Today, we speak about the Imamate of the 11th Infallible Successor to Prophet of Islam, Imam Hassan Askari (AS).

Imam Hassan Askari was born on the 8^th day of the Islamic month of Rabi Ul-Saani in the year 232 AH, in the city of Medina.

The Infallible Imams of the Prophet of Islam's Household (Peace be upon them), especially Imam Jawad (AS), Imam Hadi (AS), and Imam Hassan Askari (AS) faced many hurdles and problems in fulfillment of their divine missions due to the presence of suppressive regimes, and imposition of many restrictions on the Imams. For instance, concurrent with the childhood of Imam Hassan Askari, the Abbasid Caliph, Motavakel, summoned Imam Hadi (AS) from Medina to the city of Samara. Thus, Imam Hassan Askari, throughout his childhood, lived in exile in the company of his infallible father, Imam Hadi, in Samara, which was a military zone. Imam Hassan Askari lived under these conditions most of his blessed life.

Upon the martyrdom of Imam Hadi (AS), the mantle of Imamate rested on the shoulders of his infallible son, Imam Hassan Askari (AS), at the age of 22. Throughout his six-year Imamate, Imam Hassan Askari (AS) was always under the watchful eyes of the spies of Abbasid regime. The Infallible Imam, with his influential and eloquent remarks, presented the divine religion of Islam for those who sought righteousness. Imam Hassan Askari made utmost efforts to defend and safeguard pure Islamic teachings, while showing the path of salvation to those who sought the truth.

The Infallible Imam invited his followers to maintain piety, ethical virtues, trustworthiness, honesty, and kindness toward others, especially toward their relatives.

Imam Hassan Askari invited Muslims, especially thinkers, to avoid any derailment from the righteous path.

istort HhiHjhois tHistorians point out that Imam Hassan Askari was a huge source of knowledge and was the wisest individual of his era. Despite the strict restrictions imposed on the Infallible Imam by the Abbasid regime; the chaotic state of the social conditions; and shortness of the period of Imamate of Imam Hassan Askari, he managed to groom several students, who rose to prominence and significantly contributed to the promotion of pure Islamic culture and teachings. It is said that Imam Hassan Askari in fact groomed more than a hundred students.

Gratefulness toward writers is an appropriate approach, which leads to development of science and knowledge and growth of community's vigilance and awareness. Meanwhile, Imam Hassan Askari (AS), in addition to grooming students, encouraged writers to create valuable works of art.

One of the disciples of Imam Hassan Askari (AS), Davoud Ibn Qasem Jafari, pointed out that he presented a book penned by one of the authors, to the Infallible Imam. The Infallible Imam asked his disciple who had authored that book? The disciple of the Infallible Imam responded that the writer of that book was Younes. At this point, the Infallible Imam said:  God will grant a ray of light to him on the Day of Resurrection, for every letter of that book.

As the result of encouragements of Imam Hassan Askari, some of the Infallible Imam's students compiled valuable books for the Islamic Ummah. In addition to encouraging writers, the Infallible Imam also authored a number of books for development of science, and protection of the ideological boundaries of the sacred religion of Islam.

For instance, an exegesis of the ayahs of Holy Quran has been attributed to Imam Hassan Askari (AS). The Infallible Imam also penned a compilation about Islamic rulings. Furthermore, a number of letters which responded to people's questions have remained from Imam Hassan Askari (AS) to this date.

Concurrent with the era of Imam Hassan Askari, a number of cities and regions such as Kufa, Baghdad, Nayshapour, Qom, Khorasan, Yemen, Reyy, Azarbaijan, and Samara were considered as the important bases of Shias. The Infallible Imam has written a number of letters to the residents of these regions in order to promote the Shia culture and to develop knowledge. The texts of some of the letters that the Infallible Imam wrote for the Shias of Qom and Nayshapour, have remained to this day.

The era of Imamate of Imam Hassan Askari (AS) was one of the most turbulent periods of rule of the Abbasid regimes. The incompetence of Abbasid caliphs, power struggle among the leading figures of Abbasid regimes, and people's discontent were some of the factors which contributed to political and social chaos in that phase in time. The Abbasid officials ruled with an iron fist. They built luxurious palaces by seizing people's money, while remaining indifferent to the hardships and woes that ordinary people grappled with, on a daily basis. Hence, unrests surged across the Islamic lands.

In the meantime, the word was out that the infallible son of Imam Hassan Askari (AS) is the one who will liberate the world from the yoke of injustices, and that he is the savior of mankind, whose uprising puts an end to oppression and injustices. These reports led Abbasid rulers to be hard on Imam Hassan Askari and Shias, and to pile up pressure upon the Infallible Imam.

Imam Hassan Askari was always monitored by the spies of Abbasid regime and was even imprisoned by the Abbasid rulers on a number of occasions.

Imam Hassan Askari was well-known among Muslims of his era, because of his elevated scientific status and ethical virtues, and was honored and respected by everyone. He maintained praiseworthy virtues, was very kind, and had a charismatic face. Based on historical accounts, a number of unaware individuals opposed the Infallible Imam at first. However, upon observing the ethical virtues of Imam Hassan Askari, they turned into the supporters and devotees of the Infallible Imam. Even when the Infallible Imam was imprisoned, the related prison wardens were hugely influenced by Imam Hassan Askari's eloquent remarks and ethical virtues.

MR/ME