Author: Danial Jaffri

In the early days of his Imamate of our 11th Imam, Imam Hasan Askari [who succeeded his father, Imam Ali Naqi in 254 AH / 868 CE at the age of 22], Al-Mu’tazz was the Abbasid Caliph. When the latter was deposed, he was succeeded by al-Muhtadi, son of al-Wathiq. After his brief reign of only eleven months and one week, Al-Mu’tamid eldest surviving son of al-Mutawakkil came to the throne. During their regimes, Imam Hasan Askari (as) did not enjoy peace at all. Although the Abbasid dynasty was involved in constant complications and disorders, each and every Caliph thought it necessary to keep Imam Hasan Askari (as) imprisoned.

One of the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s traditions ran that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) would be succeeded by twelve successors from his progeny (Ahlul Bayt), the last of whom would be Imam al-Mahdi (as).

The Book on Government (Kitab Al-Imara)
Sahih Muslim :: Book 20 : Hadith 4480

It has been narrated on the authority of Jabir b. Samura who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say: Islam will continue to be triumphant until there have been twelve Caliphs. Then the Holy Prophet (may peace be upon him) said something which I could not understand. I asked my father: What did he say? He said: He has said that all of them (twelve Caliphs) will be from the Quraish.

Judgments (Ahkaam)
Sahih Bukhari :: Book 9 :: Volume 89 :: Hadith 329

Narrated Jabir bin Samura: I heard Prophet Muhammad saying, “There will be twelve Muslim rulers (who will rule all the Islamic world).” He then said a sentence which I did not hear. My father said, “All of them (those rulers) will be from Quraish.”

The Abbasids knew well that the true successors of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) were these very Imams. Imam Hasan Askari (as) being the eleventh, his son would surely be the 12th or the last. They, tried to put an end to his life in such a way, that it would ensure there would be nobody to succeed him. But these Abbasid Caliphs had forgotten how Firaun (Pharaoh) had tried to stop the reign of Prophet Musa / Moses (pbuh) by killing all the baby boys born to the Israelites, yet he himself was bringing up the one he wanted to kill.

As the simple confinement inflicted on his father, Imam Ali Naqi (as) was considered inadequate for Imam Hasan Askari (as), so he was imprisoned, away from his family. No doubt the revolutionary intervals between two regimes gave him brief periods of freedom. Yet as soon as the new Caliph came to the throne, he followed his predecessor’s policy and imprisoned Imam Hasan Askari (as) again. Imam Hasan Askari’s (as) brief life (28 years) therefore was mostly spent inside dungeon cells.

Moral: Allah (SWT) says in the Noble Qur’an, “And they planned, and Allah planned, and Allah is the best of planners.” (Noble Qur’an 3:54) i.e. Whatever Allah (SWT) has decided no-one can change

Ismail says, “I was sitting on the way of our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) so that I may stop him while he passes that way and ask him for help.”

Prior to that, I had hidden two hundred (200) golden coins with me as a future provision for myself.

Suddenly, when I was lost in my ideas, Imam Hassan Askari (as) passed by me. I rushed after him, stopped him and told him about my poverty and misery and swear that I had nothing from the material sources.

Imam Hassan Askari (as) was very much annoyed with my swearing. He told his servant to give me what was available with him. The servant put hand in his pocket and brought out a sack of gold and gave it to me.

Then Imam Hassan Askari (as) addressing me said, “We do not deprive anybody from our help but you took a false oath and made Allah (SWT) angry. You must never do that again and not deny the blessings of Allah (SWT) in future and depend upon Allah (SWT) and have hope from him, make use and benefit of the boon which He has given to you. You have concealed two hundred golden coins in a corner so that it may be of use and benefit to you on your rainy day. But beware, you will not have an approach and lay your hands upon them, while you need them.”

Ismail says, Imam Hassan Askari (as) made me aware and conscious about my fault by his words. What he had said did occur.

One day when I extremely needed those coins, I rushed towards the place I had buried them. But when I dug the place I was surprised to see that there was no sign of the coins.

