TheLifeofImamHasanAl-'AskariBaqirShareefal-Qurashi-XKP

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1ChapterDedication

Tothepioneerofthehumanintellect;

Totheestablisherofhumancivilization;Tohewhohasfilledtheworldwithvirtuesandknowledge;

TotheImamandteacher:Ja’faras-Sadiq.IhumblyoffertohishighnessthiseffortabouthisgrandsonImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-

Askari(a.s.)whohadraisedthebanneroftruthandjusticeintheworldofIslam,andIprayitwillbeaccepted.

-TheAuthor

2ChapterIntroduction

InTheNameofAllah,TheBeneficentTheMerciful

(1)Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Ali al-Askari (a.s.) is the eleventh imam of the infallible

imamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).TheblessedandpiousImamscarriedthebannerofIslam,undertookthe goals of the religion, sacrificed their lives into its way, and accustomed themselves to facedisasters,difficulties,andhardshiptospreadthehighvaluesandgoalsof thisreligion.Indeed, justhowmanyfavorshavetheybestoweduponMuslims!Thisgreatimamhadintellectual,scientifictalents,andabilitiesthatmadehimwithoutdisputean

intellectual genius among men. He was one of the heroes of history by his resisting the variouschallengesandstandingupagainst thedeviateandoppressiveAbbasidrule.Herebelledagainst thecorruptiveregimesandsparednoeffortinachievingtruthandjusticeamongpeople.

(2)ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)waslikehisfathersinhistendenciesandaims.Indeed,theyallwere

likeeachotherinreachingthehighestranksofvirtueandperfection.Historianshaveclaimedhewasthemostknowledgeableoneinthereligiousverdictsandaffairs

andthatallscholarsand‘Ulama’(scholars)ofhisagewereinneedofhimtoladlefromthefountofhisknowledgeandsciences.Hewasthemostdevoted,piousworshipperofallpeopleofhistime.Hepreferredtheobedienceof

Allah to everything. He was the most patient and forbearing one. He suppressed his anger andpardonedwhoeverwrongedhim.Hewas themost generous, the kindest to the poor, and themostcharitabletotheneedy.HeappointedagentsinmanycountriesoftheIslamicworldentrustingthemwiththedistributingofthelegaldues,whichcametohim,amongthepoorandtheweakofMuslimstogetthemoutoftheirpovertyanddeprivation,whereashehimselflivedlikethepoor.Hepaidnoattentiontothepleasuresanddesiresofthislife,likehisfatherswhoturnedtheirbackstothisworldandturnedcompletelytowardsAllahandtheafter-world.

(3)HistoriansmentionthatallpeopleglorifiedandhonoredImamal-Askari(a.s.),andacknowledged

his virtue and preference to all of theAlawids and theAbbasids at his time.When the imam (a.s.)came to theAbbasid royalpalace, everyoneof theattendants stoodupandbowedglorifyinghim.Viziers, clerks, army leaders, and all statesmen regarded him so highly.Al-Fatah binKhaqan, the

primeminister of al-Mutawakkil, preferred Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) to all eminent scholarsand‘Ulama’,andacknowledged thatnoonehad thevirtuesandqualities that the imam(a.s.)hadatthattime.

(4)Itwasnaturalthatthenation,withallclasses,regardedandglorifiedImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)

for they sawhis guidance, piety, righteousness, asceticism, loyalty to the truth, and devotedness toAllah.TheywerecertainthathewasthecaliphofAllahonEarth,andtheonlyrepresentativeofhisgrandfatherthegreatProphet(s.a.w.w.).Inadditiontothat,Imamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)undertookthefatalissuesoftheIslamicnation,anddefendedtherightsofMuslims.Hecriticizedtherulersofhistimeforwrongingpeopleanddisregardingtheirrights.Therefore,thenationglorifiedhimandacknowledgedhisnecessaryleadership.

(5)TheAbbasidkingsbecamedispleasedwhentheysawandheardthatthemassesglorifiedImamal-

Hasanal-Askari(a.s.),andthatgreatnumbersofMuslimsbelievedinhisImamateandthoughtthathewasworthierofthecaliphatethantheAbbasidswhohadnoqualitythatmightmakethemfitfortheIslamiccaliphate.Spiteagainsttheimam(a.s.)filledtheheartsoftheAbbasidrulerswhotooksevereproceduresagainsthim.Theyimposedaneconomicblockadeagainsthim,andputhimunderhousearrest inSamarra’.They surroundedhimwith policemen anddetectives towatch his every breath.Theysubjectedeveryonewhocontactedhimtoseverepenalties.Thiswas-asIthink-thereasonforwhy only a few narrators narrate traditions from him, and so not many maxims, literatures, andreligiousrulingsweretransmittedfromhim.

(6)Therewasanotherverysensitive reason that led theAbbasids towatch Imamal-Hasanal-Askari

(a.s.)strictly.ItwasthatImamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)wasthefatherofImamMuhammadal-Mahdi(a.s.), the awaited savior and reformer who would fill the world with justice, and would destroyoppressors andoppression.TheProphet (s.a.w.w.) andhis guardians gavegood tidings about him,andtoldthenationthatthissaviorwouldspreadpoliticalandsocialjusticeonEarth,andallMuslimsofdifferent traditionsbelievedthis.Therefore, theAbbasidswereafraidof thissavior,andthoughtthathewouldremovetheirruleandauthority.TheyreleasedspiesonImamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)toknowofthebirthofthisson.Theysentfemalespiestoseewhichofhiswiveswouldgivebirthtoamalebaby,sothathemaybetakenaway.ButAllahtheAlmightymadethepregnancyandthebirthofImam al-Mahdi (a.s.) an unknown matter, just as He had made the birth of Prophet Moses (a.s.)unknowntothePharaoh.

(7)This book studies the age of Imam al-Askari (a.s.) and all its events. The study of the age is

necessary because it sheds lights on the intellectual, social, economical, political life of that age.Naturally,ithasdirectinfluenceonthelifeofonewholivesinthatveryage.Besidesthat,ituncoversthedimensionsofhislifeandpersonality,andtheextentoftheinfluenceoftheeventsofthatageonhim.

(8)

Thebookfeaturestheeconomiclifeofthatagewhichwasneithersoundnorstablebutconfused

andparalyzed.TheAbbasidgovernmentsattheageofImamal-Askari(a.s.)didnotcreateeaseforpeople, nor did their rule result in the creation of the noble life that Islamwanted for the nation.ExcessivewealthwasaccumulatedinthepossessionofthemembersoftheAbbasidfamily,statesmen,andtheiragents.Theyspentlavishly.Theyappropriatedthetreasuresoftheearthwhilethemajorityof the Muslim peoples suffered poverty and deprivation, besides the pains, sufferings, andsubjugationtheyfacedfromthegovernmentofficialsincollectingthelandtaxandothertaxes.

(9)WehavealsopresentedastudyonthekingsoftheageofImamal-Askari(a.s.).Mostofthosekings

wereinsignificantandineffective.Theysubmittedtotheirlustsanddesiresandwerefondofmaidsandsongstresses.Theirrednightswerefullofsin.TheywereindifferenttowhatAllahhadorderedtheguardiansofMuslimstodoinordertobetterthegenerallifeofthenation,toofferthenecessaryservicesforpeople,and tofindequivalentopportunitiesforallcitizens.Mostof theAbbasidkingsdidnothingof that sort - rather they appropriated thewealthofAllah for themselves and took thepeopleofAllahastheirownslaves.Theyranthenationviolentlyandoppressively.TheyentrustedtheTurks,whowereharsh,ignorant,andunawareofadministrationandpolitics,withabsoluteauthorityoverthenation,andtheysankthenationintoseditionsanddisasters.

(10) Many historical facts and events were mixed together, distorted, or fabricated because some

historiansintendedtooverlooktheclearerrorsofsomekingsandrulers.Theytriedtopraisethemwithnobleepithetsandgoodqualitiesthat theydidnotpossess,whereas, inreality, thosekingsandrulersweretheworstoftyrantswhothrewthenationintoanabyssofoppressionandcorruption,andexploitedtheeconomyofthestatefortheirownpleasuresandfancies,andafflictedthepublicwithpoverty and wretchedness. It is neither fidelity nor truth to regard those tyrants with the eye ofholinessandsacrednessandtotrustinthemasidealpersonalities.ItisverynecessarytostudyIslamichistorythoughtfully,impartially,andalooffromanyfanaticism.Authorsmustwritejustforthetruthandthegoodofthenation.

(11)Also, in this book, we have mentioned a group of jurisprudents, scholars, and narrators who

narrated traditions from ImamAbuMuhammad al-Askari (a.s.) and took from his knowledge andsciences.Thisisnecessary-asIthink-becauseitcompletestheresearchonthenoblepersonalityofthe imam (a.s.) for it shows the extent of his association with the men of knowledge and theirassociationwithhimatthatcriticalperiodwheretheAbbasidgovernmentputtheimamunderseverewatch, and punished whoever associated with him. This confinement affected the imam (a.s.) andcausedhimmuchpain, because nothingwould bemore painful to an intellectual powerhouse thanpreventing themfromexpressing theirknowledgeandsciencesand transmitting theiropinionsandideastoothers.

(12)And here, I find it from gratefulness and loyalty to the great efforts of the grand scholar my

brother, Sheikh Hadi Sharif al-Qurashi, who went through some reference books concerning thesubject of this book, aswell as his useful directions and valuable instructions. I pray forAllah torewardhimwiththebestofHisrewardsthatHerewardsHisloyalpeoplewith.HolycityofNajafBaqirSharifal-Qurashi

3ChapterTheImam’sNobleLineage

ImamAbuMuhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) was from the heart of the prophetic family, by

whichAllahhadhonouredtheArabsandMuslims.Itwas theholiest family thathadundertakentheissues of truth and justice among all peoples of the earth. There is no lineage in this world likethenoblelineagewhichImamal-Askari(a.s.)belongedto.HewasthesonofImamal-HadibinImamMuhammadal-JawadbinImamAliar-RedhabinImam

Musa al-Kadhim bin Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq bin ImamMuhammad al-Baqir bin ImamAli Zayn-al-Aabidin(as-Sajjad)binImamal-HusaynbinImamAlibinAbuTalib(peacebeonthem).TheseweretheinfallibleimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)whomAllahhadkeptuncleannessawayfromandpurifieda thorough purifying, and whom the Prophet (a.s) hadmade as the boat of rescue and safety forpeople.

HisFather

HisfatherwasImamAlial-Hadi(a.s.),thetenthimamoftheShi’afaith.Hewasfromthemasters

oftheAhlulBayt(a.s)andthemostknowledgeable,pious,andvirtuousofallpeopleathistime.

HisMother

Hismotherwasthebestofwomenathertimeinherchastity,purity,andpiety.Historianssayshe

wasfromthegoodknowingwomen.[1]Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)praisedherbysaying,‘Saleel(hername)waspurifiedfromerror,defect,andimpurity.’[2]Shewasabondmaid[3]froman-Nawbah.[4]Itdidnotharmherthatshewasabondmaid,forman

intheviewofIslamisexaltedbyhisguidance,piety,andpropriety,andheisdegradedbydeviationfromtherightpath.Historiansdisagreedonhername.SomeofthemsaidhernamewasSaleel,whichisthemostvalid

assertionaccordingtotheprevioustraditionofImamal-Hadi(a.s.).SomesaidshewascalledSawsan.[5]OtherssaidhernamewasHadithah,[6]andotherssaidHareebah.

TheGreatNewbornChild

Thebirthofthenewbornboy,HassanAl-Askariwhowasthedescendantofprophethood,andthe

remainderof the Imamate,made theworld shine andSamarabloom.Thisgreat newbornwas thecontinuityofthelifeofhisinfalliblefatherswholittheintellectuallifeintheworldofIslam.Delightand joy filled theheartsof theprophetic family for theyknew thathewouldbe the imamafterhisfather,asImamal-Hadi(a.s.)hadtoldthem.Somehistorians said hewas born inMedina,[7] and someothers said inSamarra.[8]Historians

alsogavedifferentdatesforhisbirth.ItwassaidthathewasborninRabee’al-Awwal[9]230AH,[10]or231,[11]or232,[12]or233.[13]

CeremoniesofBirth

Afterthebirthofthisblessedson,Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)recitedthecalltoprayerinhisrightear,and

theIqamah, thecall tostartprayer inhis leftear.Thiswasthefirsthymnthat thisblessednewbornboymetlifewith;“Allahisgreat,thereisnogodbutAllah”.Ontheseventhdayafterbirth,Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)cutthehairofhisnewbornchild,andgavesilver

orgoldasmuchastheweightofhisson’shairtothepoorascharity.

HisNameAndSurname

Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)namedhisblessednewbornchild“al-Hasan”likethenameofhisgreatuncle,

themasteroftheyouthofParadise.HesurnamedhimasAbuMuhammad,[14]andMuhammadwasthename of the awaited Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.), the great reformer and saviour of humanity, and thesought-afterhopeofthedeprivedandthedisabledintheearth.

HisEpithets

Hisepithetsexpressedhishighandnoblequalities.Hewascalled:1.Al-Khalis(thepure)[15]2.Al-Hadi(theguide)[16]3.Al-Askari(ofthemilitary);[17]hewascalledsobecausethecity(Samarra’)helivedinwhich

wasamilitarycamp.4.Az-Zakiy(pure,chaste,righteous)[18]5.Al-Khass(peculiar),[19]thatAllahhaddistinguishedhimwithvirtues,andwithrespondingto

hissupplications6.As-Samit(silent),[20]:hewassilentandhespokejustwisdom,knowledge,andthementionof

Allah7.As-Sires(lamp),:thathewasasalamplightingthewayandguidingthedevianttorighteousness8.At-Taqiy(pious)[21]

HisMien

AhmadbinUbaydillahbinKhaqansaidaboutImamal-Askari(a.s.),‘Hewasbrownwithbigeyes,

finestature,beautifulface,andgoodbody.Hehadgravityandsolemnity.[22]Anditwassaidhewasbetweenbrownandwhite.’[23]

HisUpbringing

ImamAl-Askari (a.s.)grewup in thehouseofguidanceand thecenterof Imamateandgeneral

authorityofMuslims.HewasfromthenoblehousewhosepeopleAllahhadkeptuncleannessawayfromandpurifiedthoroughly.Ash-Shabrawi says regarding this exalted house, ‘What an honourable house it is and what a

gloriouslineageitis!Itisthehouseofprideandexaltation.Theyareallequalinthenobleroot,inthegoodinners,andingloryliketheteethofacomb.Howexaltedahouseitis!Ithasallqualitiesofperfectiontotheextentthatit isnotexceptedbylimitationssuchas“otherthan”or“except”.Theseimamshavebeenorderedingloryliketheorderofpearls,andharmonizedinhonorthatthefirstofthemequals thenext.Manywere thosewhostrove todegrade thishousebutAllahexaltedandstillexalts it, andmanywere thosewho spared no effort to separate the unity of this house but Allahgathered and gathers it. How many rights of this house were lost but Allah does not ignore orlose…’[24]Scholarlystudiesnotethatone’shouseholdhasgreatinfluenceontheformingofman’sbehavior

andthebuildingofhispersonality.Thegoodorbadsceneshesees inside thehouseare impresseduponhimandadheretohimthroughouthislife.Inthelightofthisfact,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)obtained thebestscenesof thepuresteducation.Hegrewup inahouse thatAllahhadpurifiedandexalted…thehousethatraisedtheWordofAllahhighintheEarthandoffereddearsacrificesforthesakeofIslam.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)grewupinthehouseoftheQur'anandtheheartofIslam.Hisfather

Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)fedhimwithguidanceandidealstobethecontinuityofthemissionofIslam.

God-Fearing

ThedistinctaspectinthechildhoodofImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)wasthefear

ofAllah.HewasGod-fearing since his early years.Historiansmentioned that one day somemanpassedbyImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)andsawhimcrywhilehewaswithhisfellowchildren.Themanthoughtthatthischildcriedforthetoysinthechildren’shandsandthathecouldnotparticipateintheirplaying.Themantoldthechildthathewouldbuyhimwhathemightplaywith.Thechildsaid,‘No!Wehavenotbeencreatedforplay.’Themanwasastonishedandsaid,‘Then,whatforwehavebeencreated?’Thechildsaid,‘Forknowledgeandworship.’Themanaskedthechild,‘Wherehaveyougotthisfrom?’Thechildsaid, ‘FromthissayingofAllah(What!DidyouthenthinkthatWehadcreatedyouin

vain)[25].’Themanwasastonishedandconfused.Hesaidtothechild,‘Whathashappenedtoyouwhileyou

arestillaguiltlesslittlechild?’Thechildsaid,‘Beawayfromme!Ihaveseenmymothersetfiretobigpiecesoffirewood,but

fireisnotlitexceptwithsmallpieces,andIfearthatIshallbefromthesmallpiecesofthefirewoodoftheHell.’[26]FaithinAllahwasapartof,andadistinguishingelementofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Hedid

notfearbutAllah,andthistraitremainedinhimuntilthelastmomentofhislife.

WithHisFather

ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)spentapartofhislifewithhisfatherImamal-Hadi(a.s.).He

did not partwith him even in his travels.He saw in his father a true picture of themorals of hisgrandfatherthemessengerofAllah(s.a.w.w.)whohadbeenpreferredtoallprophets,andsawinhimthespiritsofhisfathers,theinfallibleimams(a.s.).Ontheotherhand,Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)sawinhissonthenaturalcontinuityof thegreatImamate

andgeneralauthorityoftheProphet(s.a.w.w.),andthereforehecaredmuchforhim.Hepraisedhimsaying,“MysonAbuMuhammadisthebestoftheprogenyofMuhammad(blessingbeonhimandonhisprogeny)innature,andthemosttrustworthyinauthority.Heistheeldestofmychildren,andheismysuccessorandtherecipientofthehandholdsofImamateanditsgovernance.”[27]of course, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) was far above flattering or submission to emotions. He did not

praisehissonandannouncehisvirtueunlesshesawinhimallnobleaspectsandhighqualities.Anditwasso,becauseImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)hadallthesevirtuesandnobilities.Imamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)kepttohisfatherImamal-Hadi(a.s.)andsawwhathesufferedfrom

theAbbasidkings,especiallyal-MutawakkilwhosparednoeffortinoppressingImamal-Hadi(a.s.).ThistyrantwasexcessiveinharmingtheImam.Hehouse-arrestedhiminSamarra’andsurroundedhishousewithpolicemenanddetectivestowatchhim,andtopreventthe‘Ulama’,jurisprudents,andtherestoftheShi’afromassociatingwithhim.Al-MutawakkilalsooppressedImamal-Hadi(a.s.)inhis livingaffairs,andorderedhismentosearchthehouseof theimamfromtimetotimeandtakehim to al-Mutawakkil in whatever state he was. It was al-Mutawakkil himself who had preventedofficially the visiting to the holy shrine of Imam al-Husayn (a.s.), and ordered the shrine to bedestroyed.AllthoseterribleeventstookplacebeforetheeyesofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)whilehewas yet in the early years of his youth.His heartwas filledwith pains and sorrows during theperiodhelivedwithhisfather.

