Follower Network --Imam Al-Askari [a.s]--

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

FOLLOWER NETWORK

Imam Hassan Al-Askari [a.s]

Imam al-Hassan [a] was born in Medina in Rabi’al-Akhir 232 AH / 846 CE to the wife of his father named Hadith and spent 22 years of his life under the patronage of his father, the 10th Imam. According to narrations from various sources, the nomination of al-Hassan as the successor to Imam al-Hadi was made at the death of Muhammad, one of al-Hassan’s brothers. The death of the brother left al-Hassan as the eldest among the surviving sons and because of the traditions about the Imam Al-Mahdi, the ‘Abbasid Caliphs kept Imam al-Hasan al-Askari [a] under close surveillance, more than they had the previous Imams. Often the Imam was able to speak to his supporters only through intermediaries.

Once when the Imam was imprisoned, the ‘Abbasids went to Salih b. Wasif and told him to treat the Imam harshly. Salih sent for two of the evilest men he could find to take charge of the Imam, but the men changed into men of worship, prayer and fasting to an amazing extent. When he interrogated them about their change in character, they said : "What can we say about a man who fasts through the day and stands (in prayer) through the night, who does not speak and occupies himself with nothing except worship? When he looks at us, our limbs shake and within us is (a feeling) which we have never had."

The Imam was also handed over to a man named Nahrir who asked permission to throw Imam al-Askari to wild animals but instead of being eaten, they found the Imam standing in prayer with the animals around him.

A consequence of the severe restrictions impose by the ‘Abbasid Caliphs was Imam Hassan al-Askari [a] having to resort to Taqiya or the protection of the true religion and its followers from enemies through concealment in circumstances where there is fear of being captured or insulted. [precedent: e.g. Holy Qir'an Chapter 40: Verse 28]. The Imam did not make his son publicly known during his life-time and the ordinary people were not able to recognize him after Imam al-Askari’s death.

Imam Hassan Al-Askari [a] fell sick due to poisoning on the 1st of Rabi’u ‘l-Awwal 260 AH / 873 CE and as soon as the news of the illness reached the Caliph al-Mu’tamid, physicians as well as agents including Nahrir were sent to increase surveillance. When the Imam died on Friday, 8th Rabi’u ‘l-awwal, Samarra was in uproar. The markets were empty and the Bani Hashim, military leaders, secretaries, judges, at testators and the common people rode to his funeral. Imam al-Hassan al-Askari [a] was buried in the house in which his father was buried, the house for both of them in the military ‘Askar’ district of Samarra, Iraq.

Ja’far b. Ali, the Imam’s own brother, a profligate seized whatever possession the Imam left behind and strove to take his place in the eyes of the Shi’ites Muslims and even went to the authorities offering them money and whatever he thought could advance him as the new Imam but nobody could make his legitimate. All the Imam’s female servants were also examined by the midwife of the Caliph to determine whether anybody was with child, fearing the Imam Al-Mahdi. The ‘Abbasid maintained their futile search for the Al-Mahdi for a further two years.

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