Hasanayn Karimayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would show great love towards both of these princes.

Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was once asked as to whom was the most beloved to him from the Ahl al-Bayt رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُم. He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Hasan and Husayn رَضِىَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا.” He would also say to Sayyidatuna Fatimah al-Zahra رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا, “Bring my children to me,” and he would then smell and embrace them.^[1]

The renowned Quranic commentator, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, writes the following in commentary of this Hadith:

Love is of many kinds: Love for children is of a different kind, love for a wife is of a different kind, and love for friends is of a different kind. From children, the honourable Hasanayn رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُما are extremely dear. From the wives, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ الـلّٰـهُ عَنْهَا is the beloved of the beloved of Allah. And from friends, (Ameer al-Mu’mineen) Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ is distinguished.

He further states:

Why would the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم not smell them for they were both his flowers, and these are smelt for their fragrance. Embracing them was out of sheer love and affection. From this, we learn that smelling young children, loving them and embracing them is a Sunnah of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.’^[2]

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد