One day, Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba (peace be upon him) was passing through a place when he encountered a man from the people of Sham (Syria). The man insulted and cursed the Imam greatly, and continuously reviled him.
Imam Hassan (peace be upon him) remained silent until the man finished his cursing. Then, the Imam turned towards the man, greeted him with peace, and smiled at him.
He then said, “O man, I think you are a stranger in this city and perhaps something has been misunderstood by you… If you have a request from us, speak, and we will fulfill it. If you seek guidance, we will guide you. If you are hungry, we will feed you. If you are naked, we will clothe you. If you are in need, we will make you independent. If you have been driven away from somewhere, we will give you refuge. And if you ask for anything, tell us, and we will provide it for you. If you bring the burden of your travel to our home, you will be our guest while you stay in this city, and it will be better for you…”
Upon hearing these words from the Imam, the man began to cry and said, “I testify that you are the vicegerent of God on Earth, and God knows best where to place His message and His vicegerency… Before I met you, you and your father were the most despised people to me, but now you are the most beloved.”
The man then went to the house of Imam Hassan (peace be upon him) and remained his guest for the duration of his stay in Medina. He became a follower and believer in the family of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt.
(Source: “Muntahi al-Amal,” Volume 1, p. 417)