I came to know that my son got informed about them and did an ugly act by picking them up without my permission and running away. Exactly the way Imam Hassan Askari (as) said, that I would not lay my hand upon them at the time of need.

There after, I decided to control myself and put a restraint upon my faults and be a chaste and pious person before Allah (SWT).

Moral: You should trust in Allah (SWT) to look after you. You should thank Allah (SWT) for whatever He has given you. You should never lie, as you will be found out. Even if no-one finds out, Allah (SWT) knows.

The Abbasids court poet Abu Yousef says: “My hard life, coupled with the birth of a son in this state of poverty, made me write a plea to the Abbasid government for financial help, but I was spurned.

When I got disappointed I remembered the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) descendant Imam Hassan Askari (as). I went to him. I hesitated in informing him of my problem, for I feared that he might not help me because of my reputation as the court poet of the Abbasids.

I wandered around the Imam Hassan Askari’s (as) house for sometime, before knocking at his door. The door opened and to my surprise a companion of Imam Hassan Askari (as) came out and put in my hand a purse, saying: ‘Take these 400 dirhams. My master says cover the expenses of your newborn child with this amount. May God bless you and the child.'”

Abu Yousef said: “I was astounded. I had neither met him as yet nor disclosed the request I entertained at heart, and here I was given the money. I thanked Allah (SWT) for blessing the earth with the presence of such great and generous person.

Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph is just like his forefathers he too was an open enemy of the Ahlul Bayt (as). He declared that Imam Hassan Askari (as) should be imprisoned and that no mercy should be shown to Him. And hence Mu’tamid, the Abbasid Caliph went to Salih bin Wasif and told him to treat Imam Hassan Askari (as) harshly. Salih bin Wasif sent for two of the evilest men he could find to take charge of the Imam, but the men changed into men of worship, prayer and fasting to an amazing extent. When Salih bin Wasif interrogated them about their change in character, they said: “What can we say about a man who fasts through the day and stands (in prayer) through the night, who does not speak and occupies himself with nothing except worship? When he looks at us, our limbs shake and within us is (a feeling) which we have never had.”

Then Imam Hassan Askari (as) was handed over to a man named Nahrir, the Jailer who was a very cruel man was once advised by his wife who said to him: “Fear Allah (SWT), have you no idea of who is imprisoned in your prison? He is a pious man and a great worshipper of Allah (SWT). I am afraid that Allah (SWT) will curse you.” Her husband said: “O’ really. Just watch me; I am going to send him inside the cage of the wild animals.”

Nahrir, the Jailer got the permission from his Abbasid Caliph and carried out his plan.

Imam Hassan Askari (as) was sent to this cage and the people thought that this was the end of Imam Hassan Askari’s (as) life. But when they returned to look what had happened instead they all witnessed that Imam Hassan Askari (as) was praying surrounded by the wild animals which all were prostrating before Him. Now the order was given to take Imam Hassan Askari (as) out from there.

Our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) lived a short life of 28 years. In this short life, Imam Hassan Askari (as) had to endure great sufferings at the hands of the Abbasid Caliphs. But in spite of all that suffering and confinement in Samarra, Iraq, many students benefited from his God gifted knowledge and later became scholars in their fields. Imam Hassan Askari (as) discussed with agnostics of that age many times about the existence of God and the reasons for the necessity of the Prophets and Imams and many atheists changed their minds and converted to Islam.

One of those was Ishaq al-Kindi. This man was a great philosopher of Iraq. He collected such verses of Noble Qur’an whose meanings were apparently contradictory, in a book called as “self-contradictions”. He wanted to prove thereby that it was not the word of Almighty Allah (SWT).

When the news reached Imam Hassan Askari (as), he waited for an opportunity to refute him. One day, by chance some of his disciples (students) came to Imam Hassan Askari (as).

Imam Hassan Askari (as) asked them: “Is there anyone among you who can stop Ishaq al-Kindi from wasting his time in this useless effort fighting the Noble Qur’an?” The students said: “Sir, we are his students: how can we object to his teaching?” Imam Hassan Askari (as) urged that they could at least convey to their teacher what he had to tell them. They replied that they would be ready to cooperate as much as they could in that respect.

