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IMAM AL-‘ASKARY
(A.S.):
Name: Imam Hasan al-‘Askary (a.s.)
Birth:
8th Rabee al-Thani 232 A.H. in Madina
Parents: Imam ‘Ali al-Hadi (a.s.) & Bibi Hadeesa Khatoon (a.s.)
Subtitle: Abu Muhammad
Martyrdom: 8th Rabee’ al-Awwal 260 A.H.
Buried:
Samarra,
‘Iraq
Al-‘Askar
literally
means ‘an army’. When Mu’tasimbillah, the Abbaside Caliph chose Surman
Ray as the base for his army, the place later on became known as
al-‘Askar. Imam Hasan bin ‘Ali bin Muhammad (a.s.) lived at this
place and therefore became known as Hasan al-‘Askary (a.s.) meaning
“Hasan, the resident of al-‘Askar”.
Imam
Hasan al-‘Askary (a.s.) was declared (openly) as the next Imam by his
holy father, when he was barely a child of four months. The declaration
was made in presence of many notable companions of the tenth Imam
(a.s.).
(Al-Irshaad:
Sheikh Mufeed)
Imam
Hasan al-‘Askary (a.s.) had a short life of only 28 years. This short
span of life was full of troubles and tribulations. At the age of 11
years, he (a.s.) migrated with his noble father Imam ‘Ali bin Muhammad
(a.s.) to Samarra, in ‘Iraq where he spent his life with his father
either in imprisonment or partial freedom. In the year 254 A.H. Imam
‘Ali bin Muhammad (a.s.) passed away after being poisoned and Imam Hasan
al-‘Askary (a.s.) took over the office of Imamate at the age of 22
years.
HIS
GENEROSITY WITH THE ENEMIES:
It is
narrated that Mu’tamid, the Abbaside Caliph had kept a spy to keep a
watchful eye on Imam (a.s.)’s movements. One day, a Shia’ (follower of
our Imam) sent some pomegranates to him as a gift. The pomegranates were
placed in front of the Imam (a.s.). The spy, who happened to be present
at that time, kept on staring at the pomegranates longingly. When the
Imam (a.s.) noticed this behaviour, despite his knowledge about him, he
(a.s.) picked up one pomegranate and gave it to the spy. The spy took it
but did not eat it. Imam (a.s.) asked him:
“Why aren’t you eating the pomegranate I gave you?” He said,
“I have five children and I never eat without them. I was just
wondering how I will share this one pomegranate with them”. Imam
(a.s.) felt pity for him and gave away all the pomegranates to him. The
man refused but the Imam (a.s.) insisted saying:
“If your children eat these, it is better than
I eat them!” (Chauda Sitaare)
HIS
SAYING:
“Generosity has a limit, which when crossed becomes extravagance;
Caution has a limit which when crossed becomes cowardice; Thriftiness
has a limit which when crossed becomes miserliness; Courage has a limit
which when crossed becomes fool-hardiness. Let this moral lesson
suffice: Refrain from doing anything which you would disapprove of if
done by someone else”.
(A Brief
History of The Fourteen Infallibles)
On this auspicious occasion of the birth of Imam Hasan al-‘Askary
(a.s.), we offer our warmest greetings and sincere felicitations to our
Living Imam, Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi (A.J.) and to all the Shia’s of
Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.).
Mulla
Mujaheedali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk |