In an interview with Hawzah News Agency, Hojjatollah Sarwari said Imam Hadi (peace be upon him), who led the Shiite community for 33 years, carried forward the mission of the Imamate through a series of carefully planned intellectual, organizational, and spiritual initiatives.
“Imam Hadi (PBUH) should be regarded as the standard-bearer of the pure thought and culture of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family),” Hojatoleslam Sarwari said, noting that the Imam succeeded in strengthening the foundations of Shiism despite constant surveillance by the Abbasid rulers.
Preparing the Shiite Community for the Era of Occultation
Sarwari identified the preparation of Shiite society for the forthcoming era of occultation as one of Imam Hadi’s most significant achievements. He explained that the Imam gradually reduced direct contact with followers, particularly during his residence in Samarra, where communication increasingly took place through letters and trusted representatives.
According to Sarwari, Imam Hadi (peace be upon him) openly spoke about the nearness of the occultation, foretold the birth of Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), and warned that the secrecy surrounding the Imam’s birth could lead to doubts among the faithful.
“These measures were not incidental,” Sarwari said. “They were part of a systematic effort to intellectually and practically prepare the Shiites for a time when access to the Imam would be indirect.”
He added that Imam Hadi (PBUH) also endorsed key Shiite jurisprudential works, referred complex questions to qualified jurists, and clarified the role of religious deputies—steps that laid the groundwork for Shiite legal and theological continuity during the occultation.
Confronting Deviant Currents and Extremism
Sarwari noted that Imam Hadi (peace be upon him) actively confronted ideological deviations within society, particularly the threats posed by extremist exaggerators and open opponents of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
“These two groups represented opposite but equally dangerous distortions of Islam,” he said. “One exaggerated the status of the Imams to the point of undermining the doctrine of Imamate itself, while the other openly insulted and denied the Ahl al-Bayt.”
He said Imam Hadi firmly rejected both trends, exposing their falsehoods and preserving the balanced and authentic understanding of Shiite belief.
Training Scholars and Building Leadership Capacity
Another key dimension of Imam Hadi’s mission, Sarwari explained, was the training of capable individuals to guide and educate the Shiite community across different regions.
Given the geographical dispersion of Shiites and the prevalence of doubts and intellectual challenges, Imam Hadi identified and trained qualified figures to serve as narrators, representatives, and educators.
Among the most prominent were Abdul-Azim al-Hasani, whose shrine is in Rey; Hasan ibn Rashid, a trusted representative of the Imam; and Uthman ibn Saeed al-Umari, who entered the Imam’s service at a young age and later became one of the four special deputies of Imam Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance).
“These individuals were instrumental in preserving Shiite teachings and ensuring organizational continuity,” Sarwari said.
Strengthening the Network of Representatives
Sarwari also emphasized Imam Hadi’s role in reinforcing the clandestine network of representatives (wokala), which had been established during the time of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) and required further consolidation due to intensified Abbasid repression.
Despite strict surveillance, the Imam maintained strong communication with Shiite communities in Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Egypt. Beyond collecting religious dues such as khums, the representatives played a crucial role in addressing jurisprudential and theological questions and affirming the legitimacy of successive Imams.
Sarwari noted that Abbasid caliph Moutawakel viewed this network as a serious threat and attempted to dismantle it through arrests, torture, and executions, but ultimately failed to eliminate its influence.
Ziyara Texts as a Shiite Encyclopedia
Sarwari highlighted two enduring legacies of Imam Hadi (peace be upon him): Ziyarat al-Jami‘ah al-Kabirah and Ziyarat al-Ghadiriyyah, describing them as foundational texts for understanding Shiite theology and the doctrine of Imamate.
He cited contemporary exegetical works, including Ayatollah Javadi Amoli’s multi-volume commentary, as evidence of the depth and enduring relevance of these texts.
Ziyarat al-Jami‘ah al-Kabirah, narrated by leading Shiite scholars such as Sheikh Tusi and Sheikh Saduq, outlines hundreds of attributes of the Imams. Allama Majlisi described it as possessing the strongest chain of transmission and the most profound theological content.
Ziyarat al-Ghadiriyyah, recited by Imam Hadi during a visit to Imam Ali’s shrine in Najaf, recounts the virtues of the Commander of the Faithful and addresses the political and social injustices of the time. Sarwari said the text was a deliberate effort to awaken society from historical amnesia regarding the Imamate.
Life under Abbasid Rule
Imam Hadi’s lifetime coincided with the rule of several Abbasid caliphs, including Mu‘tasim, Wathiq, Moutawakel, Muntasir, Mustain, and Mu‘tazz. Sarwari noted that the Imam endured the harshest repression during the reign of Moutawakel, yet continued to guide the Shiite community with patience and strategic wisdom until his martyrdom.
“Imam Hadi (peace be upon him) preserved the essence of the Imamate at a time when it was under existential threat,” Sarwari concluded. “His legacy remains a cornerstone of Shiite identity, belief, and intellectual resilience.”
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