Al-Hasan ibn Musa

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"It is a great honor. I suspect you understand that."

―Al-Hasan to Basim Ibn Ishaq prior to the latter's induction ceremony, c. 862.

Al-Ḥasan ibn Mūsā ibn Shākir (fl. 9th century) was a Persian scholar who contributed greatly to the fields of astronomy, mathematics and technology. Alongside his brothers Abu Jafar and Ahmad, he was also a member of the Hidden Ones, assisting the brotherhood with their inventions.

Biography

Early life

Al-Hasan was born in the early 9th century to Mūsā ibn Shākir, a famous astronomer who served as governor of Khurasan. Thanks to their father's position, Al-Hasan and his brothers received an elite education and went on to serve the Abbasid court as mathematicians, inventors and scholars, becoming quite close to the caliph Al-Mutawakkil, according to Tabid Al-Nubi.

Around 830, the Banū Mūsā brothers participated in Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi's calculation of the circumference of the Earth. They also paid for manuscript-buying trips to the Byzantine Empire, and published 20 books on various subjects, the most important of which was the Book of Ingenious Devices (Arabic: Kitab al-Hiyal). Thanks to their friendship with the caliph, the brothers were also able to secure important and wealthy positions as architects and city planners responsible for canal construction.

However, Al-Hasan and his brothers eventually grew disgusted with the Caliphate for reasons they refused to disclose, and joined the Hidden Ones of Alamut to fight against the corruption and injustice that were running rampant in Baghdad.

Life as a Hidden One

Al-Hasan handing Basim a package for his induction ceremony

In 862, Al-Hasan became acquainted with Basim Ibn Ishaq, a new recruit to the brotherhood, who would occasionally mistake him for one of his brothers due to their identical appearances. It was Al-Hasan who crafted Basim's Hidden Blade and handed it to him prior to his induction ceremony. When Basim remarked that he was not feeling nervous about the ceremony as he had anticipated, Al-Hasan told him it was because he had worked hard to get to that point and left nothing to chance.

Sometime later, Al-Hasan left Alamut and travelled to Baghdad alongside his brothers, basing himself in one of the Hidden Ones' bureaus in the city. There, he served the brotherhood's members, including Basim, as an engineer, providing them with tools for their missions and upgrading their equipment using materials they had acquired.

Personality and traits

Unlike his brothers, Al-Hasan was also fascinated by spirituality in addition to his scientific pursuits. This led him to greatly value the Hidden Ones' traditions and ideals, and he believed that being inducted into the brotherhood was a great honor. Like most siblings, Al-Hasan and his brothers were prone to arguments, but when they put their minds together, they were able to create marvels.

Behind the scenes

Al-Hasan ibn Musa is a historical character introduced in the 2023 video game Assassin's Creed: Mirage. He plays a similar role to his brothers, serving as an NPC who can upgrade Basim's equipment. However, whereas Abu Jafar and Ahmad have fixed locations in the game, Al-Hasan can be found at both the Karkh and Sharqiyah bureaus.

Gallery

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  Concept art of Al-Hasan and his brothers

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Mirage (first appearance)
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)