We extend our congratulations and best wishes to all Muslims worldwide on the occasion of the birth of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH).
Dec 15, 2018
Biography of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH)
Imam Hasan al-Askari was born in the city of Medina on the 8th of the month of Rabi' al-Thani.
Hazrat Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) was born in the year 232 AH on the eighth day of the month of Rabi' al-Thani in the city of Medina. His father was the great Imam Hazrat Hadi, and his mother was a lady named Haditha. His name was Hasan, and his kunya was Abu Muhammad, and his titles are Zaki and Askari.
All the great qualities and virtues that are necessary for Imamate were gathered in him, namely: in knowledge, asceticism, being complete in mind and intellect, infallibility, courage, generosity, and nobility, he was superior to all the people of his time.
Appearance and Character of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH)
Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) had a sweet and attractive speech and a divine personality with grandeur and dignity, and was an unparalleled interpreter of the Holy Quran. He clarified the straight path of the Ahl al-Bayt and the correct method of interpreting the Quran to the people, and especially to his noble companions - during his short life.
The Period of Imamate
In general, the 29 years of the life of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) are divided into three periods:
The first period is 13 years, during which his life passed in Medina.
The second period is 10 years in Samarra before the Imamate.
The third period is close to 6 years of his Imamate.
The period of Imamate of Hazrat Askari (PBUH) was in direct confrontation with the apparent power of the Bani Abbas. Caliphs who, imitating Harun, had ambitions in showing their power.
Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) spent three years of his six-year term in prison. The jailer of the Imam, Saleh bin Wasif, had appointed two cruel slaves to the Imam, so that he could cause more harm to him through those two slaves, but those two slaves, who were themselves closely observing the state and movements of the Imam, were influenced by that great Imam and turned to righteousness and good behavior.
Important Events During His Imamate:
One of the issues of the time of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) was that the property and time of the Shia were entrusted to those who were enemies of the family of Muhammad (PBUH) and the Shia movements by the caliphate of the time, so that the financial base of the movement would not be strengthened. As it is written, Ahmad bin Ubaidullah bin Khaqan was the governor of endowments and charities in Qom on behalf of the caliphs, and he had the utmost enmity towards the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet.
Also, the companions of Imam Hasan al-Askari were scattered and it was not possible for them to concentrate. People like Abu Ali Ahmad bin Ishaq Ash'ari lived in Qom and Abu Sahl Ismail Nobakhti lived in Baghdad. The pressure and surveillance that the Abbasid caliphate regime practiced after the martyrdom of Hazrat Reza (AS) was so widespread that it forced the opposing wing to engage in the most difficult type of conflict. This wing also endured all this hardship according to faith in the truth and the invitation to the principles of general justice, and did not neglect the protection (and guarding) of the position for a moment.
That Hazrat Hadi (AS) and Hazrat Imam Hasan al-Askari (AS) were both under severe surveillance by the caliphate regime and were forbidden to meet with the people, and also our great Imams - except with special companions and those who referred to them to solve their material and religious life problems - they socialized less because the period of the occultation of Hazrat Mahdi (AS) was near, and the people should gradually get used to it, and they should ask for their political direction and the solution of their problems from special companions who were the standard-bearers of the religious borders, and the advent of the period of occultation should not seem strange to them.
In the time of the eleventh Imam, the high teachings of the Quran and the publication of divine rulings and theological debates renewed a special scientific movement, and Shia culture - which was known until that time - also caused the emergence of great men in other fields such as philosophy and theology, such as Ya'qub ibn Ishaq al-Kindi, who was a contemporary of Imam Hasan al-Askari and was educated under the teachings of that Imam.
Martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH)
The martyrdom of that Hazrat is written on Friday, the eighth of Rabi' al-Awwal, the year 260 AH.
The cause of his martyrdom is considered to be poison that al-Mu'tamid al-Abbasi fed to him in food, and then he regretted his evil deeds. Therefore, Christian and Jewish physicians who were in charge of medical treatment in Baghdad and Samarra at that time, especially in missions where the plot to kill a great Imam like Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH) was involved, were sent for treatment. Of course, this apparent sympathy had another purpose, and that was to satisfy the people and keep them unaware of the truth of the matter.
After the Shia became aware of the heartbreaking news of the passing of Hazrat Imam Hasan al-Askari (PBUH), the city of Samarra was covered in the dust of sorrow, and the sound of lamentation and weeping arose from all sides. People prepared for mourning and the funeral of that Hazrat.
