How many people witnessed Imam al-‘Askari when he announced the Imamat of Imam Mahdi?
As the Abbasid government rulers' pressure on Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) and his family was tremendous, the disclosure of Imamate of Imam Mahdi (AS) was among the near circle of the most trusted persons. Imam Hasan Al-Askari (AS) told very few most trusted believers and allowed them to see his successor Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). These are names of some of those who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS):
1. Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri who became later the first Safeer of the Imam Al-Mahdi (AS).
2. Muhammad ibn Othman ibn Sa'eed Al-Amri, who became later the second Safeer of the Imam.
3. Al-Husain ibn Rooh.
4. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Samari.
5. Lady Hakimah daughter of Imam Al-Jawad (AS).
6. Ibraheem ibn Mahziyar Al-Ahwaazi.
7. Ahmad ibn Eshaq ibn Sa'd Al-Ash'ari.
8. Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Al-Mutahhar.
9. Ismael ibn Ali Al- Nawbakhti.
10. Ali ibn Ibraheem ibn Mahziyaar Al-Ahwaazi.
11.Kaamil ibn Ibrahim Al-Madani.
12.Allaan Al-Kulayni.
13. Muhammad ibn Ismael ibn Musa Al-Kadhim.
14. Al-Hasan ibn Wajnaa' Al-Naseebi.
15.Ibrahim ibn Idrees.
16. Ibrahim ibn A'bdah Al-kNisabori.
17.Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Al-Tabreezi.
18. Sa'ad ibn Abdullah ibn Abi Khalaf Al-Ash'ari.
19. Ali ibn Muhammad Al-Shimshaati.
20- Muhammad ibn Al-Qasim Al-Aqeeli.
There are hundreds of well known pious believers who saw Imam Al-Mahdi (AS). Whole books were been compiled on this subject by big scholars.
Source: Al-Islam.org