TheDeathofHisBrother

Muhammad Abu Ja’far, the brother of Imam al-Askari (a.s.), was a wonderful example of the

infallibleimamsandatruepictureoftheirthoughtsandprinciples.Hewasveryintelligent,withhighmoralsandpossessedvastknowledge,totheextentthatmanyoftheShi’athoughtthathewouldbetheimamafterhisfatherImamal-Hadi(a.s.).Al-Aarifal-KilanisaidaboutAbuJa’far,‘IaccompaniedAbuJa’farMuhammadbinAlisincehe

wasyoung.Isawnoonepurernormorehonorablethanhim.AbulHasanal-Askari(Imamal-Hadi)lefthiminHijazwhilehewasachildandthenhecametohimayoung.HekepttohisbrotherAbuMuhammad(a.s.)[28]whoeducatedhimandfedhimwithhisknowledge,wisdom,andmorals.’AbuJa’farbecameseriouslyill,maybebecauseofbeingpoisonedbytheAbbasids.Heremainedin

thisstate forsomedays, suffering intolerablepainswhilehisbrother ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),wholovedhimmuch,waswithhimallthistime.However,afternotlong,AbuJa’fardepartedtothebetterworld,butImamAbuMuhammad’sheartwasbrokenandhewasverysorrowfulanddistressedoverthelossofhisdearbrother.

WithHisBrotherAl-Husayn

Al-Husayn bin Ali al-Hadi (a.s.) was a pureman of great knowledge and highmorals. Hewas

alwayswith his brother ImamAbuMuhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.) and theywere called “as-Sibtayn”[29]liketheirtwograndfathersImamHasanandImamHusayn(a.s.).Theywerefamousforthistitleatthattime.AbuHashimsaid,‘Oneday,Irodeonmysumpterandsaid:‘(GlorybetoHimWhomadethissubservienttousandwewerenotabletodoit).[30]Oneofas-Sibtaynheardmesaythatandsaidtome,‘Youhavenotbeenorderedofthis,butyouhavebeenorderedtoremembertheblessingofyourLordonyouwhenyourideonit(onthesumpter).’[31]

TheLossofHisFather

Imamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)sufferedthegreatlossofhisfather,anditwastheheaviestcalamity

hehadeverfacedinhislife.TheAbbasid tyrant al-Mu’tamid assassinated Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) by adding poison to his food,

[32] when he saw all people talk prevalently about the virtues and vast knowledge and the highpositionoftheimam.HewasveryangryandwasfilledwithenvyagainstImamal-Hadi(a.s.).Then,hecommittedthisterriblecrimeagainsthim.Afterbeingpoisoned,Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)sufferedterriblepainsandretiredtobed.TheShi’aand

high statesmen visited him. Some poets visited him like Abu Hashim al-Ja’fari who composed asorrowfulpoemonhim.AbuDu’amahvisitedhimandwhenhewanted to leave, the imamsaid tohim,‘OAbuDu’amah,youhavearightonme.DoItellyouatraditionthatshalldelightyou?’AbuDu’amahsaid,‘IaminutmostneedofthatOsonofthemessengerofAllah.’Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)said,‘MyfatherMuhammadbinAlitoldmefromhisfatherAlibinMusabin

Ja’farfromhisfatherJa’farbinMuhammadfromhisfatherMuhammadbinAlifromhisfatherAlibinal-Husaynfromhisfatheral-HusaynbinAlifromhisfatherAlibinAbuTalibthatthemessengerofAllah(a.s.)saidtohim,‘Writedown!’Alisaid,‘WhatshallIwritedown?’ThemessengerofAllah(a.s.)said,‘Writedown:“InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful.Faithisthatwhichheartsacknowledgeanddeedsprove,andIslamisthatwhichtongueswitnessandmarriagebecomeslawfulwith.’AbuDu’amahsaid,‘OsonofthemessengerofAllah,Idonotknowwhichofthemisbetter;the

traditionorthenarrators!’Alial-Hadi(a.s.)said,‘ItisabookwrittendownbythehandofAlibinAbuTalibandthedictation

ofthemessengerofAllah(a.s.)thatweinheritonefromtheother.’[33]Before his death, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) announced that the imam after himwould be his sonAbu

Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.). He appointed him as the general authority for the Shi’a andentrustedhimtopreparehiscorpse(afterdeath),offertheprayeronhim,andburyhim.Heentrustedhimwithotheraffairstoo.

ToTheParadise

ThepoisonreactedinsidethebodyofImamal-Hadi(a.s.)andhegrewweakerandweaker.Death

approachedhimhastily, andwhenhe felthis end,he turned towards theQiblahandbegan recitingsomeSurahs(chapters)fromtheQur'an.Hispuresoulwenthightotheheavensurroundedbyangelswhilehis lipsandheartwerebusymentioningAllah.Theearthshook for the terribledisaster.Theleader, theinstructor,andthefatheroftheweakandthedepriveddied!AbondmaidwentoutoftheImam’shousecryingout,‘ItwasterriblethatwhichwehavemetonMondaybeforeandnow!’[34]Thewomen’seyeswerefilledwithtearsafterthisalarmingcry,andtheirmemorieswentbackto

thatMondaywherethemeetingofas-Saqifah[35]washeldandsincethendisastersandmisfortuneswerepouredovertheAhlulBayt(a.s).Imam AbuMuhammad (a.s.) washed the pure corpse of his father, and enshrouded it. Then he

offeredtheprayeronhisfatherwhilehisheartwasfullofsorrowandpainforthegreatloss.Samarra’ shook for the terrible affliction, and people of all classes hurried to escort the pure

corpseof their imam.Stores,markets, and stateofficeswereclosed.Viziers,‘Ulama’, judges, highofficials, and the rest members of the Abbasid family were before the bier while mentioning thevirtuesandhighqualitiesoftheimamandtalkingaboutthegreatlossthatafflictedtheMuslimnation.HistorianssaidthatSamarra’hadneverseensuchescortingthroughoutitshistory.Underahaloofthecall“Allahisgreat"andbeforemassesofhumanbeingswhowerelikewaves

in the sea, Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) was placed by his son Imam AbuMuhammad al-Hasan al-Askari,whosetearswereflowingoverhischeeks,intohislastabode.WhenImamal-Hadi(a.s.)died,Imamal-Askari(a.s.)wastwenty[36]ortwenty-threeyearsold.36

He assumed the Imamate and the general religious authority over Muslims while he was yet tooyoung.All elements of piety and righteousness, all virtues of thisworld,manners of prophethood, and

qualitiesofImamateweregatheredinImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.),comparedtowhomtherewasnonebetterinhistime.Herewetalkinbriefabouthisworship:

HisWorship

ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)was thebestworshipperamongallpeopleofhis time.He

spent the nightwith praying, prostrating, and reciting the Book (Qur ’an).Muhammad ash-Shakirisaid, ‘The imam sat in the mihrab and prostrated. I slept and awoke while he was still inprostration.’[37]

HisPrayer

Inhisprayer,he turnedwithallhisheartandfeelings towardsAllah, theCreatorof theuniverse

and theGiverof life.He feltorpaidattention tonothingof theaffairsof this lifewhilehewas inprayer.HissoulclungtoAllahdevotedlyandtotally.

HisQunut[38]

Inhisprayer,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)recitedthisdu’a,“OYou,Whoselightcoversdarkness,OYou,byWhoseholinessruggedmountainpassesarelit,

OYou, toWhom all the inhabitants of the earth and the heavens submit, OYou, toWhom everyinsolenttyrantsurrenderswithobedience,OYoutheAwareofhiddenconsciences,YouareMercifultoeverythingandAwareofeverything,forgivethosewhorepentandfollowYourpath,protectthemfromthetormentofFire,givethemsoonYourvictorythatYouhavepromisedthemofandYoudonot fail the promise! Devastate the people of evil and take them to the worst abode in the worstpunishmentandtheugliestretreat.OAllah,Youknowthesecretsofcreatures,andareawareoftheirconsciences.Youareinneedof

nothingexceptthatYoucarryoutwhatYouhavepromisedof.YoudonotuncoverthehiddensecretsofYourpeople.OmyLord,YouknowwhatIconcealandwhatIshowofmybehaviors,movements,andallmyemotions.OmyLord,YouseethesufferingsofthepeopleofYourobedienceandwhattheymeetfromYourenemies,andYouaregenerousandnotstingyinYourblessings,andthemoreefforts require more reward. You have ordered Your people of supplication if they turn to YousincerelyandthisrequiresthemoreofYourfavors.These forelocks and necks are submissive to You subserviently acknowledging Your deity,

invokingonYouwith their hearts, and looking forward toYour prompt rewarding, andwhatYouwilledtookplaceandwhatYouwillshalltakeplace.Youarethecalledupon,thehopedfor,andtheaskedthatnotakerwhatevergreatheisshalldecreaseYou(i.e.,Yourfavors),andnoseekerwhateverhe insists and invokes shallwearyYou.Yourkingdomshall not come to an end, andYour eternalgloryshallremainforever,andnothingintheagesisoutofYourwillabit.YouareAllah,thereisnogod butYou, theMerciful, theMighty.OAllah, assist us byYour assistance, suffice uswithYourprotection,andgiveuswhatYougivethosewhoholdfastbyYourrope,whoshadethemselvesunderYourshade…’[39]

HisDu’aintheMorning

“OYou,Whoaregreaterthaneverygreatthing,Whohavenopartnerandnovizier;OYou,the

Creatorof the sun and the lightingmoon, the shelter to the resorting fearful, theLiberatorof tiedcaptives,thenourisherofyoungbabies,thesetterofbrokenbones,theMercifultotheold,thelightoflight,theManagerofaffairs,theResurrectorofthoseingraves,theHealerofchests,theMakerofshadowandheat, theOneAwareofwhat is inchests, theRevealerof theBook, the light, thegreatQur'an,andtheBookofPsalms.OYou,Whom angels glorify in themorning and night;OYou, the Permanent andEternal, the

Bringerforthofplantsintheearlymorningandafternoon,theEnlivenerofthedead,theResurrectorofdecayedbones,theHearerofsounds,theEverlasting,theDresserofbonesthatdecayafterdeath!OYou,Whomnothingdistractsfromanyotherthing,Whodonotchangefromastatetoanother,

Whodonotneedtomoveoradvance,Whomnoaffairpreventsfromanyotheraffair,WhocancelsforcharityandsupplicationwhathasbeendeterminedandaffirmedintheHeavenofbadjudgement,Whomnoplacecanincludeorencompass,WhoputsremedyinwhatYoulikeofthings,Whokeepsalive fromseriousdiseasewith the leastofnourishment,Who removesby the leastof remedy theworstofdiseases.O You, Who, if promises, fulfils, if threatens, pardons; O You, Who possesses the needs of

requesters, Who knows what is there inside the consciences of the silent; O You, the MostMagnificent,theGenerousinpardoning.OYou,Whohaveafacethatneverbecomesold,Whohavecompletesovereignty,Whohavethe

inextinguishablelight,Whosethroneisovereverything,Whoseauthorityisoverthelandandthesea,Whosewrath is inHell,Whosemercy is inParadise,Whosepromisesare true,Whose favors areuncountable,Whosemercyiswide.OYou,theHelperofthecallersforhelp,theRespondertothecallofthecompelled,OYou,Who

are inhighesteemwhileYourcreation isof lowesteem,OYou, theLordof themortal souls, theLordofthewornbodies,themostperceptiveofseers,themosthearingofhearers,themostpromptofaccounters,thewisestofjudges,theMostMercifulofthemerciful,theGiverofgifts,theReleaserofcaptives,theLordofglory,theOneofpietyandforgiveness.OYou,Whoselimitcannotbeperceived,Whosenumbercannotbecounted,Whoseaiddoesnot

cease, I bear witness, and the witness to me is honor and supply, and from me obedience andsubmission,andbywhich Ihopedeliveranceon thedayof sighingand regret, thatYouareAllah;thereisnogodbutYoualonewithnopartner,andthatMuhammadisYourslaveandmessenger,Yourblessingbeonhimandonhisprogeny,andthathehas informedandcarriedoutonbehalfofYouwhat was his duty to You, and that You always create, provide with livelihood, give, deny, exalt,humble, enrich, impoverish, disappoint, help, pardon, show mercy, forgive, overlook what Youknow,donotwrong,straiten,enlarge,omit,fix,initiate,reproduce,enlivenanddeaden;havemercyonMuhammadandtheprogenyofMuhammadandguidemefromYou,givemefromYourfavor,spread onme fromYourmercy, and send down to me fromYour blessings, for You often have

accustomedmetogoodandfavor,givenmetoomuch,anduncoveredmyuglydeeds.OAllah,sendblessingsonMuhammadandtheprogenyofMuhammadandhastenmydeliverance,

forgivemyslips,pitymyloneliness,takemetothebestofYourworships,giftmewithhealthfrommyillness,plentyofmysupplies,inclusivesoundnessinmybody,insightinmyreligion,andhelpme to ask you for forgiveness before death comes and hope ends, and helpmebear death and itsdistress,thegraveanditsloneliness,thescalesandtheirlightness,thesirat[40]anditsslip,theDayofResurrectionanditsterror.I askYou for theacceptanceofdeedsbeforedeath, andaskYou for strength inmyhearingand

sight for the doingof the best of thatYouhave taught andmademeunderstand.You are the loftyLord,andIamthehumbleslave,andhowgreat thedifferencebetweenus!OYou,Compassionate,Benefactor,ofGloryandHonor,haveblessingsonMuhammadandtheprogenyofMuhammadthegood,thepure!”[41]

HisIdeals

Hewasidealinfaith,morals,andpsychology.Heinheritedall theperfectionsofhisfatherswho

hadbeencreatedforvirtueandhonor.Wereferheretosomeofhisperfections:

HisKnowledge

Historians unanimously mentioned that Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari (a.s.) was the most

knowledgeableandthebestofthepeopleofhisage,notonlyinreligiousaffairsandlaws,butinallfieldsofknowledge.Bakhtshou’ theChristianphysiciansaid tohisdiscipleBatriqabout the imam,‘…andheisthemostknowledgeableofallthoseundertheskyinourday.’[42]IftheAbbasidtyrantshadgivenwaytotheimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)andnotsubjectedthemto

strictchaseandconfinement,theywouldhavefilledtheworldwiththeirknowledgeandsciences,andhumanity would have received kinds of knowledge and intellectual development that it had neverobtainedthroughoutallagesandtimes.TheAbbasids perceived that if they did not prevent the people of knowledge and intellect from

associating with the infallible imams, they (the imams) would spread powers of knowledge andcultureandopennewhorizonsnotonly in thefieldsofsciencesbutalso in thepoliticalandsocialfields which would show to people the ignorance of the Abbasids, and their being distant fromIslamicvalues.ofcourse,thiswouldshaketheirthrones,andthereforetheytriedtheirbesttoseparatethenationfromitsrealleaders.

HisPatience

Imamal-Askari(a.s.)wasfromthemostpatientpeople.Healwayssuppressedhisangerandtreated

whoeverwrongedhimwithkindnessandforgiveness.TheAbbasidgovernmentarrestedandputhimintoprisonwhilehewaspatient,sayingnothing.He

didnotcomplaintoanyoneaboutwhathesuffered,butheentrustedhiscasetoAllahtheAlmighty.Thiswasfromthesignsofhispatience.

HisStrongWill

Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was distinguished by his strong will. The Abbasid rulers tried to

involvehimintothegovernmentbodyandsparednoeffort tosubjecthimtotheirdesires,buttheyfailed. The imam (a.s.) insisted on his independence and keeping away from them. The Abbasidsconsideredhimastheonlyrepresentativeoftheoppositionagainsttheirpoliciesthatwerebasedonsubjugationandoppression.He resistedall the seductions that theAbbasidgovernmentoffered tobringhim into itsway.He

preferredtheobedienceofAllahandthesatisfactionofhisconsciencetoeverythingelse.

HisGenerosity

Noonewasmoregenerousthanhimamongallpeopleofhistime.Heappointedagentsinmostof

theMuslimcountries,andentrustedthemtoreceivethelegalduesandspendthemonthepoorandthedeprived,toreconcilebetweenpeople,andinotherwaysofthegeneralwelfare.From that which historians mentioned about his generosity was that Muhammad bin Ali bin

Ibrahimbin ImamMusabin Ja’faral-Kadhim(a.s.) said,“Wewere inutmostneed.Myfather said,‘Letusgotothisman(ImamAbuMuhammad).Itissaidheisgenerous.’Isaid,‘Doyouknowhim?’Hesaid,‘No,andIhaveneverseenhimatall.’Wewent tohim.Onourway,myfathersaid,‘Howmuchweneed!Mayheorder togiveusfive

hundreddirhams;twohundredforclothes,twohundredforflour,andonehundredforspending!’I said tomyself, ‘Would that heorder to giveme threehundreddirhams; onehundred to buy a

donkey,onehundredforspending,andonehundredforclothessothatIcangotothemountain!’Whenwestoppedathis(ImamAbuMuhammad’s)door,hisservantcameoutandsaid,‘LetAlibin

IbrahimandhissonMuhammadcomein.’Whenwecameinandgreetedhim,hesaidtomyfather,‘OAli,whatmadeyounotvisitusallthis

time?’Myfathersaid,‘Ifeltshytomeetyouinthiscase.’They(Aliandhisson)stayedwiththeimamforsometimeandthencameout.Theservantofthe

imamcame,gaveAlibinIbrahimapouchofmoneyandsaid,‘Thesearefivehundreddirhams;twohundred forclothes, twohundred for flour,andonehundred for spending.’HegaveMuhammadapouch of three hundred dirhams and said to him, ‘Spend one hundred for buying a donkey, onehundredforclothes,andonehundredforspending,anddonotgotothemountainbutgotoSawra!’MuhammadwenttoSawraandbecameoneofthewealthyAlawids.[43]AbuHashimal-Ja’farisaid,‘Once,IcomplainedtoAbuMuhammadthedistressofimprisonment

andthepainsofties.Hewrotetome,‘YoushalloffertheDhuhr(noon)Prayerinyourhousetoday.’Iwassetfree(fromprison)atnoonandIofferedtheprayer inmyhouseas theimamsaid.IwasinneedandIwantedtoaskhimforhelp(butIdidnot)intheletterIhadsenttohim.WhenIarrivedinmyhouse,hesentonehundreddinarstomeandwrotetome,‘Ifyouneedsomething,donotfeelshyorrefrainfromasking.Askandyoushallgetwhatyoulike,insha’Allah(Godwilling).’[44]Historiansmentionmanystoriesofhisgenerositythatshowhisloveandkindnesstothepoorand

thedeprived.

HighMorals

ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.)wasnonesuch inhisveryhighmorals.Hemet friendsandenemies

with his noble character.He inherited this nature from his great grandfather the Prophet (s.a.w.w.)whosehighmoralsincludedallpeopleequally.His high morals affected his enemies and opponents, and they turned to be his loyal lovers.

