Al-Hasan ibn Abi ‘l Hasan al-Basri was born at Medina in 21 (642), the son of a servant Maisan who afterwards became a client of the Prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam’s secretary Zaid ibn Thabet RA.

Brought up in Basra, he met many Companions of the Prophet Sallallahu Alyhi Wa Sallam including, it is said, seventy of those who fought at the Battle of Badr. He grew up to become one of the most prominent figures of his generation, being famous for his uncompromising piety and outspoken condemnation of worldliness in high places.

Whilst the Mo’tazelite theologians claim him as the founder of their movement (and ‘Amr ibn ‘Obaid and Wasel ibn ‘Ata’ are counted amongst his pupils), in Sufi hagiography he is revered as one of the greatest saints of early Islam. He died at Basra in 110 (728). Many of his speeches – he was a brilliant orator – and sayings are quoted by Arab authors and not a few of his letters have been preserved.