Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) was the son of Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s.), the tenth imam of the Shi’a faith. Imam Al Hadi (a.s) was from the masters of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and the most knowledgeable, pious, and virtuous of all people at his time. The mother of Imam Hasan al Askari (a.s) was the best of women at her time in her chastity, purity, and piety. Historians say she was from the good knowing women.1 Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) praised her by saying, ‘Saleel (her name) was purified from error, defect, and impurity.’2
Historians disagreed on her name. Some of them said her name was Saleel, which is the most valid assertion according to the previous tradition of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.). Some said she was called Sawsan.3 Others said her name was Hadithah, 4and others said Hareebah.
Some historians said he was born in Medina, 5and some others said in Samarra. 6 Historians also gave different dates for his birth. It was said that he was born in Rabee’ al-Awwal 7 230AH, 8 or 231, 9 or 232, 10 or 233.11 in Medina
After the birth of this blessed son, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) recited the call to prayer in his right ear, and the Iqamah, the call to start prayer in his left ear. This was the first hymn that this blessed newborn boy met life with; “Allah is great, there is no god but Allah”.
Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) named his blessed newborn child “al-Hasan” like the name of his great uncle, the master of the youth of Paradise. He surnamed him as Abu Muhammad 12 and Muhammad was the name of the awaited Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.), the great reformer and saviour of humanity, and the sought-after hope of the deprived and the disabled in the earth.
He was called:
1. Al-Khalis (the pure)
2. Al-Hadi (the guide)
3. Al-Askari (of the military); he was called so because the city (Samarra’) he lived in which was a military camp.
4. Az-Zakiy (pure, chaste, righteous)
5. Al-Khass (peculiar), that Allah had distinguished him with virtues, and with responding to his supplications
6. As-Samit (silent): he was silent and he spoke just wisdom, knowledge, and the mention of Allah
7. As-Sires (lamp),: that he was as a lamp lighting the way and guiding the deviant to righteousness
8. At-Taqiy (pious)
Imam Al-Askari (a.s.) grew up in the house of guidance and the center of Imamate and general authority of Muslims. He was from the noble house whose people Allah had kept uncleanness away from and purified thoroughly.
The distinct aspect in the childhood of Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) was the fear of Allah. He was God-fearing since his early years. Historians mentioned that one day some man passed by Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) and saw him cry while he was with his fellow children. The man thought that this child cried for the toys in the children’s hands and that he could not participate in their playing. The man told the child that he would buy him what he might play with.
The child said,
‘No! We have not been created for play.’
The man was astonished and said, ‘Then, what for we have been created?’
The child said, ‘For knowledge and worship.’
The man asked the child, ‘Where have you got this from?’
The child said, ‘From this saying of Allah (What! Did you then think that We had created you in vain) 13.’
The man was astonished and confused. He said to the child, ‘What has happened to you while you are still a guiltless little child?’
The child said, ‘Be away from me! I have seen my mother set fire to big pieces of firewood, but fire is not lit except with small pieces, and I fear that I shall be from the small pieces of the firewood of the Hell.’14
Faith in Allah was a part of, and a distinguishing element of Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.). He did not fear but Allah, and this trait remained in him until the last moment of his life.
Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.) spent a part of his life with his father Imam al-Hadi (a.s.). He did not part with him even in his travels. He saw in his father a true picture of the morals of his grandfather the messenger of Allah (s.a.w.w.) who had been preferred to all prophets, and saw in him the spirits of his fathers, the infallible imams (a.s.).
Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) kept to his father Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and saw what he suffered from the Abbasid kings, especially al-Mutawakkil who spared no effort in oppressing Imam al-Hadi (a.s.). This tyrant was excessive in harming the Imam. He house-arrested him in Samarra’ and surrounded his house with policemen and detectives to watch him, and to prevent the ‘Ulama’, jurisprudents, and the rest of the Shi’a from associating with him.
Al-Mutawakkil also oppressed Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) in his living affairs, and ordered his men to search the house of the imam from time to time and take him to al-Mutawakkil in whatever state he was. It was al-Mutawakkil himself who had prevented officially the visiting to the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), and ordered the shrine to be destroyed. All those terrible events took place before the eyes of Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) while he was yet in the early years of his youth. His heart was filled with pains and sorrows during the period he lived with his father.
Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.) was the best worshipper among all people of his time. He spent the night with praying, prostrating, and reciting the Book (Qur’an). In his prayer, he turned with all his heart and feelings towards Allah, the Creator of the universe and the Giver of life. He felt or paid attention to nothing of the affairs of this life while he was in prayer. His soul clung to Allah devotedly and totally.
Historians unanimously mentioned that Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.) was the most knowledgeable and the best of the people of his age, not only in religious affairs and laws, but in all fields of knowledge. He was from the most patient people. He always suppressed his anger and treated whoever wronged him with kindness and forgiveness.
The Abbasid government arrested and put him into prison while he was patient, saying nothing. He did not complain to anyone about what he suffered, but he entrusted his case to Allah the Almighty. This was from the signs of his patience.
Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was distinguished by his strong will. The Abbasid rulers tried to involve him into the government body and spared no effort to subject him to their desires, but they failed. The imam (a.s.) insisted on his independence and keeping away from them. The Abbasids considered him as the only representative of the opposition against their policies that were based on subjugation and oppression.
He resisted all the seductions that the Abbasid government offered to bring him into its way. He preferred the obedience of Allah and the satisfaction of his conscience to everything else.
No one was more generous than him among all people of his time. He appointed agents in most of the Muslim countries, and entrusted them to receive the legal dues and spend them on the poor and the deprived, to reconcile between people, and in other ways of the general welfare.
Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) was martyred on the eighth of Rabi’ul Awwal in the year 260 A.H. in Samirra’ and was buried beside his father’s gravesite. He lived for twenty eight years and his Imamat lasted six years 15.
1. Uyun al-Mu’jizat
2. A’yan ash-Shi’a, vol.3 p.289
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol.50 p.37.
4. Al-Irshad, p.315
5. Akhbar ad-Duwal, p.117, Bahr al-Ansab, p.2, Tuhfat al-Imam, p.86, Ilal ash-Sharayi’.
6. Jawahir al-Ahkam
7. The third month in the Islamic calendar
8. Bihar al-Anwar, vol.50 p.35, Tareekh Abul Fida’, vol.2 p.48, Ilal ash-Sharayi’.
9. An-Nujoom az-Zahirah, vol.3 p.32, Sirr as-Silsilah al-Alawiyyah, p.39.
- Bahr al-Ansab, p.2, Akhbar ad-Duwal, p.117, al-Ittihaf Bihubil Ashraf, p.86, al-Kamil, vol.5 p.373.
- Encyclopedia of al-Bustani, vol.7 p.45.
12. Akhbar ad-Duwal, p.117, Bahr al-Ansab, p.2, Tuhfat al-Anam, p.86, an-Nujoom az-Zahirah, vol.3 p.32.
- Qur’an, 23:115.
14. Jawharat al-Kalam, p.155, the Encyclopedia of al-Bustani, vol.7 p.45.
15. Al-‘Irshad, Vol 2, p. 313; Biharul Anwar, Vol 50, pp. 235-238.