Historianssaythathewasimprisonedduringthereignofal-MutawakkilwhowasthebitterestenemytotheAhlulBayt(a.s)andtheprogenyofImamAli(a.s.).Thecaliphorderedtheimamtobepunishedveryseverely,butwhenhecommunicatedwiththeimamandobservedhishighmoralityandpiety,hewas confounded. After that, he did not raise his eyes before the imam as a kind of respect andglorification.Whentheimamlefthim,hepraisedtheimamwiththebestwords.[45]

Infallibility

TheTwelverShi’aconsiderinfallibilityasanattributeoftheirimams.Theymeanbyinfallibility

thatitisimpossibleforanimamtomakeamistake,whetherintentionallyorunintentionally.Becauseofthis,theopponentsoftheShi’awagedviolentattacksagainstthembyclaimingthattherewasnodifferencebetweentheimamsandtherestofpeopleincommittingsinsanddisobediences.However,thisclaimdoesnotholdany The serious studiesof the livesof the imamsof theAhlulBayt (a.s)demonstratethattheywereinfallible,andnoneofthemhadevererredorcommittedamistakesincebirthuntil their lastbreath.ImamAli(a.s.)said,‘ByAllah, ifIamgiventhesevendistrictswithallthatundertheirskiestodisobeyAllahtotheextentofthehuskofagrainofbarley,thatIdepriveitofamouthofalocust,Iwillneverdoit.’Isthisnotinfallibility?!ThetruthinitsbrightestpicturesandaspectsappearedinthelivesoftheimamsoftheAhlulBayt

(a.s).Whoeverreadstheirbiographiescanneitherfindaslipintheirdoingsnorintheirsayings,butheonly finds true faith, piety, andhighmorality.Andwedonotmeanby infallibility except thesemeanings.Notes:[1]Uyunal-Mu’jizat.[2]A’yanash-Shi’a,vol.3p.289.[3]Usulal-Kafi.[4]Sirras-Silsilahath-Thahabiyyah,p.39.An-NawbahisawideareainthesouthofEgypt.The

Prophet (a.s) praised thepeopleof an-Nawbahby saying, ‘Whoeverhasnobrother, let him take abrotherfroman-Nawbah.’[5]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.37.[6]Al-Irshad,p.315.[7]Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117,Bahral-Ansab,p.2,Tuhfatal-Imam,p.86,Ilalash-Sharayi’.[8]Jawahiral-Ahkam.[9]ThethirdmonthintheIslamiccalendar.[10]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.35,TareekhAbulFida’,vol.2p.48,Ilalash-Sharayi’.[11]An-Nujoomaz-Zahirah,vol.3p.32,Sirras-Silsilahal-Alawiyyah,p.39.[12] Bahral-Ansab,p.2,Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117,al-IttihafBihubilAshraf,p.86,al-Kamil,vol.5

p.373.[13]Encyclopediaofal-Bustani,vol.7p.45.[14] Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117,Bahral-Ansab,p.2,Tuhfat al-Anam,p.86, an-Nujoomaz-Zahirah,

vol.3p.32.[15]Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117,Bahral-Ansab,p.2.[16]Bahral-Ansab,p.2.[17]Ibid.[18]Tuhfatal-Anam,p.87,Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.236.[19]Tuhfatal-Anam,p.87.[20]Ibid.[21]Safinatal-Bihar,vol.1p.259.[22]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.326.[23]Ibid.,p.238,Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117.

[24]Al-IttihafBihubilAshraf,p.68.[25]Qur'an,23:115.[26]Jawharatal-Kalam,p.155,theEncyclopediaofal-Bustani,vol.7p.45.[27]A’yanash-Shi’a,vol.3p.295.[28]Al-Mujdifin-Nasab(manuscript).[29]Thetwograndsons.[30]Qur'an,43:13.[31]Safeenatal-Bihar,vol.1p.259.[32]Al-Manaqib,vol.4p.401.[33]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.171.[34]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.171.[35] Itwas thedayof theprolongedandacerbicnegotiationswhichpreceded thenominationof

AbuBakrasthesuccessoroftheProphet(s.a.w.w.)whodiedjust thenandwasnotburiedyetat thetimeofthatmeeting.[36]Bahral-Ansab,p.2.[37]Dala’ilal-Imama,p.227.[38]Qunutisasupplicationrecitedinprayers.[39]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.62-63.[40] Sirat means “way” or “path” but in the Islamic terminology, it means the bridge that

dominatestheHell.[41]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.277-278.[42]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.261.[43]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.200.[44]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3,202.[45]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.204.

4ChapterHisImamate

Imamate is the firm base of political and social development in Islam. It is one of the most

importantpillarsonwhichthecivilization,safety,andeaseofman,andtheequalityinopportunitiesamongthemembersofsocietyarebuilt.Itprovidesthenoblelifethatpeoplecanliveateaseunderitsshade.UnderImamate,therearenoracialornaturaldifferences,butthecriterioninIslamisasmuchastheservicesmanofferstothenationthecloserittakeshimtoAllah.ImamateisakindnessfromAllahandagiftfromHismercy.TheShi’ahavebelievedintheimams

oftheAhlulBayt(a.s)andconsideredthatasapartoftheirdoctrinallifedependingonmanyreasonssuchas:First,theProphetictraditionsinwhichtheProphet(a.s)madeitobligatoryonMuslimstofollow

theAhlulBayt(a.s)whomtheProphet(a.s)hadmadeastheequaltotheHolyBook.Hesaid,“Ileavetoyouwhatifyoukeepto,youshallnotgoastrayafterme.Oneofthemisgreaterthantheother;theBookofAllahwhichisaropeextendedfromtheheaventotheearth,andmyhousehold.Theyshallnotseparateuntiltheyshallcometomeatthepond(inParadise).Seehowyouwillobeymethroughthem.”[46]ThistraditionshowsclearlythatImamatewouldbelimitedtotheAhlulBayt(a.s)andshowsthat

theywereinfalliblebecausetheProphet(a.s)comparedthemwiththeBookofAllah,andofcourse,everyerrorfromthemwouldtakethemawayfromtheBookwhereastheProphet(a.s)announcedthattheywouldnotseparatefromtheQur'anuntiltheywouldcometohimatthepondinParadise.The Prophet (a.s) also said, ‘The example ofmy household for you is like the example of the

Noah’s Ark which whoever rode on was rescued, and whoever lagged behind drowned. And theexample of my household for you is like the example of the gate of Hittah (repentance) for theIsraelitesthatwhoeverenteredthroughitwouldbeforgiven.’[47]ImamSharafuddeenal-Aamilysaidwhentalkingaboutthis tradition,‘Youknowthat thepurpose

behind comparing them (theAhlul Bayt) to the “Ark ofNoah” is thatwhoever resorts to them inreligion and takes its bases and branches from them shall be safe from the torment of Fire, andwhoeverturnshisbacktothemislikeonewhobetookhimself(onthedayofthegreatflood)tosomemountainwhichmightsavehimfromthecommandofAllah,buthedrownedinwaterandwouldbeintheHell.Thepurposebehindcomparingthemtothe“gateofHittah”isthatAllahtheAlmightyhasmadethatgateasamatterofhumblenesstoAllahandsubmissiontoHiscommands,andthereforeitwasacauseforforgiveness.Thisisthepointofcomparison.IbnHajarsaid,afterhementionedthesetraditionsandothers like them,about thecauseofcomparing them(theAhlulBayt) to the“ArkofNoah”thatwhoeverlovedandglorifiedthemoutofgratefulnesstotheblessingoftheirhonor,and

followed the guidance of their ‘Ulama’ would be safe from the darkness of disagreements, andwhoeverlaggedbehindthatwoulddrownintheseaofungratefulnesstoblessingsandwouldperishin thewildernessofoppression…untilhe said, ‘andcomparing them to the“gateofHittah” is thatAllah has made the entrance through this gate, which was the Gate of Ariha or Jerusalem, withhumbleness,andwithaskingforforgiveness,asacauseforforgiveness,andHehasmadethelovetotheAhlulBayt(a.s)asacauseforthisnationtobeforgiven…’[48Second,theShi’abelievedandfollowedtheimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)becausetheyrepresented

honoranddignity,andtherewillbenonelikethemthroughoutthehistoryofhumanity.NooneinthewholeMuslimworldwaslikethemintheirguidance,conducts,devotedness,andadherencetoIslam.ThefaithoftheShi’aintheAhlulBayt(a.s)wasnotoutofemotionorfancy,butitwasduetothe

realityandsituationsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).Third,theShi’adidnotbelieveintheImamateoftheUmayyadandtheAbbasidkingsbecausethey

werenakedofmoral andhumanevalues.During their reigns, thenation suffered terriblekindsofoppression and cruelty. They extorted thewealth of the nation and spent it on their pleasures andamusement.TheyencourageddebaucheryandcorruptionamongMuslims.Therefore, theShi’aandothersroseinarmedrevoltsagainstthoserulersinordertoestablishjusticeamongpeople.

TraditionsOnHisImamate

ThefollowingaresomeofthetraditionsthatweretransmittedfromImamal-Hadi(a.s.)concerning

theappointingofhissonAbuMuhammadal-Hasanastheimamafterhim.1.YahyabinYasaral-Anbarisaid,‘AbulHasanAlibinMuhammad(al-Hadi)entrustedhissonAbu

Muhammadal-Hasanwiththematter(Imamate)fourmonthsbeforehisdeathandmademeandsomeofhismawali(adherents)bearwitnesstothat.’[49]2.AlibinUmaran-Nawfalisaid,“Once,IwaswithAbulHasan(al-Hadi)(a.s.) intheyardofhis

housewhenhissonMuhammad(AbuJa’far)passedbyus.Isaidtohim,‘MayIdieforyou!Isthisourman(theimam)afteryou?’Hesaidtome,‘Yourmanaftermeisal-Hasan.”[50]3.ShahwayhbinAbdullahal-Jallabsaid,“AbulHasanwrotealettertomesayinginit:‘Youwanted

to ask about the successor after Abu Ja’far and you were worried about that. Do not worrybecause(AllahwillnotmisleadapeopleafterHehasguidedthem).[51]Yourman(theimam)aftermewillbemysonAbuMuhammad.Hehasallwhatyoushallneed.AllahadvanceswhatHewillsanddelayswhatHewills;(WhateververseWeabrogateorcausetobeforgotten,Webringonebetterthanitorlikeit).[52]Ihavewrittenwhathasaclearproofforoneofanawakemind.”[53]4.Dawudbinal-Qassimsaid,“IheardAbulHasan(a.s.)saying,‘Thesuccessoraftermewillbeal-

Hasan.Howwillyoudealwiththesuccessorafterthissuccessor?’Isaid,‘Why?MayIdieforyou!’Hesaid,‘Youshallnotseehimanditwillbenotpermissibleforyoutomentionhimbyhisname.’Isaid,‘Howshallwementionhimthen?’Hesaid,‘Yousay:al-Hujjah(theauthority)fromtheprogenyofMuhammad(peacebeonthem).’[54]5.AbuBakral-Fahfakisaid,“AbulHasan(peacebeuponhim)wrotetomesaying,‘MysonAbu

MuhammadisthebestoftheprogenyofMuhammadinnatureandthemosttrustworthyinauthority.Heistheeldestofmychildren,andheismysuccessorandtherecipientofthehandholdsofimamateanditsgovernance.Whateveryouaskedmeabout,youcanaskhimaboutforhehasall thatwhichpeopleneed.’[55]6.As-SaqrbinDulaf said, “IheardAlibinMuhammadbinAli ar-Ridha (Imamal-Hadi) saying,

‘The imamaftermewillbeal-Hasanandafteral-Hasanwillbehissonal-Qa’im(Imamal-Mahdi)whowillfilltheearthwithjusticeandfairnessasithasbeenfilledwithinjusticeandoppression.[56]7.AbdulAdheemal-HasaninarratedthatImamAlibinMuhammadal-Hadi(a.s.)said,‘Theimam

aftermewillbemysonal-Hasan,buthowwillpeopledealwiththesuccessorafterhim?!’[57]8.AlibinMahziyarsaid,‘Oneday,IsaidtoAbulHasan,‘Ifsomethinghappens[58]-Godforbid!-

thentowhomwilltheimamatepass?’Hesaid,‘Totheeldestofmysons.(Hemeantal-Hasan).’[59]9.AbdullahbinMuhammadal-Isfahanisaid,“AbulHasansaid,‘Yourmanaftermeistheonewho

willoffer theprayeronme(afterdeath).’WedidnotknowAbuMuhammadbefore that,andwhenAbulHasan(a.s.)died,AbuMuhammadcameoutandofferedthe(funeral)prayeronhim.’[60]

These are some traditions narrated by reliable narrators from Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) about the

appointing of his son Abu Muhammad al-Hasan (a.s.) as the next imam, besides other traditionstransmittedfromImamal-Jawad(a.s.).As-SaqrbinDulafsaid,“IheardAbuJa’farMuhammadbinAli ar-Ridha (Imam al-Jawad) saying, ‘The imam after me is my son Ali. His command is mycommand,hissayingismysaying,andobediencetohimisobediencetome.Andtheimamafterhimwillbehissonal-Hasan.[61]ThereareothertraditionsthatwerenarratedfromtheProphet(a.s)concerningtheappointingof

theguardiansandcaliphsafterhimamongwhomwasImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.).ThesetraditionswerementionedinthefamousreferencebooksofHadithandhistory.

FromTheSignsofHisImamate

Allah had provided the prophets and their guardians with miracles that ordinary people were

unabletodoinordertoserveasproofsforthemissionsoftheseprophetsandguardians,otherwisetheywouldfailinachievingtheirmissions,andnoneofpeoplewouldbelievethem.Allahhadmadeknowntothemwhatwasinsidetheheartsofpeople,andtheknowledgeoftheeventsthatwouldtakeplace.AllahhadgrantedthattotheinfallibleimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)andoneofthemwasImamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.).Herewementionsomenarrationsconcerningthismatter:1.Al-Hasanan-Naseebisaid,‘Itcametomymindthatwhetherthesweatofajunub[62]waspureor

not.IwenttothehouseofAbuMuhammadal-Hasantoaskhimaboutthat.ItwasnightandsoIslept.Atdawn,hecameoutandfoundmesleeping.Hewokemeandsaid,‘Ifitislawful,itispure,andifitisfromunlawfulthing,itisnot.’[63]2. Isma’yl binMuhammad al-Abbasi said, ‘Oneday, I complained toAbuMuhammad aboutmy

needinessandIsworetohimthatIdidnothaveevenonedirham.’Hesaidtome,‘DoyouswearbyAllahfalselywhileyouhaveburiedtwohundreddinars?MysayingtoyoudoesnotmeanthatIdonotgiftyou.Oservant,givehimwhatthereiswithyou!’Theservantgavemeonehundreddinars.Thenhe(theimam)saidtome,‘Youmakethedinarsthatyouhaveburiedunlawfulwhileyouareinutmostneedtothem.’IsearchedforthemoneybutIcouldnotfindit.Ifoundthatoneofmychildrenknewaboutthismoney,andsohestoleitandranaway.’3.MuhammadbinHujrcomplainedtotheimamattheoppressionhereceivedfromAbdulAzizand

fromYazidbinEesa.Theimam(a.s.)saidtohim,‘AsforAbdulAziz,Ihaverelievedyoufromhim,butasforYazid,youandheshallhaveasituationbeforeAllahtheAlmighty.’Afterafewdays,AbdulAzizdied,butYazidkilledMuhammadbinHujrandheshallhavea situation (bepunished)beforeAllah(ontheDayofResurrection).’[64]4.AbuHashimsaid,‘Once,IcomplainedtoAbuMuhammadofthedistressofimprisonmentand

thepainsofties.Hewrotetome,‘YoushalloffertheDhuhr(noon)Prayerinyourhousetoday.’Iwassetfree(fromprison)atnoonandIofferedtheprayerinmyhouseastheimamhadsaid.’[65]5.AbuHashimsaid,‘IwasinneedandIwantedtoaskImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)butIfeltshyto

dothat.WhenIarrivedinmyhouse,hesentonehundreddinarstomeandalettersaying,‘Ifyouneedsomething,donotfeelshyorrefrainfromasking.Askandyoushallgetwhatyoulike,insha’Allah.[66]6.AbuHashimsaid,“IheardAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saying,‘Inparadise there isagatecalledal-

Ma’ruf(gooddeed).Noonewillcomethroughitexceptthepeopleofgooddeeds.’IthankedAllahwithmyselfandfeltdelightedforIoftensatisfiedtheneedsofpeople.AbuMuhammadlookedatmeandsaid, ‘Yes, Iknewwhatyouwere thinkingof.Thepeopleofgooddeeds in this lifewillbe thepeople of good deeds in the afterlife.MayAllahmake you from them,OAbuHashim, and havemercyonyou.’”[67]7.MuhammadbinHamzaad-Durisaid,‘IwrotetoImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)askinghimtopray

toAllahformetomakemerichafterIhadbecomepoorandIfearedtobeexposed.Hisreplycametomesaying:“Bedelighted!WealthhascometoyoufromAllahtheAlmighty.YourcousinYahyabinHamza died and left for you one hundred thousand dirhams.He had no inheritor except you. Themoneyshallcometoyousoon.ThankAllah,beeconomical,andbewareofwasting!”Themoneyandthenewsofthedeathofmycousincametomeafewdayslater.Mypovertydisappeared.IpaidtherightsofAllah,helpedmybrothers,andbecameeconomicalafterIhadbeenwasteful.’[68]8. Muhammad bin al-Hasan bin Maymun said, ‘I wrote to my master al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.)

complainingofpoverty,andthenIsaidtomyself:hasAbuAbdullah(Imamas-Sadiq)(a.s.)notsaid,‘Povertywithus (theAhlulBayt) is better thanwealthwithour enemy, andbeingkilledwithus isbetterthanlivingwithourenemy.’?Thereplytomylettercamesaying,‘AllahtheAlmightytriesourfollowers,whentheirsinsincrease,bypoverty,andHemayforgivemany(ofsins).Itisasyourselfsaidtoyou:povertywithusisbetterthanwealthwithourenemy.Weareashelterforwhoeverresortstous;alightforwhoeverseekslight;andarefugeforwhoeverturnstous.Whoeverlovesuswillbewithusinthehighestposition,andwhoeverdeviatesfromuswillbeinFire.’[69]9. Abu Ja’far al-Hashimi said, ‘I was with some men in prison when AbuMuhammad and his

brotherJa’farwerebroughttoprison.Wehurriedtohim.Ikissedhimontheface,andseatedhimonamatthatwasunderme.Ja’farsatneartohim.TheguardoftheprisonwasSalihbinWaseef.TherewasamanwithusintheprisonclaimingthathewasAlawid.AbuMuhammadturnedtousandsaid,‘Ifsomeone,whoisnotfromyou,wasnotwithyou,IwouldtellyouwhenAllahwilldeliveryou…’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)beckoned to thatmanandsaid, ‘Thismanisnot fromyou.Bewareofhim! There is a book in his clothes inwhich hewrites to the ruler all what you say.’One of theprisonerssearchedhimandfoundwithhimabookinwhichheaccusedusofgreataccusationsandclaimedthatwewantedtopiercetheprisonandescapefromit.[70]10.AhmadbinMuhammad said, “Iwrote a letter toAbuMuhammad (a.s.)when al-Muhtadi, the

