Hasan al-Askari

Hassan Al-Askari (Arabic: الإمام الحسن بن علي العسكري) (Eighth of Rabi' al-thani 232 AH – Eighth of Rabi' al-awwal 260 AH) (approximately: December 6, 846 - January 1, 874) was the eleventh Imam. His given name was Hassan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad. Hassan Al-Askari was 22, when his father was killed and the period of his Imamate, following his father's death, was six years. Hassan Al-Askari was 28, when martyred by Al-Mu'tamid (the Abbasid caliph) in the year, 260 Hijra and was buried in Samarra.

Birth and family life

Hassan Al-Askari, whose ancestor was the Islamic prophet Muhammad, was born in Medina to Ali al-Hadi and Saleel. His title al-Askari derives from the Arabic word Asker which means Army. Hassan's title was reflective of his living most of his life in a garrison town. Some Shi'ah believe he married a Byzantine Princes who was the granddaughter of a Byzantine emperor, named Narjis.

His name was Hassan and his surname was Abu Mohammad, and the well-known titles were Zaki and Askari.

His only son is Muhammad al-Mahdi who will upon his advent; fill up the world with equity, justice, and fairness. Islam, because of the severe control and restraint in the age of Hassan Al-Askari, had lost its influence and dissemination. The power helms particularly, Al-Mutawakkil Abbasid caliph, endeavored to keep Hassan Al-Askari out of the reach of people.

Since they had learnt that the twelfth Imam will come into existence from Hassan Al-Askari and he is the one who will disappear from the sights and acquire the leadership of the Islamic Ummah and establish a single Universal government, they were strictly vigilant about the affairs of Hassan Al-Askari.

House arrest

Hassan Al-Askari lived almost his entire life under house arrest in Samarra and under supervision of Abbasid caliphs. Despite his confinement as a prisoner, he was occasionally allowed to go to Baghdad, although it was under guard.

Expertise

He was very knowledgeable and despite being confined to house arrest for almost his entire life, Hassan al-Askari was able to teach others about Islam, and even compiled a commentary on the Qur'an that would be used by later scholars.

Hassan Al-Askari was like a roaring river of wisdom, which quenched the thirst of those thirsty for it. As per Khawarzami’s statement, eighteen thousand men, thirsty for knowledge, benefited from Hassan Al-Askari assembly. The first one out of Al-Mu'tazz’s (Abbasid caliph) court, who took an oath of allegiance for him was the famous Iranian genius and talented person named Mohammad ibn Masood Shirazi.

It is narrated that such was Hassan Al-Askari’s wisdom that even Kindi the teacher of Abu Nasr Farabi, was defeated and failed in discussion with him, and burnt down his book which he had written against Islam.

Hassan Al-Askari’s morality

Hassan Al-Askari was a gracious personality and an unmatched knowledge of Quran. More than a hundred well-known wise men remained continuously present in his assembly. During a period of sixteen years, when he lived in Iraq, the territories from Syria up to Medina, particularly Iran was under his influence. Hassan Al-Askari’s spiritual and knowledge’s influence went to the extent that it overwhelmed the court of Al-Mu'tazz and all the wise men busy in his government missionary got enamored enticed, and fascinated by Hassan Al-Askari. When Hassan Al-Askari traveled to Iran and crossed over the Lawasan via Qum and Rai, the people captivated and fascinated by the school of Ahl al-Bayt, gathered all around him and expressed their warm feelings and sentiments for him. He made a speech before the people of Lawasan and ordered them to build a mosque and declare it as their base.

This command of Hassan Al-Askari proved so effective that they got busy in building seventy mosques on a single day. One of the courtiers of Abbasid government named Ahmed bin Khaqan, who was an enemy of the Ahl al-Bayt, and one day said, "I have not seen anybody in Samarra, among the Bani Hashim family, more pious, virtuous and chaste than Hassan Al-Askari. If the caliphate goes out of the Bani Abbasid's hands then no one except Hassan Al-Askari will be capable and fit for it. Then he said, "one day I was present with my father when Hassan Al-Askari arrived there, although he was the enemy of the Ahl al-Bayt, yet he got up from his place, kissed his hand and made him seated upon his own place and sat before him like a pupil in front of a teacher and lent ears to his wards.

Son

Hassan Al-Askari died without apparent issue. However, Twelver Shi'a believe that he had one son, Muhammad al-Mahdi, who was five at the time of Hassan Al-Askari's death and was hidden from the Abbasids. Many Muslims and scholars however question the historical existence of this son.

Twelver Shi’ahs believe him to be the Mahdi; a very important figure in Islamic teaching who is believed will reappear at the end of time to fill the world with justice, peace and to establish Islam as the global religion.

Death

Hassan Al-Askari was four years old, when he was exiled to Samarra along with his father. He was placed under the caliph's observation at a point, which was the center of the armed forces.

Following the death of his father, Al-Mu'tamid (Abbasid caliph) imprisoned him. The piety and chastity of Hassan Al-Askari attracted the attention of all the prisoners towards him, and made them all enticed and enchanted. The officials and agents of the caliph daily reported to the caliph as to his condition. Eventually, Hassan Al-Askari was killed on the 8th Rabi' al-awwal 260 AH (approximately: January 1, 874) and was buried at Samarra near the grave of his father.

After his death his brother, Ja'far ibn Ali, who was counted as one of the helpers of the caliph, in order to keep the imam safe from caliph, stood up to offer the funeral prayer upon the body of Hassan Al-Askari. But all of a sudden, the son of Hassan Al-Askari, who was a minor, came forward and said to his uncle to step aside because only an Imam can lead the funeral prayer of another Imam. After the funeral prayer Muhammad al-Mahdi went into the house and disappeared. This was the beginning of gaibat-e-sughra.

Hassan Al-Askari died at the age of 28 by poison. Hassan Al-Askari’s funeral was attended by many people, including the Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tamid who is accused of being secretly responsible for the poisoning of Hassan Al-Askari. Hassan Al-Askari was buried in the mausoleum containing the remains of his father, the Al Askari Mosque in Samarra. The site is considered a holy shrine for the Sunni andShi’a and both, though a bomb blast on February 22 2006 destroyed much of the structure, and another bomb blast on June 13 2007 destroyed the two remaining minarets of the Al-Askariya Mosque. [1].

References

External links

Roshd foundation
ABU MOHAMMAD HASAN B. ALI ASKARI by H. Halm, An article of Encyclopedia Iranica
[2]
The Eleventh Imam
Hasan Askari

Preceded by Ali al-Hadi	Twelver Shia Imam 868–874	Succeeded by Muhammad al-Mahdi