Birth Anniversary of Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s)


 
 
On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan Al-Askari (a.s), the eleventh Infallible Imam, the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL) congratulates the whole world.
 
Imam Hasan Al-Askari was born in Madina on the 10th (or 8th according to some sources) of Rabuil Akhar 232 Hijri (846 CE) and was martyred in Samarrah Iraq on 8th of Rabiul Awwal 260 Hijri (874 CE) aged 28 years. The period of his Imamate was 6 years. Samarrah was a garrison town, and Imam’s title ‘al-askari’, meaning of the army, is derived from the fact that he spent his life under house arrest as did his father Imam Ali An-Naqi (a.s).
 
On many occasions, the Imam was taken for questioning to Baghdad and imprisoned by the Abbasid caliphs. However, he continued to teach and conduct his duties as Imam whilst under house arrest. The well-known  scholar Al-Kindi became the Imam’s student, and Ibn Jawzi has quoted hadiths from the Imam, such as ‘the wine-drinker is like an idolator’.  The Imam is also well-known for his commentary on the Quran which he dictated to his student Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn Khalid.
 
Despite leading a peaceful quietist life, the Abbasid caliph al-Mutamid had the Imam poisoned  as he saw his popularity and piety as a threat. Our Eleventh Imam was buried in the same house where he had died, by the side of his father Imam Ali Naqi (as). With 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.
 
Imam left us some wonderful teachings as our guidance, but the greatest gift of all that he left us was his son, the Proof of God, the final and living Imam, Imam Mahdi (atfs) whose reappearance we wait in these times of difficulties, for he will come and fill the earth with justice.
 
Some of Imam Hasan Al-Askari’s well known sayings are:
 
Let piety be your provision, patience be your garment, and buy hardship in the path of Allah.
 
Be true in your speech, trustworthy in performing your deeds, prolong your sajdah (prostration), deal with others with best behaviour, and treat your neighbour amicably.
 

Generosity has a limit, when crossed becomes extravagance; caution has a limit when crossed becomes cowardice; thriftiness has a limit, when crossed becomes miserliness; courage has a limit, when crossed becomes fool-hardiness. Let this moral lesson suffice: refrain from doing anything which you would disapprove of if done by someone else.
 
 
Today, WABIL extends its warmest wishes to all on the birth anniversary of Imam Hasan Al-Askari. We send our sincerest greetings to our Imam, and we wish that Muslims and all humankind pledge their allegiance to this great divine Leader and join us in serving him.
 
 
Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League
London, U.K
 
 

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