Abbasidcaliph,begankilling theShi’aandsaid tohim,‘Omymaster,praisebe toAllahWhohasmade him (the caliph) busy away from you for I have heard that he threatened you and said, ‘ByAllah, Iwill dispel them again.’AbuMuhammadwrotewith his handwriting: ‘Thismakes his lifeshorter. You count from this day five days and he shall be killed on the sixth day, after meetingmeannessanddisgrace.’Anditwasastheimamsaid.’[71]11.AbuHashimnarrated, ‘Once, al-Fahfaki asked ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) about the reason

that makesman take two shares while woman takes one share in the inheritance. The imam (a.s.)answered:‘Forneitherjihad,norexpenditure,norguarding(incastles)arerequiredfromwoman.’Itcame tomymind that thisquestionwas thesamequestion that ibnAbulAwja’hadasked Imamas-Sadiq(a.s.)andImamas-Sadiq(a.s.)answeredwith thesameanswer. ImamAbuMuhammadturnedtowardsmeandsaid,‘Yes,thisisthequestionofibnAbulAwja’andtheansweristhesamefromus.Ifthemeaningofthequestionisthesame,theanswerofthelastoneofuswillbeliketheanswerofthe first one of us. The first and the last of us are the same in knowledge and imamate, and themessengerofAllahandAmeerulMo’mineen(theblessingsofAllahbeonthem)havethepreferenceoverthem.’[72]12.AbuHashimnarrated,‘OneoftheShi’awrotetoAbuMuhammad(a.s.)askinghimforsome

supplication.Theimamreplied,‘PrayAllahwiththisdu’a:“OYouthebestListeneroflisteners,themostPerceptiveofseers, thebestoflookers,thepromptestofaccounters, theMostMercifulofthe

merciful,theWisestofjudges,sendblessingsonMuhammadandontheprogenyofMuhammad,andincrease my livelihood, prolong my age, favor me with Your mercy, make me from those whodefendYourreligion,anddonotreplacemebyotherthanme…!”I(AbuHashim)saidwithmyself:‘OAllah,makemefromYourpartyandYourgroup!’AbuMuhammadturnedtomeandsaid,‘youareinHispartyandinHisgroupifyouhavefaithinAllahandbelieveHismessenger.’[73]13.ShahwayhbinAbdRabbih said, ‘MybrotherSalihwas in prison. Iwrote tomymasterAbu

Muhammad (a.s.) asking him about some things and he answered bywriting tome: ‘Your brotherSalihshallbesetfreefromprisononthedaywhenthisletterofmineshallreachyou.Youwantedtoaskmeabouthimbutyouhadforgotten.’WhileIwasreadinghisletter,someonecameandtoldmethatmybrotherwassetfree.Ireceivedhimandreadthislettertohim.[74]14.AbuHashimnarrated,‘ItcametomymindwhethertheQur'anwascreatedornot.ImamAbu

Muhammad (a.s.) looked atme and said, ‘OAbuHashim,Allah is theCreator of everything, andeverythingotherthanHimiscreated.’[75]15.AbuHashimsaid,‘Once,IwenttoAbuMuhammad(a.s.)andwantedtoaskhimforastonethat

Iwantedtomakearingfromtoblessmyselfwithit.WhenIsatwithhim,IforgotwhatIhadcomefor.When I said farewell andwanted to leave,hegavemea ring, smiled,andsaid, ‘Youwantedastone and we gave you a ring, and so you won the stone. May Allah delight you by it!’ I wasastonishedatthatandsaid,‘Omymaster,youaretheguardianofAllahandmyimambywhosefavorandobedienceIserveAllah.’Hesaidtome,‘MayAllahpardonyou,AbuHashim!’[76]16.AbuHashimsaid,“Once,IheardAbuMuhammadsaying,‘OntheDayofResurrection,Allah

willforgivewithforgivenessthatcannotbeevenimaginedbypeople,untilpolytheistsshallsay:byAllah,wewerenotpolytheists.’Irecalledatraditionnarratedtomebyamanfromourcompanionsfrom the people ofMecca that themessenger ofAllah (a.s.) recited: (Despair not of theMercy ofAllah,forAllahforgivesallsins),[77]andsomemansaid,‘evenpolytheists.’Ideniedthatandhiditinto my heart. While I was thinking of that with myself, Abu Muhammad turned to me andrecited,(SurelyAllahdoesnotforgivethatanythingisassociatedwithHim,andHeforgivesallsavethat to whom He pleases).[78] How bad what that man said was and how bad what he narratedwas!’[79]Historiansmentionedmanyexampleson the imam’sknowledgeofwhatpeopleconcealed inside

themselves, and on his predicting of different events and occurrences.All thosewere signs of hisimamate,forotherthantheimamsnoonehadanyknowledgeaboutsuchthings.AbuHashim,whowasoneofthebest,reliablescholars,andwhowasaclosecompaniontoImamAbulHasanal-Hadi(a.s.)andImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.),narratedmostofthetraditionsthattalkedaboutthesignsofthesetwoimams(a.s.).Hesaid,‘WheneverIwenttoAbulHasanandAbuMuhammad(peacebeuponthem),Isawaproofandevidence(ontheirimamate).’[80]Notes:[46]Sahihofat-Tarmithi,vol.2p.308.[47] Majma’ az-Zawa’id, vol.9 p.168,Mustadrak al-Hakim, vol.2 p.43, Tareekh Baghdad, vol.2

p.19.[48]Al-Hashimiyyat,p.22-23.

[49]Al-Fusoolal-Muhimmahbyibnas-Sabbagh,p.66,Usoolal-Kafi,vol.1p.325.[50]Usoolal-Kafi,vol.1p.324.[51]Qur'an,9:115.[52]Qur'an,2:106.[53]Usoolal-Kafi,vol.1p.328.[54]Ibid.[55]Ibid.,p.327.[56]Ikmalad-Deen,vol.2p.55.[57]Ikmalad-Deen,vol.2p.55.[58]Hemeantthatiftheimamdied.[59]A’lamal-Wara,p.368.[60]Ibid.[61]Ikmalad-Deen,vol.2p.50.[62] A ritually impure person: janaba is themajor (orminor) ritual impurity caused by sexual

intercourse,wetdreams…[63]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.192.[64]ManaqibAalAbiTalib,vol.4p.433.[65]A’lamal-Wara,p.372.[66]Ath-Thaqibfil-ManaqibbyMuhammadbinAlial-Jirjani,p.241.[67]Nooral-Absar,p.152.[68]Nooral-Absar,p.152,ad-Durran-Nadheem.[69]ManaqibAalAbiTalib,vol.4p.435.[70]Ad-Durran-NadheemfeeManaqibal-A’immah,2897.[71]A’lamal-Wara,p.375.[72]Al-Manaqib,vol.4p.437,A’lamal-Wara,p.374.[73]A’lamal-Wara,p.374.[74]Al-Manaqib,vol4p.438.[75]Al-Manaqib,vol4,p.436.[76]A’lamal-Wara,vol375,al-Manaqib,vol.4p.437.[77]Qur'an,39:53.[78]Qur'an,4:116.[79]Ad-Durran-Nadheem.[80]A’lamal-Wara,p.375.

5ChapterImpressionsAboutHim

The scholars andmenof intellect,whowere contemporarywith Imamal-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.),

glorifiedhim,andacknowledgedhisvirtueandpreferencetoallothersforhistalents,geniuses,vastknowledge,andpiety.Herewequotesomewordssaidbysomeofthosemenabouthim:

1.ImamAl-Hadi

Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)praisedthehighpositionofhissonAbuMuhammad(a.s.)bysaying,‘Myson

AbuMuhammad is the best of the progeny ofMuhammad in nature, and the most trustworthy inauthority.Heistheeldestofmychildren,andheismysuccessorandtherecipientofthehandholdsofimamateanditsgovernance…’[81]

2.AbuHashimal-Ja’fari

AbuHashim associated closelywith Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) and Imam al-Hasan al-Askari (a.s.).He

lovedthemexcessivelyandcomposedmanypoemsintheirpraise.Hesaidinoneofhispoems:“He(Allah)gavehimallsignsofimamate,likeMoses,andthecleavingofthesea,thehand,and

thestaff.”[82]

3.Bakhtshu’thePhysician

He was the most famous physician at the age of Imam al-Askari (a.s.) and he was the special

physicianoftheroyalfamily.Oneday,theimamneededaphysiciantophlebotomizehim,andsoheaskedBakhtshu’tosendhimoneofhisdisciples.Bakhtshu’sentforhisdiscipleBatriqandorderedhimtogototreattheimam.Hesaidtohim,‘Thesonofar-Ridhaaskedmetosendhimsomeonetophlebotomizehim.Yougotohim.Heismoreknowledgeablethaneveryoneunderthesky.Bewarenottoobjecttohiminallwhatheordersyouof…’[83]

4.AhmadbinUbaydillahBinKhaqan

OneofthefamousstatesmenandpoliticiansatthetimeofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidabout

theimam,‘IhaveneitherseennorknowninSurraManRa’aamanfromtheAlawidslikeal-HasanbinAlibinMuhammadbinar-Redha,norhaveIheard the likeofhisguidance,faith,chastity,nobility,andgenerositynearhisfamilyandnear therulers,amongall theHashimiteswhopreferredhimtotheir important and old men, and also near the leaders, viziers, clerks, and all classes ofpeople…’[84]

5.UbaydbinKhaqan

Hewasoneoftheimportantpoliticiansatthattime.HesaidaboutImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),‘If

thecaliphate is removedfromtheAbbasids,noonefromtheHashimiteswilldeserve itexcept thisman(hemeantal-HasanbinAlial-Askari).Hedeserves itbyhisvirtue,chastity,guidance,gravity,asceticism,worshipping,goodmorals,andrighteousness…’[85]Ubayddidnotbelieve in imamate. Infact,hewascontrary to that,but thebrightrealityofImam

AbuMuhammad(a.s.)madehimdeclarethattheimamwastheworthiestofthecaliphateforthehighqualitieshehad.

6.Sheikhal-Mufid

Sheikhal-Mufidsaid,‘TheimamafterAbulHasanAlibinMuhammad(al-Hadi)washissonAbu

Muhammad al-Hasan binAli for he had all high qualities and virtues and hewas preferred to allpeopleofhisage.Hedeservedimamateandleadershipforhisincomparableknowledge,asceticism,perfect mind, infallibility, courage, generosity, and the many good deeds that took him close toAllah…’[86]

7.Ibnas-Sabbagh

Ali bin Muhammad al-Maliki known as ibn as-Sabbagh said, ‘The qualities of our sire Abu

Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari show that he is amaster, and a son of amaster, that no one everdoubtsorsuspecthisimamate.Knowthatifagoodqualitywassold,thesellerwasotherthanhimandhewasthebuyer….Hewasuniqueinhistimewithnoequal,andhewastheonewithnolike.Hewasthemasterofthepeopleofhistimeandtheimamofthepeopleofhisage.Hissayingsweretrueandhisdeedswerepraiseworthy.If thegoodpeopleofhis timewereasapoem,hewouldbe themainverseofthatpoem,andiftheywereorganizedasanecklace,hewastheunique,middlepearl.Hewastheknightofknowledgewithwhomitwasnotpossibletokeeppacewith,andhewastheexplainerofmysterieswithwhomitwasnotpossibletoargue.Hewastherevealeroffactsbyhistruethinking,andthediscloserofminutesbyhissharpreason.Hewastheinformedoneinsecrecyoftheunseen.Hewasthehigh-born,ofhighsoulandhighessence…’[87]

8.BinShaharshubas-Sarawi

AbuJa’farRasheedudeenMuhammadbinAlibinShahrashubas-Sarawisaidabouttheimam,‘He

was al-HasanbinAli the guide, the subjugator of difficulties….Hewas pure, free fromany fault,trustee of the unseen.Hewas the essence of gravitywith no blemish, humble,with a liberal hand,modest, true to his word … of little food, of much smiling, patient, the father of the (awaited)successor…’[88]

9.IbnShadqam

IbnShadqam,thegenealogist,said,‘Al-Hasanal-Askariwasaguidingimam,exaltedmaster,anda

pureguardian.’[89]

10.Ibnal-Jawzi

Ibnal-Jawzisaid,‘ThehighestfeatureandcharacteristicthatAllahhaddistinguishedhim(Imamal-

Askari)with,andmadeuniquetohim,andaseternalaspectthattimewouldnotwearoutandtongueswould not forget reciting and repeatingwas thatMuhammad al-Mahdi (peace be on him)was hisoffspringthatwascreatedfromhim,andhissonthatwasascribedtohim…’[90]

11.Ruknuddeenal-Husayni

Ruknuddeen al-Husayni al-Musili said, ‘ImamAbuMuhammad al-Askari…his virtues, qualities,

andcharismatawereuncountable…thehighestqualitythatAllahhaddistinguishedhimwithwasthatal-Mahdi(peacebeuponhim)washisson…’[91]

12.Al-Yafi’iy

Al-Yafi’iy said, ‘Sharif al-AskariAbuMuhammad al-Hasan binAli binMuhammad binAli bin

MusabinJa’faras-SadiqwasoneofthetwelveimamsastheShi’abelievedandhewasthefatheroftheawaitedimam(peacebeonhim)…’[92]

13.Yusufan-Nabahani

YusufbinIsma’ylan-Nabahanisaid,‘Al-Hasanal-Askariwasoneoftheimamsofourmasters,the

greatAhlulBayt(a.s),andoneoftheirnoblechiefs(mayAllahbepleasedwiththem).Ash-Shabrawimentioned him in his book “al-Ittihaf Bihubil Ashraf” but he abbreviated his biography andmentioned no charm of his. However, I myself witnessed a charm to him. In the year 1296 AHItraveledtoBaghdadfromKooySanjaq,oneoftheKurdvillages,whereIwasajudge,butIleftitbeforeIcompletedthespecifiedperiodbecauseofthehighcostsanddroughtwhichprevailedinIraqthatyear.Itravelledbyakalak,whichwasameansofwatertransportation.WhenthekalakreachedSamarra’,whichwas the capital of theAbbasid caliphs,we liked to visit (the shrine of) Imam al-Hasanal-Askari.WhenIcametohisholytomb,somethingspiritualhappenedtomethatnothinglikeit had everhappened tome…itwashis charm.Then I recited, asmanyas I possibly could, versesfromtheQur'an,supplicatedAllahwithsomedu’as,andleft.[93]

14.Al-Arbali

AllamaAlibinEesaal-Arbalisaidabouttheimam,‘Hewastheknightofknowledgethatwasnot

possibletokeeppacewithhim,andhewastheexplainerofmysteriesthatitwasnotpossibletoarguewithhim.Heuncoveredthefactsbyhistrueviewing,thediscloserofminutesbyhispiercinginsight,theknower-bythewillofAllah-of thesecretsofcreatures, theinformer-bythewillofAllah-about the unseen, the informed - byAllah - aboutwhat had happened andwhatwould happen, theinspiredwiththeunseenmatters,thenobleinoriginandsoulandessence,themanofproofs,signs,andmiracles…theinterpreterofverses,theconfirmeroftraditions,theheirofthegoodmasters,thesonof the imams,andthefatherof theawaitedone.Solookat thebranchandtheoriginandthinkagainandbesurethattheyweremorebrilliantthanthesun,andbrighterthanthemoon.Ifbranchesare good, surely the fruitwill be good.Their (the imams’) features and traditions are the eyes ofhistory,andtheheadlinesofconducts.ByAllah,IswearthatwhoeverdeemsMuhammadasgrandfather,Aliasfather,Fatimaasmother,

theimamsasfathers,andal-Mahdiassonisworthierofreachingtheheavenwithhishighnessandhonor….HowcanIcounthisvirtuesandnewswhereasmytongueisshortandmyeloquenceistired?Somytongueandeloquencecomebacktiredfromhishighrank,anddwindlebecauseoffailureandinability…[94]

15.Al-Bustani

Al-Bustani said, ‘Al-Hasan al-Khalis bin Ali al-Hadi… they mentioned about him many

characteristicsthatwerewell-knowninthepeopleofthishouseoftheTalibites[95]…perceptionandwisdomappearedinhimsincehisearlychildhood…’[96]

16.Khayruddeenaz-Zarkali

He said, ‘Al-Hasan bin Ali al-Hadi bin Muhammad al-Jawad al-Hashimi: Abu Muhammad the

eleventhimamtotheTwelverShi’a…hewaspaidhomageastheimamafterthedeathofhisfather.Hewaslikehisgoodancestorsinpiety,asceticism,worshipping…’[97]

17.Al-AbbasbinNooruddeen

Al-AbbasbinNooruddeenal-Mekkisaid,‘ImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari…hislineage

ismorerenownedthanthemooninitsfourteenthnight.Heandhisfatherareknownasal-Askari.Asforhisvirtues,tonguescannotcount…’[98]Notes:[81]A’yanash-Shi’a.[82]A’lamal-Wara,p.372.[83]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50p.261.[84]Ibid.,p.325.[85]Biharal-Anwar,vol.50,p.327.[86]Al-Irshad.[87]Al-Fusoolal-Muhimmah,p.272.[88]ManaqibAalAbiTalib,vol.4p.421.[89]Zahratal-Maqul…,p.63.[90]Tathkiratal-Khawas.[91]Bahral-Ansab,p.17.[92]Mir ’atal-Janan,vol.2p.172.[93]Jami’Karamatal-Awliya’,vol.1p.389.[94]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.223-224.[95]DerivedfromAbuTalibthefatherofImamAli.[96]Encyclopediaofal-Bustani,vol.7p.45.[97]Al-A’lam,vol.2p.215.[98]Nuzhatal-Jalees,vol.2p.184.

6ChapterHisLetters

Somelettersoftheimamdiscloseanimportantsideofthereligiouslifewhichwasconfusedatthat

age.Thefollowingaresomeofhisletterstohisadherents:

1.ToIsaaqAn-Naysaburi

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sentalettertoIsaaqbinIsma’ylan-Naysaburisayinginit,“MayAllahprotectusbyHisprotection,and takecareofyou inallyouraffairsbyHis favor. I

understoodyourletter,mayAllahhavemercyonyou.We,praisebetoAllahandbyHisblessing,arepeopleofahousewhopityourfollowersandfeeldelightedforthesuccessionofthefavorsofAllahonthem,andfeelhappyforeveryblessingthatAllahtheAlmightyendowsthemwith.OIsaaq,mayAllahendowyouwithallblessings,andendowsthesameonwhoeverislikeyouwhomAllahhashadmercyonandgiveninsightlikeyours….AndmayHedetermineParadiseforyou….AndIsay:PraisebetoAllahasthebestpraiseHehaseverbeenpraisedwith,andforever,forHis

mercy on you, His saving you from perishment, and smoothing your way from the obstacle. ByAllah, it is an insurmountable, impassable, difficult obstacle with great distresses that had beenmentionedinthefirstBooks.Atthetimeofthedeceased(Imamal-Hadi),peacebeonhim,andatmytimeyouhaddonesomethingsthatneitherIwassatisfiedwithyounorwereyourightinthem.OIsaaq,knowwellthatwhoevercomesoutofthisworldblindwillbeblindintheAfter-worldand

moreastray.OIsaaq,itisnottheeyesthatbecomeblindbuttheheartsthatareinthechests.Allahsaysabout the unjust, (He shall say:My Lord!why hast Thou raisedme blind and Iwas a seeing oneindeed?Hewillsay:Evenso,Ourrevelationscametoyoubutyouneglectedthem;andthusyoushallbeforsakenthisday).[99]IsthereasigngreaterthantheexcuseofAllahonHiscreation,HistrusteeinHis earth, and His witness on His people .… after those who had abandoned his first fathers theprophetsandhislastfatherstheguardians(peaceandblessingsofAllahbeonthemall).Sowheredoyougoastrayandwheredoyougolikebeasts?YoudeviatefromthetruthandbelieveinfalsehoodanddisbelieveintheblessingsofAllah.AreyoufromthosewhobelieveinapartoftheBookanddisbelieveintheother?Sowhatistherewardofhimwhodoesthat,eitheryouorotherthanyou?ItisbutmeannessinthislifeandeternaltormentintheAfterlife.ByAllah,itisthegreatdisgrace!

