Imām al-ʿAskarī (as)
Imām Ḥasan b. ʿAlī (as) is the eleventh divinely appointed successor of the Prophet (s). His most well-known title is az-Zakī (The Pure One), but he is also known as al-ʿAskarī. This is because he lived in the city of Sāmarrāʾ, which was a military town, and the Arabic word ʿAskar means military camp.
With His Father
Imām al-ʿAskarī (as) spent part of his life with his father, Imām ʿAlī al-Hādī (as), and would even travel with him. When they moved to Sāmarrāʾ, despite the tight restrictions, people began to recognise the knowledge, manners, and spiritual strength of Imām al-ʿAskarī (as).
His Patience
Imām al-ʿAskarī (as) was known for his incredible patience. He would always control his anger and respond to those who wronged him with kindness and forgiveness.
The Story of al-Kindī
In his time, there was a philosopher called al-Kindī who was very respected and considered the greatest thinker of the era. Al-Kindī started writing a book trying to find ‘mistakes’ in the Qurān.
One of his students visited Sāmarrāʾ and met Imām al-ʿAskarī (as), who asked the student:
“Is there no one among you who can show your teacher his mistake?”
The student replied, “I’m not able to debate him.”
So the Imām gave the student a few questions to ask al-Kindī. He also told him to say,
“Is it not possible that your understanding of the verse is not what the author (Allah) intended?”
When the student asked these questions, al-Kindī was shocked and amazed.
“Where did you get these from?” he asked.
At first, the student said they were his own, but al-Kindī didn’t believe him. When the student finally admitted they came from Imām al-ʿAskarī (as), al-Kindī replied:
“Only someone from that noble household could come up with such questions.”
And with that, al-Kindī burnt his book, realising he had no true argument against the Qurān.
The Birth of the Awaited Imām
The ʿAbbāsid rulers were extremely harsh towards Imām al-ʿAskarī (as), especially because they had heard that his son would be the promised Mahdī (atfs). Because of this, Imām al-ʿAskarī (as) had to protect his son while still informing his close and trusted followers of his birth.
Imām al-Mahdī (as) was born on the 15th of Shaʿbān, but the news of his birth was kept secret. Only a few reliable followers knew. Imām al-ʿAskarī (as) also prepared the Shīʿa for the coming Ghaybah (occultation) by writing letters and teaching them to hold on to patience and faith.
In one letter to ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn al-Qummī (the father of Shaykh al-Ṣadūq), he wrote:
“Be patient. Our Shīʿa will continue to suffer until the appearance of my son, whose coming was promised by the Messenger of Allah (s). He will fill the earth with justice after it has been filled with oppression.”
Like Prophet Mūsā (as), Allah hid the birth of Imām al-Mahdī (as) from the enemies to protect him.
His Martyrdom and the Minor Ghaybah
Eventually, the ruler at the time increased his spying on the house of the Imām. Fearing that the Imām (as) would overthrow him, he decided to poison him.
Imām al-ʿAskarī (as) was buried beside his father Imām ʿAlī al-Hādī (as) in Sāmarrāʾ.
At the funeral, a man named Jaʿfar al-Kadhdhāb (the liar) tried to step forward and lead the prayer. But then, Imām al-Mahdī (as) appeared and pulled him back, saying:
“I am more deserving of leading the prayer over my father than you.”
Everyone present saw that he was the 12th Imām, but after leading the prayer, he disappeared. From that moment, he was no longer seen by the general public except by trustworthy representatives.
This marked the beginning of the Minor Occultation (al-Ghaybah al-Ṣughrā).
The ʿAbbāsids were terrified. They locked and sealed the Imām’s house and searched for his son, but they could not find him.
May Allah hasten the reappearance of our awaited Imām.