The late founder of the Islamic Republic highly appreciated efforts rendered by Imam Hasan al Askar for growth of the Islamic society from various perspectives in history.
Imam Hasan al Askari is the 11th infallible successor from pure progeny of the holy prophet who undertook serious efforts to revive genuine divine teachings at sensitive juncture of history.
Imam al Askari, Born in Madina on the 10th of Rabuil Akhar 232 Hijri ( 6.12.846 AD) Died in Samarrah Iraq on 8th of Rabiul Awwal 260 Hijri (4.1.874) aged 28 years. Period of Imamate 6 years.
Samarra (Surre Mun Ra’) was a garrison town about 60 miles north of Baghdad. River Euphrates flows in the middle of the town, and because of the surrounding hills a cool breeze keeps the area cooler in comparison to Baghdad.
Imam Hasan al Askari’s (as) life from childhood to adulthood was spent in this house where his father Imam ‘Ali Naqi (as) was to remain under house arrest by the Abbasid Caliphate.
But despite this close guard on the Imam, he conducted his duties as Imam from inside the house.
He taught people Qur’an and instructed his followers the true teachings of Islam as taught by the Prophet of Islam and his Ahlul Bayt. In fact Imam Hasan al-Askari wrote a complete Tafseer of the Qur’an which was mentioned by many scholars, historians and exegetes, including Kulaini and Saduq.
Imam’s life in Samarrah was not in peace even under house arrest. From time to time he was taken to Baghdad, questioned and put in prison there. On one such occasion, the Imam was taken by guards to Baghdad where he was kept in prison during the short reign of the Caliph al-Muktadi and al-Mu’tamid afterwards.
While he was a prisoner in Baghdad there was a severe draught. Rain had not fallen for some time and crops were drying up. People were facing a famine. They did not know what to do.
Imam himself spread his prayer mat and performed two Rak’ats of prayers then lifted his bare hands to God for rain to come to the land and wipe out the draught.
The Imam’s prayers were heard by the Almighty and rain fell so much that the land became fertile again and crops began to grow. (Kulaini, Akhbarus Alam)In recognition of this service the Imam was allowed to leave the prison in Baghdad and live in his house in Samarrah, still under house arrest. He was still not allowed to go to Madina.
During the rule of Al-Mu’tamid poison was given to the Imam mixed in some fruit and he was martyred on 8th Rabi-al-Awwal 260 Hijri. He left only one son, whose name was Muhammad who was only five years old when his father died.
Our Eleventh Imam was buried in the same house where he had passed away, by the side of his father Imam ‘Ali Naqi (as) . By the passage of time, the place was transformed into a great mausoleum and pilgrims from all over the Islamic lands came to pay their homage to the two Imams of Ahlul Bayt who were buried there.