Martyrdom of Imam Ḥasan al-ʿAskari (260 A.H./ 874 A.D.)
On Thursday, 12th September 2024 (the 8th Rabiʿ al-Awwal 1446A.H.)
Abū Muḥammad al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī (b. 232/846 - d. 260/874) is the 11th Imam of Twelver Shi'a and the father of Imam al-Mahdi. He was given the title, Imam al-ʿAskari, because he was forced to reside in Samarra which was also known as "ʿAskar" (a military camp or town). His other titles include Ibn al-Riḍa, al-Hādi, al-Naqi, and al-Zaki.
Severe restrictions on Imam al-Askari's life made him choose agents to communicate with the Shi'a. Uthmān b. Sa'id was one of his special agents who became the first special deputy of Imam al-Mahdi upon the beginning of his occultation after Imam al-ʿAskari was martyred.
Imam al-Askari married his maid named Narjis. She was a Roman princess who came to the Muslim lands after being taken captive. Her birth name was Melika, the daughter of Joshua, who was the granddaughter of Caesar. According to the hadith, she was the descendent of Simon, one of Jesus’ disciples. She sees in a dream Lady Maryam (a) and Lady Fatima (a), who invite her to Islam. They tell her to make herself the captive of the Muslim army. Then Imam al-Hadi (a) tells one of his servants to buy her and marries her to his son Imam al-Askari (a). She gave birth to Imam al-Mahdi (a) in secret. Imam al-Askari (a) did not reveal the birth of his son Imam al-Mahdi (a) to anyone but his trusted companions.
Imam al-Askari was martyred on Rabi' I 8, 260/January 1, 874 during the reign of Mu'tamid al-Abbasi at the age of 28.[22] According to al-Tabrisi in I'lam al-wara, many Imami scholars maintain that Imam al-Askari was martyred by poisoning. They appeal to the hadith, "I swear to God that there is none of us (i.e. the Imams) who is not murdered and martyred."[24] Some historical reports imply that the two caliphs before al-Mu'tamid were also seeking to murder the Imam. According to a hadith, al-Mu'tazz al-'Abbasi ordered his personal security guard to murder the Imam on his way to Kufa, but the plan failed because it was leaked to people.[25] According to another report, Muhtadi al-Abbasi also decided to martyr the Imam in prison, but the plan failed because his reign was over.[26] Imam al-Askari is buried in his own house in Samarra, where Imam al-Hadi had also been buried.[27] According to Abd Allah b. Khaqan (one of al-Mu'tamid al-Abbasi's viziers),[28] when Imam al-Askari was martyred, bazars were shut down, and Banu Hashim, prominent figures, statesmen, and other people attended his funeral.[29]
At that time, his brother Ja‘far claimed to be the Imam after him. While he was praying before Imam al-Askari’s body, a young boy pushed him aside and prayed before his father in his stead. That young boy was Imam al-Mahdi (a). Imam al-Askari (a) was buried in his own house in Samarra.
After the martyrdom of Imam al-Askari (a), the imamate of Imam al-Mahdi (a) officially began. At that time, he was only five years old. Soon, Imam al-Mahdi (a) went into occultation so the enemies could not harm him. Uthman ibn Sa‘id al-Amri, who was also one of the trustworthy companions of Imam al-Hadi (a) and Imam al-Askari (a), became the first special deputy of Imam al-Mahdi (a). Imam al-Mahdi (a) had three other special deputies who lived during the minor occultation. When the fourth one died, the minor occultation ended, and the major one began. We are currently living in the major occultation. When Imam al-Mahdi (a) reappears, he will fill the earth with justice and equity, as it is filled with tyranny and oppression.
Prayer for Imam Ḥasan al-ʿAskari
In the name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
O Allah: (please do) send blessings upon al-Hasan, son of Ali, son of Muhammad, اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيّ بْنِ مُحَمّدٍ
The upright, the pious, الْبَرّ التّقِيّ
The honest, the faithful, الصَّادِقِ الْوَفِيّ،
The brilliant light النّورِ الْمُضِيءِ،
The keeper of Your knowledge, خَازِنِ عِلْمِكَ
And the reminding of Your Oneness, وَالْمُذَكّرِ بِتَوْحِيدِكَ
And Your representative, وَوَلِيّ أَمْرِكَ
And the successor of the leaders of the religion—the guide, orthodox ones— وَ َخَلَفِ أَئِمّةِ الدّينِ الْهُدَاةِ الرَّاشِدِينَ،
And the Claim against the inhabitants of this world. الْحُجّةِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدّنْيَا،
So, O Lord: (please do) send blessings upon him, فَصَلّ عَلَيْهِ يَا رَبّ
In the best manner that You have ever sent blessings upon any of Your elite servants, أَفْضَلَ مَا صَلّيْتَ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِنْ أَصْفِيَائِكَ
And Your Claims, and the descendants of Your Apostles, وَحُجَجِكَ وَأَوْلادِ رُسُلِكَ
O the God of the Worlds. يَا إِلهَ الْعَالَمِين
Taken from: The Life Of Imam Al-Hasan Al-Askari Study And Analysis By: Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi Translation by: Abdullah al-Shahin
