Imam Hasan al-Askari (p): The Keeper of God's Knowledge

Introduction

Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Ali al-Askari (peace be upon him) was the eleventh Imam of the Twelve Imams of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).

His life was among the shortest—and most closely watched—of the Imams. Much of his Imamate unfolded in Samarra, inside a military garrison town where the Abbasid authorities kept him under constant surveillance.

Yet even under these restrictions, Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) continued to guide the Shia community, preserve the line of the Imamate, and prepare his followers for one of the most important transitions in Shia history: the occultation of his son, Imam al-Mahdi (peace be upon him).

Birth and Family

Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) was born in Medina in 232 AH, although some narrations mention 231 AH.

His father was Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him), the tenth Imam. His mother is remembered in historical sources by several names, including Hadith, Susan, and Hurayba, and she is described as a woman of exceptional piety and insight.

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, pp. 235-239.

The succession to Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) had also been indicated before his Imamate. Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said:

“The Imam after me is my son Ali … and the Imamate after him is in his son al-Hasan.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing Kamal al-Din.

Why Was He Called “al-Askari”?

The title “al-Askari” comes from the Arabic word ʿAskar, meaning a military camp or garrison.

The Abbasid authorities had forced Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him) and later Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) to live in the military district of Samarra, Iraq, where they could be watched closely.

A narration preserved in Bihar al-Anwar explains:

“The quarter inhabited by the two Imams, Ali ibn Muhammad and al-Hasan ibn Ali, in Samarra was called ‘Askar,’ and so each of them came to be called al-Askari.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing Ilal al-Shara'i.

Therefore, both Imam Ali al-Hadi and Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon them) became known as al-Askari.

The title itself reflects an important reality of their lives: they lived under the direct watch of the Abbasid state, surrounded by its military establishment.

Imamate Under Siege

Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) assumed the Imamate in 254 AH, following the martyrdom of his father. He was approximately twenty-two years old.

Before his martyrdom, Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him) had already introduced his son as the next Imam and also pointed toward the Imam who would follow him:

“The Imam after me is al-Hasan, and after al-Hasan his son al-Qa'im, who will fill the earth with justice and equity just as it was filled with tyranny and oppression.”

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing Kamal al-Din.

During his Imamate, Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) lived under the rule of several Abbasid caliphs, including al-Mu'tazz, al-Muhtadi, and al-Mu'tamid.

The Abbasid authorities were deeply concerned about the influence of the Imam and the widespread belief that a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) would rise as the promised al-Qa'im.

As a result, the Imam's movements, household, visitors, and correspondence were closely monitored.

One remarkable historical account comes from Ahmad ibn Ubaydillah ibn Khaqan, an Abbasid official who was himself hostile toward the family of the Prophet.

After the Imam's martyrdom, the authorities even sealed and searched his house in an attempt to discover his son.

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing Kamal al-Din.

Martyrdom of Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him)

Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) was martyred on Friday, the 8th of Rabi' al-Awwal, 260 AH, at approximately twenty-eight years of age, although some reports state that he was twenty-nine.

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing al-Kafi.

Shia historical sources record that the Imam was poisoned on the order of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tamid.

Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, citing Misbah al-Kaf'ami.

He was buried in his own home in Samarra, beside his father, Imam Ali al-Hadi (peace be upon him).

Their resting place later became the celebrated al-Askariyya Shrine, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Shia world.

A Hadith of Imam Hasan al-Askari (p): Seeking Nearness to God Through Muhammad and His Family

Among the narrations attributed to Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) is a remarkable account concerning Prophet Musa (Moses), the Children of Israel, and seeking nearness to God through Prophet Muhammad and his pure family (peace be upon them).

The narration is recorded in al-Tafsir al-Mansub ila al-Imam al-Hasan al-Askari, pp. 245–247.

When Prophet Musa reached the sea with the Children of Israel, God Almighty revealed to him to tell them:

«جَدِّدُوا تَوْحِيدِي وَ أَمِرُّوا بِقُلُوبِكُمْ ذِكْرَ مُحَمَّدٍ سَيِّدِ عَبِيدِي وَ إِمَائِي وَ أَعِيدُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِكُمُ الْوَلَايَةَ لِعَلِيٍّ أَخِي مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ»

“Renew your affirmation of My oneness, let the remembrance of Muhammad, the master of My male and female servants, pass through your hearts, and renew for yourselves the guardianship (wilayah) of Ali, the brother of Muhammad, and of his pure family.”

They were then instructed to supplicate:

«اللَّهُمَّ بِجَاهِهِمْ جَوِّزْنَا عَلَى مَتْنِ هَذَا الْمَاءِ»

“O God, by their rank and standing, let us cross safely over this water.”

Prophet Musa himself then affirmed the oneness of God, testified to the prophethood of Muhammad al-Mustafa (peace be upon him and his family), and affirmed the guardianship of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him), and his pure progeny.

He invoked God through their rank and standing.

Musa then told his people:

«فَمَا هَذَا الدُّعَاءُ إِلَّا مِفْتَاحُ أَبْوَابِ الْجِنَانِ وَ مَغَالِيقُ أَبْوَابِ النِّيرَانِ وَ مُسْتَنْزِلُ الْأَرْزَاقِ وَ جَالِبٌ عَلَى عَبِيدِ اللَّهِ وَ إِمَائِهِ رِضَاءَ الْمُهَيْمِنِ الْخَلَّاقِ»

“This supplication is nothing less than the key to the gates of Paradise, the lock upon the gates of the Fire, that which brings down sustenance, and that which draws down upon God's servants the pleasure of the Watchful, the Creator.”

According to the narration, the Children of Israel then crossed the sea, while Pharaoh and his army were drowned.

Later, during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family), the narration continues with an address concerning the Children of Israel:

«فَإِذَا كَانَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى فَعَلَ كُلَّهُ بِأَسْلَافِكُمْ لِكَرَامَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ [آله] وَ دَعَا مُوسَى دُعَاءً تَقَرَّبَ بِهِمْ أَ فَمَا تَعْقِلُونَ أَنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ الْإِيمَانَ بِمُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ قَدْ شَاهَدْتُمُوهُ الْآنَ؟!»

“If God did all of this for your forefathers for the sake of the honor of Muhammad and his family, and Musa sought nearness to Me through them in his supplication—do you not then understand that belief in Muhammad and his family is now incumbent upon you, when you have witnessed them yourselves?”

Source

Bihar al-Anwar, v. 91, p. 7

Primary Sources

• Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 50, section on the history of Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (peace be upon him)

• Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni'mah.

• al-Kafi.

• I'lam al-Wara.

• al-Irshad.

• Ilal al-Shara'i.

• Misbah al-Kaf'ami.

• al-Tafsir al-Mansub ila al-Imam al-Hasan al-Askari, pp. 245–247.