Hawzah News Agency, on the occasion of the martyrdom of Imam Hassan Askari (AS), a brief biography of the eleventh Imam and father of Hazrat Wali al-Asr (may God hasten his reappearance) is presented to you, dear readers.
Question:
What ups and downs marked the life of Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS)?
Brief answer:
The eleventh leader of the Shia was born in the year 232 AH. His father was Imam Hadi (AS) and his mother was a pious and virtuous lady named “Susan.” By order of the Abbasid caliph, he was forced to reside in Samarra, in the “Askar” district; for this reason, he is called “Askari.” He was 22 years old when his noble father was martyred, and the period of his Imamate lasted six years. In the year 260 AH, at the age of 28, he was martyred and was buried in his own house in Samarra, beside the grave of his father. During the short period of his Imamate, he was contemporaneous with al-Mu'tazz Billah, al-Muhtadi Billah, and al-Mu'tamid Billah.
Detailed answer:
Imam al-Askari, the eleventh leader of the Shia, was born in the year 232 AH. (1) His father was the tenth Imam, Hazrat Hadi (AS), and his mother was a pious and virtuous lady, “Hudaytha,” (2) whom some have referred to by the name “Susan.” (3) This noble lady was among the righteous women and possessed Islamic insight. In speaking of her virtue, it is enough to say that after the martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS), she was a refuge and a point of support for the Shia during that extremely critical and turbulent period. (4)
Since the eleventh Imam was forced, by order of the Abbasid caliph, to reside in Samarra, in the “Askar” district, he is therefore called “Askari.” (5)
Among the other most famous titles of the Imam are “Naqi” and “Zaki,” (6) and his kunya is “Abu Muhammad.” He was 22 years old when his noble father was martyred. The period of his Imamate was six years, and his noble life spanned 28 years. In the year 260 AH he was martyred and was buried in his own house in Samarra, beside the grave of his father. (7)
During the short period of his Imamate, Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS) was contemporaneous with three Abbasid caliphs, each more oppressive than the last. These three were:
- al-Mu'tazz Billah (252–255 AH)
- al-Muhtadi Billah (255–256 AH)
- al-Mu'tamid Billah (256–279 AH)
The Abbasid caliphs, who had first risen in the name of supporting the Alids and avenging them against the Umayyads, disregarded what they had previously promised the people and, like the Umayyad caliphs — and indeed worse than them — began their tyranny and despotism. (8)
Footnotes:
(1). Kulayni, Usul al-Kafi, Tehran, Maktabat al-Saduq, 1381 AH, vol. 1, p. 503; Sheikh Mufid, al-Irshad, Qom, Maktabat Basirati, p. 335; Ibn Shahr Ashub, Manaqib Al Abi Talib, Qom, Kitabfurushi-ye Mustafavi, vol. 4, p. 422; Tabarsi, A'lam al-Wara, 3rd edition, Tehran, Dar al-Kutub al-Islamiyya, p. 367. Mas'udi and Ali ibn Isa al-Irbili have recorded the Imam's birth as being in the year 231 AH.
(2). Sheikh Mufid, same book, p. 335; Tabarsi, same book, p. 366.
(3). Kulayni, same book, p. 503; Ali ibn Isa al-Irbili, Kashf al-Ghumma, Tabriz, Maktabat Bani Hashimi, 1381 AH, p. 192.
(4). "She was among the virtuous and righteous women, and in speaking of her virtue it is enough that she was the refuge of the Shia after the passing of Abu Muhammad" (Haj Sheikh Abbas Qummi, al-Anwar al-Bahiyya, Mashhad, Kitabfurushi-ye Ja'fari, p. 151).
(5). Saduq, Ilal al-Shara'i, Qom, Maktabat al-Tabatabai, vol. 1, chapter 176, p. 230 — also Saduq, Ma'ani al-Akhbar, Tehran, Maktabat al-Saduq, Dar al-Ilm Institute, 1379 AH, p. 65.
(6). Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Dala'il al-Imama, 3rd edition, Qom, Manshurat al-Radi, 1363 Sh, p. 223.
(7). Sheikh Mufid, al-Irshad, Qom, Maktabat Basirati, p. 345; Sheikh Abdullah al-Shabrawi, al-Ittihaf bi Hubb al-Ashraf, 2nd edition, Qom, Manshurat al-Radi, 1363 Sh, pp. 178–179.
(8). Compiled from the book: Sireh-ye Pishvayan, Mahdi Pishvai, Imam Sadiq (AS) Institute, Qom, 1390 Sh, p. 615.
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