Martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari (as)

The Final Years in Confinement

Imam Hassan al-Askari (a.s.) lived a short life of 28 years, spending most of it under severe house arrest. The Abbasid caliph Al-Mu'tamid was terrified of the prophesied birth of the 12th Imam, who would fill the earth with justice, so he kept the 11th Imam under constant watch. (Source: Kamal al-Din)

Martyrdom and the Start of Imamate

The caliph secretly poisoned the Imam. Before his martyrdom on the 8th of Rabi' al-Awwal 260 AH, Imam al-Askari (a.s.) appointed his young son, Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), as his successor. Following his father's funeral, the 12th Imam went into minor occultation (Ghaybat al-Sughra). The 11th Imam is buried in Samarra.

Aamal for 8th Rabi' al-Awwal

This day is marked with deep sorrow for the loss of the 11th Imam, but the following day (9th Rabi' al-Awwal) is celebrated as Eid-e-Zahra, marking the beginning of the Imamate of the Imam of our time. On the 8th, reciting his Ziyarat and offering condolences to Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.) are highly recommended.