repeated in every household and served to strengthen the lineage of Ali. To the present day, at each recurring anniversary of the trag edy, which happened 10 Oct. 680 (Anno Hegira 61), the Moslems of every land observe the death of Husain by vociferous lamentations, beating their breasts and crying, Hasar•! Ya HoseinP A passion play, based on the sub ject, is now a recognized religious ceremonial among millions of Mohammedans. In India the celebration is known as the °Hobson-Job son."' an Anglo-Saxon mutilation of “Hasan Husain,n probably invented by soldiers. (See