Imam Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)
Al-Askari
The eleventh Imam, who lived his short life under severe house arrest in a military camp, preparing the Ummah for the occultation of his son.
- Born
- 8 Rabi' al-Thani 232 AH
- Died
- 8 Rabi' al-Awwal 260 AH
- Cause of death
- Poisoned by Al-Mu'tamid
The Title Al-Askari
Imam Hasan (a.s.) was given the title Al-Askari because he was forced to live his entire Imamate in "Askar," the military garrison area of Samarra. The Abbasid caliphs were terrified of the prophetic tradition that the 12th Imam, the Mahdi, would be born from his lineage and would destroy all tyrants. Thus, they kept him under suffocating surveillance.
Preparation for the Occultation
The Imam's primary mission was to protect the life of his young son, Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s.), and to prepare the Shia community for an era where their Imam would be hidden. He communicated mostly from behind curtains or through his trusted deputies, heavily relying on written correspondence to accustom the believers to indirect communication.
Martyrdom
He was poisoned at the young age of 28. Despite the intense military blockade, thousands of people from all walks of life flooded the streets of Samarra for his funeral, a testament to his undeniable spiritual majesty.