WhenAllah imposedonyou,byHis favorandmercy, theobligations,Hedidnot impose themonyou becauseHewas in need of you, but out ofHismercy onYou - there is no god butHim - todistinguishthegoodfromthebad,andtotrywhattherewasinyourchests,andtestwhattherewasinyourheartssothatyouwouldcompeteforthemercyofAllahandthatyourpositionsinHisparadisewouldbeonebetterthananother.HeimposedonyouHajj,Umrah(minorhajj),prayer,zakat,fasting,andthefollowingoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).HemadetoyouadoorbywhichyouopenthedoorsoftheotherobligationsandasakeytoHisway.ExceptforMuhammad(blessingsofAllahbeonhim),andthe guardians from his progeny, you would be confused like beast knowing nothing of theobligations.Isatownenteredexceptfromitsgate?WhenAllahfavoredyoubyappointingtheguardiansafteryourprophet,Hesaid,(ThisdayhaveI

perfected for you your religion and completedMy favor on you and chosen for you Islam as areligion).[100]HeimposedonyourightsforHisguardiansandorderedyoutocarrythemoutsothatyourwives,properties,foods,anddrinkswouldbelawfultoyou.Allahsaid,(Say:Idonotaskofyouanyrewardfor itbut loveformynearrelatives),[101]andknowwell that(whoever isniggardly, isniggardlyagainsthisownself;andAllahisSelf-sufficientandyouaretheneedy).[102]ThereisnogodbutAllah,andmyspeechhasbecometoolongonwhatwasforyou,andwhatwasrequiredfrom

you.ExceptforthatAllahwantedtocompletehisfavoronyou,youwouldneitherseealinefromme

norwould youhear aword after the leaving of the deceased (Imamal-Hadi), peace be uponhim,whileyouare in inadvertence toyourend,andaftermyappointingIbrahimbinAbdah toyou,andaftermybook thatMuhammadbinMusaan-Naysaburihadbrought toyou,andAllah isHewhosehelp issought inanycase.Bewareofbeingunmindful towardsAllahso thatyoushallbefromthelosers!AwaywithhimhewhoturnshisbacktotheobedienceofAllahanddoesnotaccepttheadviceofHisguardians!AllahhasorderedyoutoobeyHim,toobeyHismessenger,andtoobeythoseinauthorityamongyou.MayAllahhavemercyyourweaknessandinadvertence,andmakeyoupatientwithyouraffair.WhathasbeguiledmanfromhisLord?!Ifmountainsunderstoodsomeofthatwhichwas in this book, they would crack and split because of the fear of Allah, and turn back to theobedienceofAllah.Dowhateveryoulike(soAllahwillseeyourworkand(sowill)HisMessengerandthebelievers;andyoushallbebroughtbacktotheKnoweroftheunseenandtheseen,thenHewillinformyouofwhatyoudid).[103]PraisebetoAllah,theLordoftheworlds,andHisblessingsbeonMuhammadandallhisprogeny.”[104]

2.HislettertothepeopleofQumandAbeh

ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) sent a letter, some parts ofwhichwere lost, to his Shi’a from the

peopleofQumandAbeh(Aveh)sayingtothem,“Allah theAlmightywithHis generosity and kindness has favoredHis peoplewithHis prophet

Muhammad(a.s.)asabearerofgoodtidingsandawarner,andhasmadeyousucceedinacceptingHisreligion,grantedyouwithHisguidance,andplantedintotheheartsofyourpastancestors(mayHehavemercyonthem)andyourlivingoffspring(mayHesufficeandmakethemlivelong)theloveof thepureprogeny (of theProphet).They,whohad left, lefton thewayof righteousness,and thepathof truth and success, and theywent to theplaceof successors, got the fruits ofwhat theyhadsowed,andfoundtheresultofwhattheyhaddonepreviously.…Ourintentionisstillfirm,andourselvesaresatisfiedwithyourgoodthoughts.Thefixedrelation

betweenusandyouisfirm.Itisawillthatourancestorsandyourancestorshadrecommended,andacovenant that had been entrusted to our youth and your oldmen.They are still on their faith, andAllahhasgatheredusincloserelationship,andclosekinship.TheAlim(peaceofAllahbeonhim)said,‘Afaithfulisabrotherofafaithfulfromhisfatherandmother…”[105]

3.HislettertoAlibinal-HusaynbinMusabinBabwayhal-Qummi

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sentalettertothefamousjurisprudentAbulHasanAlibinal-Husayn

binMusa bin Babwayh al-Qummi, the distinct among the Shi’a, and the prominent personality inHadith, jurisprudence, and the rest of the Islamic sciences. ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) said inhisletter,“PraisebetoAllahtheLordoftheworlds,andtheendisfortherighteous,theParadiseisforthe

monotheists, theHell is for theatheists,and thereshouldbenohostilityexceptagainstoppressors,and there is no god but Allah the best of creators, and blessing be on the best of His creationMuhammadandhispureprogeny.Omysheikh,trustee,jurisprudentAbulHasanAlibinal-Husaynal-Qummi,mayAllahbesatisfied

withyou,andmakefromyourprogenygoodchildren.IrecommendyoutofearAllah,offerprayers,andgivezakatbecausenoprayerisacceptedfromonewhodoesnotgivezakat.Ialsorecommendyou topardonothers, suppress anger, continuously associatewithkin, comfortbrothers and try tocarryouttheirneedsatdifficultyandease,bepatient,learnreligion,becertainofthings,undertakethe(recitationof)Qur'an,behavewithgoodmorals,enjointhegood,andtoforbidthewrong.Allahsays, (There is no good in most of their secret counsels except (in his) who enjoins charity orgoodnessorreconciliationbetweenpeople).[106]Irecommendyoutoavoidallsinsandvices.Youare tokeeponofferingNightPrayer, for theProphet (a.s)had recommendedAli saying to

him,‘OAli,youaretokeepontheNightPrayer.’Herepeatedthatthreetimes.WhoeverdisregardstheNight Prayer is not fromus.Act according tomy recommendation and ordermyShi’a to actaccordingtothat.Waitfordeliverance,fortheProphet(a.s)said,‘Thebestdeedofmynationisthewaiting for deliverance.’ Our Shi’a shall be still in sorrow until my son, whom the Prophet (a.s)broughtgoodnewsabout,shallappear.Hewillfilltheearthwithjusticeandfairnessafterithasbeenfilled with injustice and oppression. O my sheikh, be patient and order all my Shi’a to bepatient;(SurelytheearthisAllah's.HegivesitasinheritancetowhomHewillandtheendis(best)for the righteous).[107] Peace,mercy, and blessings ofAllah be on you and on all our Shi’a, andAllahissufficientforus;thebestProtectorisHe,thebestPatron,andthebestHelper.”[108]

4.HisLettertoOneofHisFollowers

OneoftheShi’awrotetoImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)tellinghimaboutthedisagreementbetween

theShi’a.Theimamrepliedtohiminthisletter,“Allah has addressed reasonable people… concerning me, people are in different classes; a

discerningoneisonthewayofdeliverance,keepingtothetruth,clingingtothebranchoftheoriginwithoutbeingdoubtfulorsuspicious,andfindingnoresortotherthanme.Thereisanotherclassofpeoplewho do not take the truth from its owners; they are like a traveler in the sea. They are inturmoilwhenevertheseawavesareinturmoil,andarecalmwhenevertheseacalms.Anotherclassofpeople are thosewhohavebeenovercomebySatan.They just resist thepeopleof truth, and fighttruth by falsehood out of envy. So let alonewhoever goes right or left, becausewhen a shepherdwants togatherhissheep,hegathers themwiththeleasteffort.Bewareofshowingoffandpantingafterauthoritybecausetheyleadtoperishment…’[109]

5.HisLettertoAnotherOneofHisFollowers

ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) sent a letter to one of his followers expressing his grief for some

rabbleoftheShi’awhohaddeviatedfromtherightpath.Hesaid,“NooneofmyfathershadbeenafflictedlikewhatIhavebeenafflictedwiththesuspicionsofthis

group…ifthismatter(imamate)wasamatterthatyouhadbelievedinandkeptonituntilacertaintimeandthenstopped,thensuspicionwouldbewarranted,butifit(imamate)iscontinuousaslongastheaffairsofAllaharecontinuous,thenwhatisthemeaningofthissuspicion?…’[110]

6.HislettertoAbdullahal-Bayhaqi

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sentthefollowinglettertoAbdullahbinHamdwayhal-Bayhaqi:“IhavesentIbrahimbinAbdahsothatthe(other)districtsandthepeopleofyourdistrictpaymy

dues on you to him, and Imadehimmy trust and agent beforemy followers there.Let them fearAllahandpaytheduesandtheyhavenoexcuseinnotdoingthatordelayingit.MayAllahnotdistressthem for disobeying His guardians and may He have mercy on them and on you through mymercifulnesstothem,andAllahisAmple-giving,Generous.”[111]

7.HisletteraboutIbrahimbinAbdah

ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)hadappointedIbrahimbinAbdahashisagenttoreceivethe

legalduesandtospendthemonreligionandontheneedy,andgivenhimalettermentioninginithisreliabilityandhighposition.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)wasaskedwhetherthisletterwaswrittenbyhimornot,andhereplied,“My letter that came to IbrahimbinAbdahon appointinghimasmy agent to receivemy rights

fromourfollowersthere…yes,itwasmyletterwrittenbymyhandtohim.Ihaveappointedhimtothemintheircountry.Itistrueandnotfalse.LethimfearAllahasHeshouldbefeared,andletthemtakeoutmyrightsandgivethemtohim,forIhavepermittedhimtodowiththemasrequired.MayAllahgivehimsuccessandsavehimfromfailure.”[112]

8.HisLettertohisFollowers

Hesentthislettertosomeofhisfollowers:“May Allah gift you with asceticism in this life and success as He pleases, assistance for His

obedience,protectionfromdisobedience,guidancefromdeviation,andmayHegatherforusandforourfollowersthegoodofthetwoabodes(thislifeandtheafterlife).Iwas informedof the disagreement of your hearts, and the divergence of your desires, and the

incitementofSatanuntilhecausedseparationamongyou,disbeliefinreligion,attemptingtodestroywhat your ancestors had built in the religion ofAllah and proved the rights ofHis guardians.He(Satan) tookyou to thewayofdeviation,andawayfromthepathof the truth,andsomanyofyoureceded as if you had not read the Book of Allah and not understood any of His commands andprohibitions.Iswear that ifyourfoolsrelyontheirdelusionsandfabricatefalse traditions, theyshalldeserve

torment, and if you are satisfied with that from them and do not deny it by your hands, tongues,hearts,andintentions,youshallbeparticipantswiththeminwhattheyhavefabricatedagainstAllah,Hismessenger,andtheguardiansafterhim.Ifitwasnotso,thepeopleofaz-Zabadwouldnotlieintheirclaim,noral-Mughirahintheirdisagreement,noral-Kaysaniyyahontheirman,norotherliarsandthedeviantswhohaveturnedawayfromus.Indeed,youareworsethanthem…andmostofthemwereobligedtosubmittothecommandofAllah,exceptsomegroupsthatifIwant,Ishallmentionbytheir names…. Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah, andwhoever forgets the remembranceofAllah,Allahwill throwhim intoFire, and it shallbe anevilabode.This letterofmine isanauthorityon them,andanauthority foryourabsenteeson thoseofyou

present, except onewho is informed and carries out his duty. I pray toAllah thatHegathers yourheartsonguidance,protectyoubypiety,andmakeyoudowhatpleasesHim,andpeace,blessing,andmercyofAllahbeonyou.’[113]

9.HisLettertooneofhisAdherents

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidinthislettertooneofhisfollowers:“Everypredestined thingwouldcome true.RelyonAllah theAlmightyandHewill sufficeyou,

and trust inHimandHewillnotdisappointyou.Youhavecomplainedagainstyourbrother.Knowwell thatAllah does not help in the disrupting of relations, andAllah is above any oppression ofeveryoppressor.WhoeverisoppressedsurelyAllahwillhelphim,andAllahisStrong,Mighty.Youhave asked me to pray for you. May Allah the Almighty keep you safe, and be your helper andprotector. I pray thatAllah theGenerous,Whohasmade you knowHis right and the right ofHisguardians,(theguardians)whomthosebesidesyouwereignorantof,thatHedoesnotremovefromyouanyblessingHehasendowedyouwith.HeisthePatron,worthyofallpraise.[114]

10.HisLettertoOneofHisShi’aAdherents

OneoftheShi’awrotealettertotheimamcomplainingagainstanoppressorwhooppressedand

didhimwrong.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)repliedtohim:“We content ourselves with (turning to) Allah, the Almighty, this day against every oppressor,

wrongdoer,andenvier.WoeuntowhoeversayssomethingthatAllahknowsitsopposite.HowterribleisthatwhichheshallmeetfromtheMasteroftheDayofJudgment!SurelyAllahtheAlmightyistheHelperandAssistant to theoppressed.TrustandrelyonHimandHewill relieveyourdistressandsaveyou from theevil of everyevildoer.MayAllahdo that foryouand favoruswithyou;He ispowerfulovereverything.MayAllahovercomeeveryoppressorthismoment!Noone,whowrongsandoppresses,shallbesuccessful.Woeuntowhoeveristakenbythefingersoftheoppressed!Donotbe distressed but trust inAllah and rely onHim, andHewill bring your deliverance soon. SurelyAllahiswiththosewhoarepatientandwhodogoodtoothers.’[115]Notes:[99]Qur'an,20:125-126.[100]Qur'an,5:3.[101]Qur'an,42:23.[102]Qur'an,47:38.[103]Qur'an,9:105.[104]Tuhafal-Uqool,p.484-486,Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.374-377,Rijalal-Kashshi,p.354-357,.[105]Biharal-Anwar.[106]Qur'an,4:114.[107]Qur'an,7:128.[108]Rawdhatal-Jannat,vol.4p.273-274.[109]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.370.[110]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78,p.372.[111]Rijalal-Kashshi,p.358.[112]Rijalal-Kashshi,p.358.[113]Ad-Durran-Nadheem,p.224.[114]Ad-Durran-Nadheem.[115]Ad-Durran-Nadheem,p.225.

7ChapterWordsofLight

Agoodcollectionofmaximsandwonderfulwordsondifferentsocialandeducationalissueswere

transmittedfromImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),andtheseareconsideredtobefromthetreasuresoftheIslamicliterature.Herewepresenttoreaderssomeoftheimam’swonderfulsayings:

ThePreferenceofTheAhlulBayt(A.S)

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,“Wehaveascended to thepeaksof truthby thefeetofprophethoodandguardianship,and lit the

sevenwayswith thebannersofmagnanimity.Weare lionsofbattles,sourcesofgenerosity.Swordandpenareamongusnow,andthebannerofpraiseandknowledgelateron.Ourgrandsonsarethesuccessorsofreligion,alliesofcertainty, lampsofnations,andthekeysofgenerosity.Agenerousonehasputonthegarmentofchoicefortheloyaltythatwehaveknowninhim,andtheHolySpiritintheHeavens,andhetastedfromourgardensearlyfruits.OurShi’aaretherescuedparty,andthepuregroup.Theyhavebeenasadressandprotectionforus,andassistanceagainstoppressors….SpringsoflifewillgushoutforthemafterflamesofFire…andallbadyears…’Sheikh al-Majlisi commented on these statements by saying, ‘This is absolute wisdom, and an

ample blessing that even deaf ears can hear and highmountains shake for. Peace and blessings ofAllahbeonthem…’[116]The imamsof theAhlulBayt (a.s)hadaveryhighpositionnearAllah,Whohadendowed them

withvirtuesandknowledgethatnooneofthehumanbeingsotherthanthemhadeverbeenendowedwith.AllahhadmadethemtheguidestoHiscontentment,andtheleaderstoHisobedience.Theyallwereandarelampstonationsandkeysofgenerosityinthislife,andintheafterlifetheywillbetheintercessors and bearers of the banner of al-Hamd (praise), andAllah has given them theHighestParadise.

HisRecommendationToHisAdherents

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)preachedandadvisedhisShi’abysaying,“IrecommendyoutofearAllah,bepiousinyourreligion,striveforAllah,betruthfulinspeaking,

givedepositsbacktotheirowners,whetherhebegoodorevil,increaseprostration,andtobegoodtoneighbors.Bythese(principles)Muhammad(a.s.)camewithhismission.Associatewithyourkin,attendtheir funerals,visit theirsick,andcarryout their rights, for ifanyoneofyouispious inhisreligion, truthful inhis speech,hegivesdepositback to itsowner, and treatspeoplekindly, then itshallbesaidabouthim:“thisisaShi’a”,andthisshallpleaseme.FearAllah,begoodanddonotbebad!Attracteverylovetous,andkeepanyobscenityawayfrom

us,becausewhatevergoodissaidaboutuswedeserveit,andwhateverbadissaidaboutusisnotinus.Wehavearight in theBookofAllah,kinship to themessengerofAllah,andpurificationfromAllah that no one other than us claims but a liar.MentionAllah excessively and remember death!RecitetheQur'anandsendpeaceandblessingsontheProphet(a.s),becausethesendingofblessingson theProphet (a.s)has tengooddeeds.Keep inmindwhat Ihave recommended toyou! Ipray toAllahtoprotectyou(Ibidyoufarewell),andsendpeaceonyou.’[117]

AValuableAdvice

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,“Avoidbeggingpeopleaslongasyoucantolerate,foreverydayhasanewgoodness.Insistingon

asking others deprives one of his gravity except when a doormay be opened to you for a goodentrance.Andhowcloseslappingistoarashone!JealousymightbeakindofthemannersofAllahtheAlmighty.Luckhasdegrees, sodonothasten towardsa fruit that it isnot ripeyetbecause it ispickedonlyatitstime.He,Whomanagesyouraffairs,ismoreawareofthetimethatisgoodforyou(to pick the fruit). Trust inHis experience in your affairs and do not hurry for your needs at thebeginningofyourtime,asthenyourheartmaybedistressedanddespairmayovercomeyou.Knowthat coyness has a certain extent and if it is exceeded, it shall turn to weakness; generosity has acertainextentandifitisexceeded,itshallbeextravagance;economyhasacertainextent,andifitisexceeded, it shall be stinginess; and courage has a certain extent and if it exceeded, it shall berecklessness…’[118]

Preaching

Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) often and always advised his companions, reminded them of the

afterlife,andwarnedthemagainsttheseditionanddeceptionoftheworldlylife.Once,hesaid,“Youare in short lives, and fewdays, anddeath comesunexpectedly.Whoever sowsgood shall

harvesthappiness, andwhoever sowsevil shallharvest regret.Every sower shall reapwhathehassowed.Noslowoneisprecededbyhisluck,andnocarefulonegetswhathasnotbeendeterminedforhim.Whoeverisgivengood,Allahhasgivenhimthat,andwhoeverissavedfromanevilAllahhassavedhimfromit.[119]

PonderingOnAllah

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,“Worship is not abundant fasting and praying, but worship is abundant pondering; it is the

continuousthinkingofAllah.’[120]Inhis traditions, the imamestablished thebasesof faith inAllah,and themost importantoneof

whichwasthinkingofAllah,andponderingonHiswonderfulcreationbecausethatwouldleadmantotheabsolutefaithinAllah,theGreatCreator.

