Thirteenth lesson

13)  Imam al-Askari

Abu Muhammad al-Ḥasan b. ʿAli  (b. 232/846 – d. 260/874) was the 11th Imam of Twelver Shi’a and the father of Imam al-Mahdi (a). He was given the title, Imam al-Askari, because he was forced to reside in Samarra which was also known as “Askar” (a military camp or town). His other titles include Ibn al-Rida, al-Zaki, al-Rafiq and al-Samit.

Severe restrictions on Imam al-Askari’s (a) life made him choose delegate to communicate with the shi’a. Uthman b. Sa’id was one of his special delegate who became the first special deputy of Imam al-Mahdi (a) upon the beginning of his occultation after Imam al-Askari (a) was martyred.

Imam al-‘Askari (a) was martyred on the 8th of Rabi I, 260/874. He was buried in the same house where his father had been buried.

Many hadiths have been narrated from Imam al-Askari (a) on different topics such as exegesis of the Qur’an, ethics, jurisprudence, theology, supplications, and Ziyarahs.