Abu al-Hasan

Abu al-Hasan (Arabic: أبوالحسن) is an Arabic kunya meaning “Father of Hasan.” A kunya is a traditional honorific name, usually formed with Abū (“father of”) followed by the name of a son, though it may also be used as a mark of respect regardless of actual parentage. The kunya Abu al-Hasan has been used by several members of the Prophet Muhammad’s family (Ahl al-Bayt). It is most notably associated with Ali, the fourth Rashidun caliph and the first Shia Imam, as well as the seventh, eighth, and ninth Shia Imams: Musa al-Kazim, Ali al-Rida, and Muhammad al-Jawad. These figures are sometimes distinguished as Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal (the First), Abu al-Hasan al-Thani (the Second), and Abu al-Hasan al-Thalith (the Third) when referring respectively.