WisdomofFasting

Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) said, ‘Allah has imposed fasting so that the wealthy might suffer

hungerandbekindtothepoor.’[121]

DispraisingTheHypocrites

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Whatabadmanheiswhohastwofacesandtwotongues!He

praiseshisbrotherwhenheispresentandeatshisflesh(backbiteshim)whenheisabsent.Heenvieshimifheisgiven(becomesingoodstate),andbetrayshimifheisafflicted.’[122]

PiousAndImpious

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Theloveofthepioustothepiousisavirtueforthepious,the

hatredoftheimpioustowardsthepiousisameritforthepious,andthehatredofthepioustowardstheimpiousisdisgracefortheimpious.’[123]

WonderfulShortMaxims

The following are some of the wonderfulmaxims transmitted from ImamAbuMuhammad al-

Askari(a.s.).Hesaid,1.“Iffateisinevitable,thenforwhatpurposeissupplication(ofmantootherthanAllah)?”2.“Abelieverisablessingforabelieverandanauthorityonanunbeliever.”3.“Theheartofafoolisinhismouth,andthemouthofawisemanisinhisheart.”4.“Angeristhekeytoeveryevil.”5.“Aspitefuloneistheleastcomfortable.”6.“Themostpiousofpeopleishewhorefrainsbeforesuspicion.Themostworshipfulofpeopleis

hewhokeepsonobligations.Themostasceticoneishewhorefrainsfromunlawfulthings.Thebestmujtahidishewhorefrainsfromsins.”7.“Letnosecurelivelihoodmakeyoutoobusytoperformanobligatorydeed.’8.“He,whoexceedsinsomething,islikeonewholacksthatthing.”9.“Wheneveramightyonegivesupthetruth,hebecomeslow,andwheneveralowonekeepstoit,

hebecomesmighty.”10.“Thefriendofanignorantisalwaystired.”11.“Therearetwoqualitiessuchthatthereisnoqualityabovethem;faithinAllahandtheserving

ofbrothers.”12.“Theimpertinenceofachildinchildhoodbeforehisfathermakeshimundutifulinadulthood.”13.“Itisnotfrompolitenesstoshowjoybeforeadistressedperson.”14.“Betterthanlifeisthat,whichifyoulose,youshallhatelife,andworsethandeathisthatwhich

ifcomestoyou,youshalllovedeath.”15.“Taminganignorantpersonandpreventingapersonwithunchanginghabitsfromthosehabits

areasamiracle.”16.“Humblenessisablessingthatisnotenvied.”17.“Donotbegeneroustosomeonewithwhatmaybeheavyonhim.”[124]18.“He,whoadviseshisbrothersecretly,doeshimgood,andhe,whoadviseshimopenly,does

himwrong.”19.“Howbadfromafaithfulitiswhenhehasadesireathingthatdegradeshim.”20“Itissufficientinorderforyoutobepolitethatyouavoidwhatyouhateinothers.”21.“Bewareofeverysilent,intelligentone.”22.“Ifallthepeopleofthisworldwereintelligent,theworldwouldberuined.”23.“Theweakestofenemiesincunning,ishewhoshowshisenmity.”24. “Thebestofyourbrothers ishewho forgetsyourwrongagainsthim,and remembersyour

kindnesstohim.”25.“Goodfigureisapparentbeauty,andgoodmindishiddenbeauty.”26.“He,whoisfriendlywithAllah,feelsaversiontowardspeople.”27.“He,whodoesnotregardpeople,doesnotregardAllah.”28.“Viceshavebeenputinahousewhosekeyislying.”29.“Whenheartsareactive,putintothem,andwhentheydetest,bidthemfarewell.”30.“Followingafteronefromwhomyouhopeisbetterthanremainingwithonefromwhoseevil

youdonotfeelsafe.”31. “Ignorance is an enemyanddiscernment is authority, andhe,whompatiencedoes notmake

sufferagoniesofanger,shallnotfeeltheeaseofheart.”32.“Thegiftofagenerousonemakesyoubelovedtohim,andthegiftofameanonemakesyou

lowtohim.”33.“Whoeverissuchthatpietyishishabit,andvirtuesarehisgarments,shallbevictoriousover

hisenemiesbyhisgoodpraise,andshallbefortifiedagainstdefectsbyhisgoodmention.”34.“He,whopraisesanundeservingone,becomesasanaccusedperson.”35. “No one knows (the reality of) a blessing except the grateful, and no one is grateful to a

blessingexcepttheknowing.”36.“Stayingupmakessleepmorepleasant,andhungermakesfoodmoredelicious.”37.“ReachingAllahtheAlmightyisajourneythatisnotachievedexceptbyridingatnight.”[125]38.“He,whodoesnotknowhowtoprevent,doesnotknowhowtogive.”

39.Hesaid toal-Mutawakkil, theAbbasidcaliph,“Donotexpectgoodwill fromonewhomyouhaveoffended,orloyaltyfromonewhomyouhavebetrayed,orsincerityfromonewhomyouhavesuspected,becausetheheartsofotherstowardsyouarelikeyourhearttowardsthem.”40.“Itisfromignorancetolaughwithnoreason.”41.“ThespeechofAllahhaspreferenceoverall speeches, justasHeholdspreferenceoverHis

creation.Andourspeechhaspreferencetothespeechofpeople,justasourpreferenceoverthem.”42. “It is fromhumbleness togreet everyoneyoupassby, and to sit inother than thedistinctive

placeinameeting.”43.“Theworthiestpeopleof(your)lovearethosewhocomfortyou.”44.“Fromthedisastersthatbreakone’sbackisaneighborwho,ifseesagooddeed,concealsit,

andifseesabaddeed,spreadsit.”45.“(InthenameofAllah,theBeneficent,theMerciful)isclosertothegreatestNameofAllahthan

theirisoftheeyetoitswhite.”46.“Donotdisputewithothersso thatyou loseyourgravity,anddonot jokeso that it isdared

againstyou.”47.“Whoeverissatisfiedtositinotherthanthedistinctiveplaceinameeting,AllahandHisangels

sendblessingsonhimuntilheleavesthemeeting.”48. “Polytheism inpeople ismore inconspicuous than thecreepingof antsonablackcloth ina

darknight.”49.“Heartshaveideasfromfancy,whilemindsshakeandgetmoreknowledgeoutofexperiments,

andtakinglessonsleadstoreasonability.”50.“Predominantfatesarenotpreventedbystruggling(againstthem),anddeterminedlivelihoods

arenotgainedbygreedinessandrequesting…submityourself tofatesandknowthatyoushallnotgetexceptwhathasbeendeterminedforyou.”Notes:[116]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.338.[117]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.372.[118]Nuzhatan-Nadhir,p.50-51.[119]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.338.[120]Ibid.,p.373.[121]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.193,ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.2p.43.[122]Biharal-Anwar,vol.78p.373.[123]Al-Majalisas-Saniyyah,vol.2p.663.[124]Becausethatsomeonefindsthathehastoanswerwiththesame.

[125]Spendingthenightwithworshipping.

8ChapterWiththeHolyQur’an

TheinfallibleimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)paidexcessiveattentiontotheinterpretation(tafsir)of

theHolyQur'an.Eachoneofthemhadaschooloftafsir,andtheyweredefinitelythemostawareofthecontentsoftheQur'anandallitssciences.Themasterofthepureprogeny,ImamAli(a.s.)was,amongalltheProphet’scompanions,themostawareofthefactsandminutedetailsoftheQur ’an,itsmuhkam(clear)versesandmutashabih(ambiguous)verses,andheknewwhenandwhereeachversewasrevealed.AsforImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.),hewasoneofthemastersofinterpreters.A

specialtafsirknownas“tafsirImamal-Askari”wastransmittedfromhim.Herewementioninbriefsomeholyversesthattheimamhadinterpreted:1.AbuHashimal-Ja’fari said, ‘Once, IwaswithAbuMuhammad(a.s.)andaskedhimabout this

sayingofAllah:(ThenWegave theBookforan inheritance to thosewhomWechose fromamongOurservants;butofthemishewhowrongshimself,andofthemishewhotakesamiddlecourse,andofthemishewhoisforemostindeedsofgoodnessbyAllah'spermission).[126]Hesaid,‘IthasbeenrevealedabouttheprogenyofMuhammad(a.s.).One,whowrongshimself,istheonewhodoesnot acknowledge the imam, and onewho takes amiddle course is the onewho acknowledges theimam,andonewhoisforemostindeedsofgoodnessbyAllah’spermissionistheimam.’MyeyesshedtearsandIthoughttomyselfofwhatAllahhadgiventotheprogenyofMuhammad

(a.s.).Theimamlookedatmeandsaid,‘Howgreatis thatwhichyourself toldyouaboutthegreatimportanceoftheprogenyofMuhammad!ThankAllahforHehasmadeyoulovethem!YoushallbecalledwiththemontheDayofResurrectionwheneveryhumanbeingshallbecalledwithhisimam.BedelightedAbuHashim!Youareingoodstate.[127]2. Muhammad bin Salih al-Armani asked Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) about this verse (Allah

effacesandestablisheswhatHepleases,andwithHimisthebasisoftheBook)[128]andhereplied,‘Does Allah efface but what has been established, and does He establish but what has been notexistent?…TheAlmightyisfaraboveallthings.HeisAwareofallthingsbeforetheirexistence,theCreatorwhen therewasnocreation, theReckoner.’MuhammadbinSalihsaid to the imam, ‘Ibearwitness thatyouare theauthorityofAllahandHisguardian,andyouareon the truepathof ImamAmeerulMu’minin.’[129]3. Muhammad bin Salih al-Armani asked Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) about this saying of

Allah(Allah'sisthecommandbeforeandafter)[130]andtheimamsaid,‘ThecommandisHisbeforeHeissuesit,andthecommandisHisafterHecommandsasHewills.’Isaidtomyself,‘Thisisthesaying of Allah (Surely His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, the Lord of the

worlds).[131]’Theimamlookedatme,smiled,andthensaid,‘(Hisisthecreationandthecommand;blessedisAllah,theLordoftheworlds).’[132]4.AbuHashimsaid,‘IwaswithAbuMuhammad(a.s.)whenibnSalihal-Armaniaskedhimabout

thisverse, (AndwhenyourLordbrought forth fromthechildrenofAdam, fromtheirbacks, theirdescendants, andmade thembearwitnessagainst theirownsouls:AmInotyourLord?Theysaid:Yes,webearwitness).[133]AbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Theknowingwasprovedandtheyforgotthatsituation, but they will remember it, and without that no one would know who his creator andprovideris.’I was astonished with myself at the great favors Allah had endowed His guardian (Imam Abu

Muhammad)with and thegreat taskHehad entrustedhimwith.AbuMuhammad turned tome andsaid,‘OAbuHashim,thematterisgreaterandmoreastonishingthanwhatyouhavebeenastonishedat.What do you think about some peoplewhomwhoever acknowledges, acknowledgesAllah, andwhoeverdenies,deniesAllah?Thereisnobelieverthatdoesnotbelieveinthemandisnotcertaininknowingthem.’[134]5. Sufyan binMuhammad as-Sayfi said, ‘Iwrote toAbuMuhammad (a.s.) asking him about the

“waleejah” (friendor protector)mentioned in this sayingofAllah, (and takenone for friends andprotectorsexceptAllah,HisMessenger,andthebelievers).[135]Isaidwithmyself:‘Whomdoeshethinkthe“believers”arehere?’His replycame tomesaying, ‘The“waleejah”are thosewhoareproper for the“guardianship”.

Yourself(nafs)spoketoyouaskingwhoweremeantbythe“believers”inthisverse.TheyaretheimamswhobelieveinAllah,andnamelywearethose“believers”.’

TheTafsirAscribedToHim

ThetafsircalledTafsiral-AskariwasascribedtoImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.)

butsuspicionswerearousedabout it;someproveditwashisandsomeothersdeniedthat.Hereweshouldhaveastoptoponderonit.

ThoseWhoDependedOnThisTafsir

Someof thegreat ‘Ulama’of theTwelverShi’adependedon this tafsirandbelievedcertainly it

wasImamAbuMuhammad’stafsir.Thefollowingarethenamesofsomeofthose‘Ulama’:1.Shaikhas-Saduq[136]2.Shaikhat-Tabarsi[137]3.Al-Muhaqqiqal-Kurki[138]4.TheSecondMartyr[139]5.MuhammadTaqiyal-Majlisi[140]6.IbnShahrashub[141]7.Al-MuhaqqiqAghaBuzurgh[142]ThesegreatmendidnotsuspectthatthistafsirwasfalselyascribedtoImamal-Askariandbelieved

itwasreallyhis.

TheSanad[143]ofThisTafsir

The sand of this tafsir was mentioned in the beginning of the book (Tafsir al-Askari) as the

following:MuhammadbinAlibinMuhammadbinJa’farbinDaqqaqsaid,“ThetwojurisprudentsheikhsAbulHasanMuhammadbinAhmadbinAlibinal-HasanbinShathan

andAbuMuhammadJa’farbinMuhammadbinAlial-QummitoldmefromAbulHasanMuhammadbinal-Qassimal-Astrabadi the interpreter andpreacher thatAbuYa’qubYusufbinMuhammadbinZiyadandAbulHasanAlibinMuhammadbinSayyar,whowerefromtheTwelverShi’a,said,‘OurparentswereTwelverShi’a.TheZayditeswereprevailinginAstrabad.Wewereundertheruleofal-HasanbinZaydal-Alawicalledasad-Da’iyilal-Haqq.[144]HewastheimamoftheZaydites.Heoftenlistenedtothem(theZaydites)andkilledpeopleaccordingtotheirslanders.Wefearedforourselves,andsoweresortedwithourfamiliestoImamAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAlibinMuhammadthefatherofal-Qa’im(Imamal-Mahdi)(peacebeonhim).Weaskedpermissiontovisittheimam.Whenhe saw us, he said, ‘Welcome to the two comers to us, and resorters to our protection.Allah hasacceptedyourefforts,calmedyourfear,andrelievedyoufromyourenemies.Go(back)andfeelsafeabout yourselves and properties!’Wewere astonished at his saying, though we did not doubt thetruthfulnessofhisspeech.Wesaid,‘OImam,whatdoyouorderustodoonourwayuntilwegettothecountrythatwehadgotoutof?Howshallweenterthatcountrywhichwehadfledfrom,andtherulersearchedforusandhisthreateningagainstuswassevere?’He(peacebeonhim)said,‘LeaveyourthesetwosonswithmeandIwillteachthemtheknowledge

thatAllahwillhonorthemwith.Asforyou,donotpayattentiontotheslanderersnortothethreatoftheruler,becauseAllahtheAlmightywillenditwithhappinessandbringthemtoyourintercessionwithhimwhomyouhadrunawayfrom…’AbuYa’qubandAbulHasansaid,‘They(theirfathers)obeyedwhattheywereorderedofandleft,

buttheyleftusthere.Weoftenvisitedhim(theimam)andhemetuswiththekindnessoffathersandcloserelatives.Oneday,hesaidtous,‘IfthenewsofthesatisfactionofyourfathersandthedisgraceoftheirenemiesbyAllahcomestoyouandmypromisetothemcomestrue,IshallthankAllahbyteachingyouthe interpretationof theQur'anandsometraditionsofMuhammad’sprogeny(a.s.)sothatAllahwillexaltyou.’Webecamedelighted at that and said, ‘O sonof themessengerofAllah, thenwe shall learn all

sciencesandmeaningsoftheQur'an.’Hesaid,‘No!(Imam)as-SadiqtaughtsomeofhiscompanionswhatIwanttoteachyou.’Theybecamedelightedandsaid,‘OsonofthemessengerofAllah,youhavehadallknowledgeof

theQur'an.’Hesaid,‘Ihavehadmuchgood,andhavebeengrantedgreatvirtue,butneverthelessitislessthan

theleastpartoftheQur'an’sknowledge.AllahtheAlmightysays,(Say:Thoughtheseabecameinkfor theWords of my Lord, verily the sea would be used up before the words of my Lord were

exhausted,eventhoughWebroughtthelikethereoftohelp),[145]and(Andifallthetreesintheearthwerepens,andthesea,withsevenmoreseastohelpit,(wereink),thewordsofAllahcouldnotbeexhausted).[146] This is the knowledge andmeanings of the Qur'an and the wonders it has.WhatamountdoyouthinkIhavetakenfromallthisQur'an?’Wesaid,‘Buteventhisamountthatyouhavetaken,Allahhaspreferredyoubyittoallthosewho

donotpossessthelikeofyourknowledge,anddonotunderstandlikeyourunderstanding.’Wedidnot leavehimuntilamessengercame tous fromour fatherswitha lettersaying thatal-

HasanbinZaydal-Alawikilled somemanandconfiscatedhispropertiesafter the slanderof thoseZaydites. Then letters came to him from different countries and villages written by the ZayditesscoldingandblaminghimandsayingthatthekilledmanwasthebestoneoftheZayditesintheEarthand that those few Zaydites who had petitioned against him did so just because of his virtue andwealth. Al-Hasan bin Zayd thanked those people and ordered to cut the noses and ears of thoseZaydites(whohadpetitioned),andsomeofthemweremutilatedandothersranaway.Al-HasanbinZayd felt very sorry and he repented, and paid great monies as charity after he gave back thepropertiesofthekilledmantohisheirs,andgavethemmuchmorethanthespecifiedbloodmoney.Heaskedthemtopardonhimandtheysaidtohim,‘Asforthebloodmoney,weexemptyoufromit,butasfortheblood,itisnotoursbutitisthekilledman’sbloodandAllahistheJudge.’Al-HasanbinZaydvowedforthesakeofAllahthathewouldnotinterferewiththebeliefsofpeople.Itwasmentionedintheletterofourfathersthatal-HasanbinZaydsenttousoneofhistrustedmen

with his letter thatwas sealedwith his seal assuring thatwewould be safe and that our propertieswouldbegivenbacktous,andthathewouldrecompensetheharmsandlosseswehadmet.Weshallgobacktoourcountryaccordingtohispromise.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Allah’spromiseistrue.’Onthetenthday,alettercametousfromourfatherssayingthatal-HasanbinZaydhadcarriedout

allhispromisesandpermittedustokeeptothegreat-blessedimamwhosepromisewastrue.Whenthe imam knew that, he said, ‘This is the time to carry out my promise of teaching you theinterpretationoftheQur'an.Ihavepreparedsomethingeverydayforyoutowritedown.KeeptomeandbemindfulofthegoodluckofhappinessthatAllahhasgivenyou.’ThefirstthinghedictatedtouswastraditionsaboutthepreferenceoftheQur'anandofitspeople,

andthenhedictatedtousthetafsir.Wewrotedownthroughouttheperiodofourstayingwithhim.Itwassevenyears,andeverydaywewrotedownasmuchaswecould…’

