The son of a freedwoman of Umm Salma's (the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's wife) and a freedman of Zayd ibn Thabit's (Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam's stepson). Umm Salma Radi Allahu ta'ala anha nursed him. His mother took him as a child to Hadrat 'Umar Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu who supplicated for him with the words: "O Allah! Make him wise in the Religion and beloved to people." As a man he became known for his strict and encompassing embodiment of the Sunnah of the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam, famous for his immense knowledge, austerity and asceticism, fearless remonstrances of the authorities, and power of attraction both in discourse and appearance. One of the early formal Sufis in both the general and the literal sense, he wore all his life a cloak of wool (suf).
Imam Hasan al-Basri Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was a major religious figure of the Umayyd period. Produced writings & sermons that were extremely influential in all areas of Islamic piety [taqwa'], from theology ['aqa'id] to Qur'anic Exegesis [tafsir]. Often critical of or opposed to Umayyad rulers, but did not approve of rebellion against tyrannical rule. His sermons contain some of the earliest & best examples of 'Arabic prose style.
Imam Hasan al Basri Radi Allahu ta'ala anhu was considered by the Salaf to be one of the "Substitute-Saints" (al-Abdal). Hadrat Anas (narrated that the Beloved Prophet Salla Allahu ta'ala 'alayhi wa Sallam said: "The earth will never lack forty men similar to the Friend of the Merciful [Hadrat Ibrahim (alaihi asalam)], and through them people receive rain and are given help. None of them dies except Allah substitutes another in his place." Hadrat Qatada Radi Allahu anhu said: "We do not doubt that al-Hasan is one of them." [Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat]
Further recommended reading : http://www.sunnah.org/history/Scholars/hasan_al_basri.htm