Imam Hassan Askari (as) then recited a few verses from the Noble Qur’an, which the philosopher Ishaq al-Kindi thought as contradictory of one another. Imam Hassan Askari (as) then explained to them thus: “Your teacher thinks that some of the words in these verses have only one meaning. But according to the Arabic language, these words have other meanings too which, when taken into consideration, indicate no contradiction in the overall meaning. Thus, your teacher is not justified for basing his objections and claim of contradictions on the premises of the ‘wrong meaning’ he himself selects such verses”. Imam Hassan Askari (as) then put up some examples of such words before them so clearly that the students conceived the whole discussion and the precedents of more than one meaning.

When these students visited Ishaq al-Kindi and after routine talk, reproduced the disputed points, he was surprised. He was a fair-minded scholar and he listened to his students’ explanations. Then he said: “What you have argued is beyond your capacity: tell me truly who has taught you these points?” The students said that it was their own reflection, but when he insisted that they could never have conceived those points, they admitted that, it was explained to them by Abu Muhammad Imam Hassan Askari (as). The teacher said: “Yes: this level of knowledge is the heritage of that House and only that House Ahlul Bayt (as)”. Then he asked the students to set fire to all such works of his.

Ishaq al-Kindi was not alone in benefiting from Imam Hassan Askari (as). Several high-ranking scholars benefited from his ocean of knowledge. There were a host of others who later developed into leading scientists, jurisprudents, exegetes, theologians and masters of different fields when they came into contact with Imam Hassan Askari (as).

The Ahlul Bayt (as) who carries the most wisdom and knowledge of the seen and unseen are they who most fear Allah (SWT) and pass their every second in life reflecting and pondering about the most important subjects.

It is written by the scholars that once our 11th Imam, Imam Hassan Askari (as) who was still a child was standing between some other children who were playing and having fun. Suddenly a lover of the Ahlul Bayt (as) was passing by. But he was trapped with this scene that all the children were playing but a beautiful child was standing alone crying. He decided to approach this child to ask what was wrong, maybe he could help him. He said: “My dear, are you crying because you don’t have the toys other children have. If you like I can bring some toys to you.” Imam Hassan Askari (as) replied: “Do you think I’m crying for the toys. We are not created to play with toys and have fun but to worship Allah (SWT) and seek for knowledge. This lover of the Ahlul Bayt (as) asked him that how he was sure about that and the young Imam Hassan Askari (as) answered: Have you not read the verse of the Noble Qur’an which guides us saying:

“What! Did you then think that We had created you in vain and that you shall not be returned to Us?” (Noble Qur’an 23:115)

This lover of the Ahlul Bayt (as) was impressed with the answer and said: “But why are you so troubled in such a young age. You have not committed any sins. Imam Hassan Askari (as) replied: “Age does not matter. I watch my mother every day when she set fire to the large twigs she uses the small first. I am afraid that may not the young children of this world be used to light the fire of Hell.” Allahu Akbar, the Holy Imam Hassan Askari (as) who is an infallible personality and a Hujjat of Allah (SWT) reflects so deeply, this answer was only a lesson to His followers to ponder over. This capturing story of Imam Hassan Askari (as) is a great learning lesson for us all.

The one who spends his life in refuge of God, world’s discomforts will become easy for him. The one who does not counsel with others in his matters will be harmed. World is a bazaar in which one group makes benefit and the other faces loss. Cutting jokes and mockery is the activity and enjoyment and amusement of foolish ones. People are respected in this world for possessing wealth and in the Hereafter for possessing righteous deeds.

One day one of the flatterer and glib tongued person said to Al-Mutawakkil, the cruel Abbasid Caliph, “Why do you command your court offices to honor Imam Ali Naqi (as), and when he arrives they must raise the curtains and open the doors for him. This itself is against your conduct. Let Imam Ali Naqi (as) come and go like the rest of the people so that he looses his worth in the eyes of people.”