Defects

Thistafsirwascriticizedinthatithadsomedefects:Firstly, it was accused of being weak in its credibility. From the chain of narrators, there was

Muhammad bin al-Qassim al-Mufassir al-Astrabadi who was weak. Ibn al-Ghadha’iri said,‘Muhammad bin al-Qassim al-Mufassir al-Astrabadiwasweak and a liar.Abu Ja’far binBabwayhnarratedfromhim.Atafsirwastransmittedfromhimthathehadnarratedfromtwounknownmen,one calledYusuf binMuhammadbinZiyad and theotherwasAli binMuhammadbinYasar, fromtheirfatherfromAbulHasantheThird(Imamal-Hadi)(a.s.),andthetafsirwaswrittendownbySahlad-Dibajifromhisfather.’[147]Whatwasmentionedby al-Ghadha’iri canbe refuted in someways: first, hementioned that this

tafsirwasnarratedbyYusufbinMuhammadbinZiyadandAlibinMuhammadbinYasarfromtheirfather.Thisisamistakebecausetheydidnotnarrateitfromtheirfather,buttheynarrateditwithoutanintermediaryfromImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Second,Ibnal-Ghadha’iriascribedthis tafsir toAbulHasantheThird(a.s.)whereasitwasascribedtoImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.).Third,HesaidthatthistafsirwasauthoredbySahlad-Dibajifromhisfather.ThisisveryoddbecauseSahlwas not mentioned among the chain of narrators of this tafsir. Anyhow, what al-Ghadha’irymentionedinweakeningthismancannotbedependedon.Sayyidal-Khu’isaid,‘NooneofthepastscholarsmentionedthereliabilityofMuhammadbinal-

Qassim.EvenSheikhas-Saduq,whomentionedmany traditions fromhimwithoutan intermediary,didnotmentionthathewasweak…Therightthingisthatthismanwasanunknown,whosereliabilitynorweaknesswasproven,[148]andthereforeonecannotdependonhisnarrations.Inaddition,al-Mufassiral-AstrabadinarratedthistafsirfromYusufbinMuhammadbinZiyadand

AlibinMuhammadbinYasarwhobothwereunknownandunreliableintheirnarrationsfromImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),asSayyidal-Khu’isays.[149]Second,thistafsirisweakandfullofdefectswhichmeansthatitisnottruetoascribeittoImamal-

Askari(a.s.),andwhoeverlooksintoitthinkswithnodoubtthatitwasfalselyascribedtotheimam,Sayyidal-Khu’isays.Third, ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.)was surrounded by a large number of intelligence officers,

securityforces,andpolicemenoftheAbbasidgovernmentthatpreventedtheShi’afromassociatingwithhim,sohowcouldthesetwopersonsfrequenthimforsevenyearswithoutbeingpreventedfromvisitinghim?Fourth,thecareoftheimamforthesetwomenandhisaskingtheirfatherstoleavethemwithhim

toteachthemtheknowledgethatAllahwouldhonorthemwith,asmentionedinthebeginningofthebook,thoughtheywereunknown,wouldbedoubtedsomehow.Woulditnotbebetterfortheimamtofavorthegreat‘Ulama’andjurisprudentsofhisShi’awiththishonor?Anyhow, it is certain that this tafsir was not ImamAbuMuhammad’s but it was fabricated and

ascribed to him. In addition to the defects it has, it is not eloquent inmany of its chapters, and of

course,thisdoesnotfittheimamwhohadbeenendowedwithwisdomandeloquence,andhewasthemost eloquent man in his time. So how could this tafsir, which had no feature of eloquence, beascribed to thisgreat imam?Besides that, ithassome traditions thathaveexcessiveness,as I think,andthiswastoofarfromtheimam’s(a.s.)character.Notes:[126]Qur'an,35:32.[127]Ath-Thaqibfil-Manaqibbyal-Jirjani,p.241-242.[128]Qur'an,13:39.[129]Ath-Thaqibfil-Manaqibbyal-Jirjani,p.242,Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.209.[130]Qur'an,30:4.[131]Qur'an,7:54.[132]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.210.[133]Qur'an,7:172.[134]Kashfal-Ghummah,vol.3p.210.[135]Qur'an,9:16.[136]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih.[137]Al-Ihtijaj.[138]HepermittedthistafsirforSafiyuddeen.[139]Al-Munyah.[140]Sharhal-Mashyakhah.[141]Al-Manaqib.[142]Ath-Tharee’ah,vol.4p.285.[143]Sanad is the chain of authorities or narrators as an essential part of the transmission of a

tradition.[144]Ibnan-Nadeemsaidinal-Fihristp.274thatal-HasanbinZaydruledinTabaristanin250AH

anddiedin270AH.[145]Qur'an,18:109.[146]Qur'an,31:27.[147]Mu’jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.17p.173.[148]Mu’jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.17,p.174.[149]Mu’jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.12p.159.

9ChapterHisTraditionsandJurisprudence

Historians agreed unanimously that Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) was the richest scientific

personalityinhistalentsathistime,andnoonewasevercomparabletohiminvirtueandknowledge.Historianssaid, ‘Hewas thehighestauthority for jurisprudents in taking the rulingsof theShariahandtheprinciplesofreligion.TheyputforwardtohimbooksofHadithandjurisprudence,andifhepermitted these books, they would act according to them. Once, a book written by Ahmad binAbdullahbinKhanibahwasofferedtohim.Hereaditandthensaidtohiscompanions,‘Itistrue.Actaccordingtoit!’[150]

TheInterestofThe‘Ulama’InHisTraditions

‘Ulama’andnarratorspaidalotofattentiontohistraditions,fortheywerethetruestnarrationsof

histime.AndatthesametimetheywerefromthedefiniteSunnahthatmustbefollowedaccordingtothebeliefoftheTwelverShi’a.ThefollowingaresomeofthetraditionstransmittedfromImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.):1.Al-Hafidh(memorizer)al-Balatharinarratedfromhiscompanionssaying,‘Al-HasanbinAlibin

MuhammadbinAli binMuhammadbinAli binMusa, the imamof his age for theShi’a, narratedfromhisfatherMuhammadbinAlial-Mahjub,fromhisfatherAlibinMusaar-Redha,fromhisfatherMusabinJa’faral-Murtadha,fromhisfatherJa’faras-Sadiq,fromhisfatherMuhammadbinAlial-Baqir,fromhisfatherAlibinal-Husaynas-Sajjad(ZaynolAabidin),fromhisfather,al-HusaynbinAli, fromhis fatherAlibinAbuTalib themasterofguardians, fromMuhammadbinAbdullah themasterofprophets,fromGabrielthechiefoftheangelsthatAllahsaid,‘ItisMe,Allahthatthereisno god butMe.Whoever acknowledgesmonotheism toMe shall enter intoMy fort, andwhoeverentersintoMyfortshallbesafefromMytorment.’[151]2. Ibnal-Jawzi said, ‘He (Imamal-Hasanal-Askari) referred this tradition tohis father fromhis

purefathers.MygrandfathershowedhimatraditioninhisbookcalledTahrimal-Khamr(prohibitionofwine).IquotedthistraditionandIswearbyAllahthatIheardhimsaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardAbuAbdullah al-Husayn binAli saying: I swear byAllah that I heardAbdullah binAta al-Harawisaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardAbdurrahmanbinUbaydal-Bayhaqisaying:IswearbyAllah that IheardAbuAbdullahal-HusaynbinMuhammadad-Daynawari saying: I swearbyAllahthatIheardAhmadbinAbdullahash-Shi’iysaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardAbuMuhammadbinAlibinMuhammadsaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardmyfatherAlibinMusaar-Redhasaying:Iswear by Allah that I heard my father Ja’far saying: I swear by Allah that I heard my fatherMuhammadsaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardmyfatheral-HusaynbinAlisaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardAlibinAbuTalibsaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardMuhammad(a.s.)saying:(IswearbyAllahthatIheardGabrielsaying:)IswearbyAllahthatIheardMichaelsaying:IswearbyAllahthatIheardIsrafelsaying:IswearbyAllah…thatIheardAllahsaying:“Adrinkerofwineislikeaworshiperofidols.”AbuNu’aymal-FadhlbinDakeensaid,‘Thisisatruetraditionnarratedbythepureprogenyand

narratedbysomemenfromthemessengerofAllah(a.s.).’[152]

TraditionsOnReligiousRulings

Narrators narratedmany traditions on religious questions that ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.)was

askedabout.Worthmentioning is that these traditionscame through letterswhichshowed thegreatpressure that the imamwassurroundedwithby theAbbasidgovernment,where ‘Ulama’ couldnotassociatewithhimexceptthroughcorrespondence.Thefollowingaresomeofthosequestions:1.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffarwrote toImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)askinghimabout the

specified quantity (of water) that a dead one should be washed with. It was narrated that ajunub[153]shouldwashwith six rotls ofwater, and amenstruatingwomanwithnine rotls, sowhatwouldbethelimitofwaterforadeadpersontobewashedwith?Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) replied, ‘A dead should be washed until he would be pure,

insha’Allah.’AbuJa’faras-Saduqsaid,‘Thisreplyiswithmeamongacollectionofrepliesbyhishandwriting

(peacebeuponhim)inabook.’[154]Thisreplyshowsthatthereisnolimitinthewaterthatadeadpersonshouldbewashedwith,buthe

shouldbewasheduntilhebecomespure.2.IbrahimbinMahziyarwrotetoAbuMuhammadal-Hasan(a.s.)askinghimaboutofferingprayer

in(clothesdyedwith)kermesandsayingthathiscompanionsrefrainedfromofferingtheprayerinit.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Thereisnoprobleminitatall,andpraisebetoAllah.’[155]3.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-SaffarwrotetoImamAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli(a.s.)asking

him,‘Amandiedandhehadtendaysofqadha[156]fastingthathehadtoperformbeforehisdeath.Helefttwosuccessors(children).Isitpossibleforeachoneofhissuccessorstofastforfivedays?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Hiseldersuccessoristofastfortendays,insha’Allah.’[157]4.IbrahimbinMahziyarwrotetoImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.):“Omymaster,yourmawla[158]Ali

binMahziyarhadrecommendedthehajj tobeperformedonbehalfofhimfrom(therevenueof)agarden…twentyDinarseveryyears,andsincethewayofBasrawasblocked,costsbecamedoubledfor people so that twenty dinars were not enough (for the hajj). Some others of your mawlasrecommendedtwo(performancesof)hajjinstead.’The imam(a.s.) replied, ‘Youmake (thecostsof) threeseasonsofhajj in two, ifwillsAllah the

Almighty.[159]5.AlibinMuhammadal-Hudhayniwrote to ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saying, ‘Mycousinhas

recommendedahajjtobeperformedonbehalfofhimwithfifteendinarseveryyear,andthisisnotenough.Whatdoyouordermetodo?’The imam (a.s.) replied to him, ‘Youmake (the costs of) two (seasons of) hajj in one.Allah is

Awareofthat.[160]

6.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-SaffarwrotetoImamAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli(a.s.),‘Isthe

witnessoftheexecutionofadeadpersonacceptedwhenheclaimsthatthedeadpersonhasadebtonsomeoneifthereisanotherreliablewitness?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Ifanotherreliablemanwitnesseswithhim,thentheclaimer

hastotakeanoath.’Inreplyingtoanotherletterlikethis,theimam(a.s.)said,‘Yes,aftertakinganoath.’[161]7.Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffarwrote to ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) saying, ‘Someman

madeawilltohischildren,someofwhomareadultsandsomeareyoungchildren.Isitpossiblefortheadultstoexecutetheirfather ’swillandpayhisdebtsbeforetheyoungchildrencometoage?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Yes,theadultshavetopaytheirfather ’sdebtandnottodelay

itforthat(untiltheotherscometoage).’[162]8.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar(mayAllahbepleasedwithhim)wrotetoAbuMuhammadal-

HasanbinAli(a.s.),‘Somemanguardscaravansinfrighteningplaceswithoutthepermissionoftheruler.They(themenofthecaravans)agreewithhimtogivehimacertainamount.Isitpermissibleforhimtotake(wage)fromthem?’The imam (a.s.) replied, ‘If he hires himself for a specified wage, he can take his right,

insha’Allah.’[163]9.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar(mayAllahhavemercyonhim)wrotetoAbuMuhammadal-

HasanbinAli (a.s.), ‘Someoneboughtahouse,andtherewasanotherhouse(floor)onthishouse.Wouldtheupperhousebeincludedinthelowerhouse?’ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) replied, ‘He could not possess except what he had bought with its

limitsandconditions,insha’Allah.’[164]ThejurisprudentsoftheTwelverShi’agaveafatwathatifsomeonesoldahouse,itsland,upper

andlowerbuildingwouldbewithit,exceptiftheupperfloorwasindependentinitsentryandexit,becausethatmightbeareasontoexcludeitfromthesoldhouse.Theydependedinthisfatwaonthistradition.10.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar(mayAllahhavemercyonhim)wrotetotheimam,“Some

mansaidtotwomen:‘Bearwitnessthatmyhouseintheso-and–soplacewithallitslimitsandallthefurnitureinitis(sold)toso-and-so.’Itisnotknownwhatfurniturethereisinthehouse.”Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) replied, ‘It is alright if the buying has included all that,

insha’Allah.’[165]11. Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote to Imam Abu

Muhammad(a.s.),‘Somemanhadsomepiecesoflandinavillage.ItwastimeforhimtogotoMecca(toperformthehajj).Thevillagewassomewhatfarfromhishouseandhehadnotenoughtimetodefine the boundaries of his land. He defined the four boundaries of the village and said to thewitness:‘BearwitnessthatIhavesoldtoso-and-sotheentirevillagewhoseboundariesareso-and-so.’ In fact,he justhad somepiecesof land in thevillage.Would thatbe right for thebuyerorhewould possess just a part from the village though the seller had acknowledged to him the whole

village?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Itisnotpermissibleforonetosellwhathedoesnotown,and

thebuyercanpossessonlywhatthesellerowns.’[166]12.Muhammadbinal-HasanwrotetoImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)aboutamanwhoaskedhimto

bearwitnessthathehadsoldafarmtoanotherbuthedidnotknowthelimitsofthefarmatthetimewhenheaskedhimtowitness.Hesaidtohim,‘Whentheytellyouthelimits,youacknowledgethem.’Wasitpermissibleforhimtobearwitness?ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Yes,itwas,andpraisebetoAllah.[167]13.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffarwrote toImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.), ‘Someone tookan

oath that hewould be free fromAllah theAlmighty or from themessenger ofAllah, but then hebrokehisoath.Whatshouldhisrepentanceandpenancebe?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Heshouldfeedtenpoorpeoplewithamuddoffood(about750gr.)for

each,andprayAllahtoforgivehim.’[168]15. Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.), ‘There is some

womanwhosehusbandhasdivorcedherandhedoesnotpayher thespecifiedexpenditure, thoughsheis inneed.Is itpermissibleforher togooutandspendthenightoutofherhousetoworkandsatisfyherneed?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘ThereisnoobjectiontothatifAllahknowsthatsheistrue

(inhergoingouttoworkandsatisfyherneeds).[169]Awoman,whoisdivorcedinrevocabledivorce,remainsasone’swifeaslongassheisstillinthe

iddah.[170]Thehusbandmustpayherexpenditureandshemustobeyhim.It isnotpermissibleforhertogetoutofhishousewithouthispermission.However,ifthehusbanddoesnotspendonher,itispermissibleforhertogooutforworkasImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)hassaid.16. Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar wrote to Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.), ‘Some woman

undergoestheiddahafterthedeathofherhusband.Sheisinneedandhasnoonetospendonher.Sheworksforpeople.Isitpermissibleforher,duringheriddah,togetoutandspendthenightawayfromherhouseforworkandnecessaryneeds?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Thereisnoobjectiontothat,insha’Allah.’[171]17.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar(mayAllahbepleasedwithhim)wrotetoAbuMuhammad

al-HasanbinAli(a.s.),‘Somemanmadehiswill(tobequeath)fortwopersons.Isitpermissibleforoneofthemtodoalonewithhalfoftheinheritanceandtheotheronewiththeotherhalf?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Theyshouldnotcontradictthedeadone’swillandtheyshoulddoashe

hasorderedthemtodo.’[172]If someone bequeaths to two persons, neither of them should do alone with the half of the

inheritance,buttheyshoulddiscussthemattertogether.Neitherofthemhastherighttodowiththe

inheritance according to his own opinion, andwithout the permission of the other as the traditionsays.18. Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar wrote to Imam AbuMuhammad al-Hasan bin Ali (a.s.),

‘Somemanwilledtobequeathathirdofhispropertiestohischildrenthattheshareafemalewouldbeliketheshareofamale.Wouldthemalehavethesharesoftwofemalesfromthewill?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Itispermissibleforthedeadoneashehaswilled.’[173]ThistraditionshowsthataMuslimisfreetodowiththethirdofhispropertiesashelikes.Hecan

giftitwithsamesharestohismaleandfemalechildren,andhecangiveonemorethantheother.Hecanorderthethirdofhispropertiestobespentoncharitableorganizationsaswell.19. Sahl bin Ziyad al-Aadami wrote to ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.), ‘Someman hadmale and

femalechildren.HeacknowledgedthatafarmwouldbeforhischildrenbuthedidnotmentionthatitwouldbedividedamongthemduetothesharesandcommandsofAllah.Maleandfemalechildrenwerethesameinthiswill.’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Theyshouldexecutetheirfather ’swillashehadspecified.Ifhedidnot

specify anything, theywould divide the inheritance according to the Book ofAllah theAlmighty,insha’Allah.’[174]20.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar(mayAllahbepleasedwithhim)wrotetoAbuMuhammad

al-HasanbinAli(a.s.),‘Somemanwastheexecutorofsomeonewhodied.Thisexecutorappointedanotheroneastheexecutorinsteadofhim.Wouldthis(second)manbeobligedtoexecutethewillofthatmanwhoseexecutorwasthat(first)man?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Hewouldbeobligedtohisrightifhehadsomerightwithhim(withthe

deadman),insha’Allah.’[175]Thistraditionshowsthatanexecutorisnotpermittedtoaskanotheronetoexecutewhathehimself

hasbeenorderedtoexecuteexceptwhenhehasarightwiththemanofthewill.Inthiscasehehastherighttoappointanotheronetotakehisrightback.Jurisprudentssaythatanexecutorhastherighttoappointanotherexecutorafterhimifhehasbeenpermittedbythemanofthewilltodothat.21.Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar wrote to Imam AbuMuhammad (a.s.) asking him about

entailment,andwhathadbeentransmittedfromhisfathers(a.s.)aboutit.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)replied,‘Entailmentsshouldbedealtwithastheirownershaveentailedthemon,insha’Allah.[176]22. Muhammad bin al-Hasan as-Saffar wrote to Imam AbuMuhammad al-Hasan bin Ali (a.s.),

‘Some man died and left behind a grandson and a full brother. To whom would the inheritancebelong?’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Theinheritancewouldbefortheclosestone,insha’Allah.[177]Notes:[150]Falahas-Sa’il.[151]A’yanash-Shi’a,vol.4p.308-309.[152]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.192.[153]Arituallyimpureperson.