Al-Mutawakkil agreed to his demand and ordered his officials not to hold the curtains and open the doors while Imam Ali Naqi (as) comes or leaves.

One day, one of his servants came rushing to him and said: “Imam Ali Naqi (as) is coming and to whichever part of the court he arrives, the doors open and curtains are drawn automatically. This thing attracted the attention of all and if this continues on the superiority and supremacy of Imam Ali Naqi (as) will become clear and evident to all, thus your Caliphate will be endangered.

Al-Mutawakkil at once ordered that the officials must adopt the previous conduct with Imam Ali Naqi (as) and honor him more than ever.

People observed from Imam Ali Naqi (as) due to his connection with Allah and the unseen world, works which were considered to be the specimen of Allah’s might and power.

One of the friends of our 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (as) traveled from Baghdad, Iraq to Madina and had the honor to visit Imam Ali Naqi (as). Imam Ali Naqi (as) enquired from him the condition of Al-Wathiq the Abbasid Caliph and he replied, “when I left Iraq he was fit and fine, and Al-Mutawakkil was in prison and Ibn-e-Zayyat had become famous and well known among the people.

Imam Ali Naqi (as) after a moment’s silence said, “That which is Allah’s will, shall take place, and there is no way to stop his orders and commands. Oh my friend be aware that Al-Wathiq has passed away and Al-Mutawakkil has succeeded him and Ibn-e-Ziyyat has been slain upon the behest of Al-Mutawakkil.”

I asked, “When was it?”

Imam Ali Naqi (as) replied, “Six days after you moved out of Baghdad, Iraq.”

Al-Mutawakkil, the cruel Abbasid Caliph was very fearful that people were so drawn to our 10th Imam, Imam Ali Naqi (as). He was very upset with the realization of the fact that people were ready to do anything that the Imam Ali Naqi (as) would order. Some of the conspirators also gathered around the Caliph and told him that perhaps the Imam Ali Naqi (as) has intention of revolt. And that they might find some evidence from his house.

Thus Al-Mutawakkil ordered some of his cruel fellow men to break in and search Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) house and arrest him, in the middle of the night without a notice when all were asleep. Al-Mutawakkil made this decision while he was in a party and was drinking heavily. Al-Mutawakkil’s men entered Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) house and decided to arrest him first. They found him alone, in a room. He had taken the carpet out and was sitting on the gravel of the floor busy in remembrance of Allah. They searched everywhere and couldn’t find anything. Thus they arrested the Imam Ali Naqi (as) and took him to Al-Mutawakkil.

When the Imam Ali Naqi (as) arrived. Al-Mutawakkil was at the prime of his drinking party. He ordered the Imam Ali Naqi (as) to sit next him. Then he offered a glass of wine to the Imam Ali Naqi (as). Imam Ali Naqi (as) refuse and said: “By Allah never has wine entered my body. Excuse me from it.” Al-Mutawakkil accepted and said: “Then sing for us and entertain us with beautiful poems.” Imam Ali Naqi (as) said: “I am not interested in poetry and I remember only but a little of the poems of other”. Al-Mutawakkil said: “There is no excuse; you must read us some poetry.”

Imam Ali Naqi (as) started: “They made rising mountains their residence. And they always had armed men guarding them. But none could save them from the attack of death. At the end they were descended from those hills and placed in the deeply dug graves with misery and humility. At this time a caller called: Where is all that glory, crowns, and luxury? Where is the face that knew comfort and hid itself behind silk curtains from the gazes of the commoner? The grave disgraced them at end. Those delicate faces are the ground for worms to crawl on. For a long time they sucked, swallowed, drank and ate of the earth. But today they are food for the earth and its pests.”

Imam Ali Naqi’s (as) voice resonated with a deep and effected melody onto the ears of the attendants, and destroyed the high of the wine. Al-Mutawakkil threw his glass away and started crying. Thus was Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil’s party ruined, and the light of truth shun into a disease heart even if it were for a fleeting moment.