[154]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.1p.86,al-Istibsar,vol.1p.195,at-Tahthib,vol.1p.122.[155]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.1p.171.[156]Qadha’meanstheperformingofobligationsoutoftheirspecifiedtime,whereasada’isthe

performingofobligationswithintheirtimes.[157]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.2p,98,at-Tahthib,vol.1p.402,al-Istibsar,vol.2p.108.[158]Mawla is an adherent to someperson,or a freed slavewho is still adherent tohismaster.

Mawaliisthepluralform.[159]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.2p.272.[160]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.2p.272.[161]Ibid.,vol.3p.44.[162]Al-Wassa’il,rulingsofwill.[163]At-Tahthib,vol.2p.115,ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.106.[164]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.153,at-Tahthib,vol.2p.158.[165]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.153,at-Tahthib,vol.2p.159.[166]At-Tahthib,vol.2p.159,ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.153.[167]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.153.[168]At-Tahthib,vol.2p.332,ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.237.[169]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.322.[170] A prescribed period that a woman has to pass after divorce or after her husband’s death

beforeherremarriage.[171]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.3p.328.[172]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.4p.151.[173]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.4,p.196.[174]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.4p.155.[175]At-Tahthib,vol.2p.393,ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.4p.168.[176]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.4p.176,At-Tahthib,vol.2p.371.[177]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.1p.169.

10ChapterHisCompanionsAndTheNarratorsofHisTraditions

TheAbbasidgovernmentdidnotallow‘Ulama’andjurisprudenttocommunicatewithImamAbu

Muhammad(a.s.)lesthisvirtuesandvastknowledgewouldbespreadamongpeopleeverywhere,asthenpeoplewouldbeaffectedbyhimandwouldturntheirbackstotheAbbasids.Inspiteofall thesevereprocedurestheAbbasidstooktoseparatetheimamfrompeople,some‘Ulama’andnarratorscommunicatedwithhimandnarratedhistraditions.HerewementionthecompanionsandnarratorsinbriefbecausethiscompletestheresearchonthepersonalityofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).

1.IbrahimbinAbuHafsAbuIsaaqal-Katib

An-Najashi said about him that he was a sheikh from Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari’s

companions.Hewas a reliable andnotableman.Hehadwritten a book refuting the excessive andAbulKhattab.[178]

2.IbrahimbinKhasibal-Anbari

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[179]

3.IbrahimbinAbdah

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Hadi’sandImamal-Askari'scompanions.[180]

WehavementionedinapreviouschapterthelettersofImamal-Askari(a.s.)tohimthatshowedhisreliabilityandhighposition.

4.IbrahimbinAli

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[181]Hewasunknown.

5.IbrahimbinMuhammadbinFarisan-Naysaburi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Hadi’sandImamal-Askari'scompanions.[182]

Once, al-Kashshi askedAbu an-Nadhr al-Ayyashi about somemen amongwhomwas Ibrahim binMuhammadbinFaris,andhesaid,‘AsforIbrahimbinMuhammadbinFaris,heisnotbad.’[183]

6.AbuIsaaqIbrahimbinMahziyaral-Ahwazi

He had written a book called “al-Bisharaat”.[184] Isaaq bin Muhammad al-Basri narrated that

MuhammadbinIbrahimbinMahziyarsaidtohim,‘Whenmyfather(Ibrahim)wasabout todie,hegaveme somemoney and gaveme a certain sign. No one knew about this sign except Allah theAlmighty.Hesaidtome,‘Whoevershowsyouthissign,youhavetogivehimthismoney.’IwenttoBaghdadandstoppedataninn.Onthefollowingday,someonecameandknockedthedoor.Iaskedtheservanttoseewhohewas.Theservantsaid,‘Anoldmanatthedoor.’Isaid,‘Lethimcomein.’Theoldmancamein,tookaseatandsaid,‘Iamal-Umari.Givemethemoneythatiswithyouwhichis so-and-so.’He showedme the sign and I gavehim themoney.’[185]Al-Umariwas the agentofImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.).Ibrahim binMahziyar narrated from ImamAbulHasan al-Hadi (a.s.),ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.),IbnAbuUmayr,andothers.AhmadbinMuhammad,Sa’dbinAbdullah,AbdullahbinJa’faral-Himyari,andothersnarratedfromhim.[186]

7.IbrahimbinYazid

Sheikh at-Toosimentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.He alsomentioned his

brotherAhmadbinYazidasoneofImamal-Askari’scompanions.[187]

8.IbrahimbinIsma’ylbinDawudbinHamdunal-Katiban-Nadim

Hewasthemasteroflinguists.HenarratedfromImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)andfrom

his father.[188]An-Najashi said, ‘Hewas the close companion of ourmasterAbuMuhammad al-Askari(a.s.)andofhisfatherAbulHasan(al-Hadi)(a.s.)beforehim.’Hehadwrittensomebookslike“Thenamesofmountains,watercourses,andvalleys”,“Bani[189]

MurrahbinOwf”,“Banian-NamrbinQasit”,“BaniAqil”,“BaniAbdullahbinGhatafan”,“At-Tayy”,“Thepoetryofal-Hujayras-Saluli”,“ThepoetryofThabitbinQutnahandhiscraft”,“BaniKulaybbin Yarbu’”, “The poetry of bin Murrah bin Hammam”, and “Nawadir al-A’rab: rarities of thenomads”.[190]

9.AbuHamidAhmadbinIbrahimal-Muraghi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.IbnDawudsaidabouthim,

‘Heishighlypraiseworthy.’[191]Ahmadnarrated,‘AbuJa’farMuhammadbinAhmadbinJa’faral-Qummial-Attarwrotetotheimam(peacebeonhim)describingustohim.Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Iread that which you described Abu Hamid (may Allah honor him by His obedience) with andunderstoodhisstate.MayAllah takehimto thebestendandnotceaseHisfavorsonhim,andmayAllahbehisguardian.’[192]

10.AhmadbinIdrisal-Qummial-Mu’allim

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[193]An-Najashisaid,‘He

wasareliablejurisprudentfromamongourcompanions.Hewastrustworthyinhismanynarrations.Hehadwrittenabookonrarities.Hediedin306AHonthewayfromMeccatoKufa.’[194]

11.AhmadbinIsaaqbinAbdullahbinSa’dbinMalikbinal-Ahwasal-Ash’arial-Qummi

HewasthedeputyofthepeopleofQum.HenarratedtraditionsfromAbuJa’fartheSecond(Imam

al-Jawad) and from Abul Hasan (Imam al-Hadi) (peace be on them). He was from the closecompanions of Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.). He had written some books such as “Ilal as-Sawm:causesoffasting”and“Masa’ilar-Rijal:questionsofmen”whichhehadcollectedfromAbulHasantheThird(Imamar-Redha)(a.s.).[195]Sheikhat-ToosisaidhewasonefromthosewhohadmetImamal-Mahdi(a.s.).[196]MuhammadbinAhmedbinas-Saltal-Qummiwrotealettertoad-Dar(totheimam)andmentioned

initthestoryofAhmedbinIsaaqal-Qummiandhiscompanionship.HementionedthathewantedtoperformHajjandneededonethousanddinars.Hesaidintheletter,‘Ifmymasterseesthatheordersto lendhimthisamountandget itbackfromhiminhiscountrywhenhecomesback, I shalldo it(givehimthemoney).’Theimam(a.s.)replied,‘Itisagiftfromustohimandwhenhecomesback,hewillgetanothergiftfromus.’[197]Thisstoryshowedhisfaithandtherespectoftheimam(a.s.)towardshim.AbdullahbinJa’faral-Himyarisaid,‘Once,SheikhAbuAmr(mayAllahhavemercyonhim)andI

metAhmadbinIsaaq,whosignaledtometoaskAbuAmrabout theSuccessor(Imamal-Mahdi). Isaidtohim,‘OAbuAmr,IwanttoaskyouaboutsomethingthatIhavenodoubtabout.’Hesaid,‘Askaboutwhatyouwant!’Isaidtohim,‘DidyouseetheSuccessorafterAbuMuhammad(a.s.)?’Hesaid,‘ByAllah,yes.’[198]Anyhow,thismanwasreliableandhadahighpositionneartheAhlulBayt(a.s).

12.Ahmadbinal-HasanbinAlibinFadhdhal

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Hadi’sandImamal-Askari'scompanions.[199]

ItwassaidthathewasFatahite[200]andhewasreliableinnarration.Hehadwrittensomebookssuchas“Prayer”,and“Wudu”.Hediedin260AH.[201]

13.AbuAliAhmadbinHammadal-Mahmudi

Sheikhat-Toosimentionedhimasoneof Imamal-Hadi and Imamal-Askari's companions.[202]

Al-Kashshi mentioned that Muhammad bin Mas’ood said, ‘Abu Ali Muhammad bin Ahmad binHammadal-Mahmudial-Marwazisaid,‘AbuJa’far(a.s.)wrotetomyfather(asmentionedearlier)inachapterofhisbook,…(andeverysoulshallbepaidinfullwhatithasearned,andtheyshallnotbewronged).[203]Asforthislife,wearetriedinitwithmisfortunes,butwhoeverloveshisfriendandbelievesinhisbeliefsshallbewithhimevenifheisfarfromhim.Andasfortheafterlife,itistheabode of eternity.’Al-Mahmudi said, “The imam (a.s.) wrote tome after my father ’s death, ‘Yourfatherhaspassedaway,mayAllahbepleasedwithhimandwithyou.Heisstillpraiseworthytous.And you shall not be far from this state.’”[204]This praise of the imam shows that he was atrustworthyandgoodman.Al-Kashshimentionedothertraditionsnarratedbythisman.

14.AhmadbinMuhammadbinYasar

Al-BarqimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[205]Al-Najashisaidaboutthis

man,‘HewasfromtheclerksofAbuTahiratthetimeofAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Hewasknownasas-Sayyari. He was weak in narrations and of bad beliefs as al-Husayn bin Abdullah told us. Hisnarrationswerenotregardedsignificant.Henarratedmursal[206]traditions.Hehadsomebookslike“Thawab (reward of) al-Qur ’an”, “Medicine”, “Recitations”, “Rarities”, and “al-Gharat (raids)”.[207]Al-Kashshimentioned that IbrahimbinMuhammadbinHajib said, ‘I read in a paperwith al-Jawad (a.s.) that he informed someone, who asked about as-Sayyari, saying, ‘He was not as heclaimedforhimself.Donotgivehimanything(oftraditions).’[208]Scholarsaccusedhimabouthisbeliefs.Hediedwhilestillonhiswrongbeliefs.

15.AhmadbinAbdullahbinMarwanal-Anbari

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[209]

16.AhmadbinMuhammadbinMusshir

HenarratedfromImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),andAlibinAbuKhulaysnarratedfromhim.Sayyid

al-Khu’isaid,‘Nothingwasmentionedthatmightprovethereliabilityorthepraiseworthinessofthisman.AsforthesayingofSheikhas-Saduqabouthimthathewas“thecompanionofAbuMuhammad(a.s.)”,itdoesnotmeanhewasreliableorgood.Howisthat,whereastherewerebadmenamongthecompanionsoftheProphet(a.s),sowhataboutthosewhoaccompaniedtheimam?!…’[210]

17.AhmadbinMuhammadal-Hudhayni

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[211]

18.AhmadbinHilalal-Abrata’iy

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[212] He was of bad

beliefs and no one considered his narrations significant.[213] The imam (a.s.) dispraised him anddeclaredthathewasfreefromhim.Hewrotetoal-Qassimbinal-Ala’,‘OurorderhascometoyouabouttheliaribnHilal,mayAllahhavenomercyonhim.He-mayAllahneitherforgivehissinsnormayHepardonhisslips-ofteninterferedinouraffairswithnopermissionorsatisfactionfromus.Hewasopinionatedandherefrainedfromgivingourdues.Hedidnotcarryoutourordersexceptofwhathelikedandwanted.MayAllahtakehimtothefireofHell.WewerepatientwithhimuntilAllahcutoffhislifeafterourprayer.Wehadinformedsomepeopleofourfollowersabouthimatthattime-mayAllahhavenomercyonhim.Therearesomepeoplewhodonotleavehim.Makeal-Issaqi-mayAllahkeephimandhisfamilysafe-knowwhatwehaveinformedyouaboutthestatusofthissinner,andmakewhoeveraskedabouthimfromthepeopleofhisvillageandothervillagesknowthat. And tell the same to whoever deserves to know that. He shall not be excused even by ourfollowersformakingdubiouswhatourreliablecompanionshavenarratedfromus…’Thistraditionshowsthatthismanwasdeviant.Hediedin267AH.[214]

19.IsaaqbinIsma’ylan-Naysaburi

Hewasreliable.Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[215]The

imam(a.s.)prayedAllahforhiminoneofhisletters.[216]

20.AbuYa’qubIsaaqbinMuhammadal-Basri

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[217]Al-Kashshisaidhe

wasfromtheheadsoftheexcessive.[218]

21.Isma’ylbinMuhammadbinAlibinIsma’ylal-Hashimial-Abbasi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[219]

22.JabirbinSuhaylas-Sayqal

Hewas theagentof ImamAbulHasanal-Hadi (a.s.), ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari (a.s.),and

Imamal-Mahdi(a.s.).[220]

23.AbulQassimJabirbinYazidal-Farisi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[221]

24.Ja’farbinIbrahimbinNoah

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[222]

25.Al-HasanbinAhmadal-Maliki

HewasfromthecompanionsofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Henarratedfromhisfather,andAli

binal-HusaynbinBabwayhnarratedfromhim.[223]

26.Al-HasanbinIshkeebal-Marwazi

He lived inSamarqand.Hewas a theologian, scholar, and an author.Sheikh at-Toosimentioned

himasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[224]

27.Al-HasanbinJa’far

HewasknownasAbuTalibal-Faghani.Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari's

companions.[225]

28.Al-HasanbinAlibinNu’manal-Kufi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[226]Al-Najashisaid,‘He

wasthemawlaofbaniHashim.HisfatherAlibinan-Nu’manwastrustworthyoftruetraditions.Hehadaveryusefulbookonrarities.[227]

29.Al-HasanbinMuhammadbinBabaal-Qummi

Hewasexcessive.Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanionswithout

adding“al-Qummi” tohisname.al-Kashshi said, ‘AbulFadhlbinShathanmentioned inoneofhisbooks that ibnBaba al-Qummiwas one of the famous liars.’Sa’d said that al-Ubaydi said to him,‘Once,(Imam)al-Askariwrotetomesaying:IamfreebeforeAllahfromal-Fihriandal-HasanbinMuhammad bin Baba al-Qummi, and you also should be free from them. I warn you and all myfollowersofthem.Icursethem.ThecurseofAllahbeonthem.Theyextortthemoniesofpeopleinourname.Theyaremischievousandharmful.MayAllahharmthemandplungethemintomischief.IbnBabapretendsthatIhavesenthimasaprophetandthatheisa“bab”.[228]ThecurseofAllahbeonhim.Satanhasmockedathimanddeceivedhim.Allahcurseswhoeveracceptsthatfromhim.OMuhammad,ifyouareabletosplithisheadwitharock,youdoso.Hehasharmedme.MayAllahharmhimin this lifeand in theafterlife.’This lettershowsthat the imam(a.s.)wassoangryat thismanwhohaddeniedhisreligionandgonetoofarindeviation.

30.Al-HasanbinMusaal-Khashshab

An-Najashisaidabouthim,‘Hewasfromournotablecompanions.Hewasfamousinknowledge

andHadith,andhadwrittensomebookssuchas“Refuting theWaqifites”and“theRarities”. Itwassaid that from his books there were the books of “the Hajj”, and “the Prophets”. Sheikh at-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[229]

31.AbuOwnal-Hasanbinan-Nadhral-Abrash

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[230]

32.Al-Hasanbinan-Nadhr

Itwashewhowascarried to theSacredDistrict “SurraManRa’a”after thedeathof ImamAbu

Muhammad (a.s.). The Imam (a.s.) had given him two garments. He died in Ramadhan and wasenshroudedinthesetwogarments.HewasfromthepeopleofQum,andfromthosewhometImamal-Mahdi(a.s.)otherthanhisagentsandsawhismiracles.[231]Sayyidal-Khu’ithoughthewasbuttheverymanmentionedaboveandnotanotherone.[232]

33.Al-Husaynbinal-HasanbinAbban

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions and said, ‘He met the

imam(a.s.)butwedonotknowwhetherhenarratedfromhimornot.IbnQoulwayhsaidhewasfromtherelativesofas-SaffarandSa’dbinAbdullahbuthewasbeforethembecausehenarratedfromal-HusaynbinSa’eedbuttheybothdidnot.’[233]

34.HafsbinAmral-Umari

Sheikhat-Toosimentionedhimasoneof Imamal-Askari'scompanions.[234]Hewasoneof the

bestcompanionsoftheimam(a.s.).IsaaqbinIsma’ylhadaletterfromImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saying, ‘Donot leave thecountryuntilyoumeetal-Umari.MayAllahbepleasedwithhim formypleasednesswithhim.Yougreethim,beacquaintedwithhimandmakehimbeacquaintedwithyou,because he is pure, loyal, chaste, and close to us. Everything that is carried to us from countriescomestohimatlastsothathebringsittous.PraisebetoAllahexceedingly.’[235]Thisshowsthathewasreliable,goodman,andclosetotheAhlulBayt(a.s).

35.AbuSa’eedHamdanbinSulaymanan-Nayshaburi

Sheikh at-Toosimentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi’s companions at one time, and another

timeasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[236]HewasareliablepersonfromthenotablesoftheShi’a.

36.HamzabinMuhammad

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[237] He narrated the

traditionof “the cause of the legislatingof fasting”, and IsaaqbinMuhammadnarrated fromhim.[238]

37.DawudbinAbuZayd

Hewasareliable,truthful,religiousmanfromNayshabur.Sheikhat-Toosimentionedhimasone

ofImamal-HadiandImamal-Askari'scompanions.

38.DawudbinAamiral-Ash’ari

HewasfromQum.Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,[239]

andsodidal-Barqi.[240]

39.Dawudbinal-Qassim

He was known as Abu Hashim al-Ja’fari. He was one of the eminent Muslims and one of the

famousscholarsinreligion.Herewetalkinbriefaboutthisgreatpersonality.

HisLineage

HislineagebelongedtotheeternalmartyrinIslamJa’farbinAbuTalibat-Ţayyar.Hewastheson

ofal-QassimbinIsaaqbinAbdullahbinJa’far,[241]andtherewasnolineagemorenoblethanthislineage.His allegiance to theAhlulBayt (a.s)AbuHashimwas very loyal to the infallible imams(a.s.).HemetImamar-Redha,Imamal-Jawad,Imamal-Hadi,andImamAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari(peacebeonthem).Hedevotedhimselftothem.Hecomposedgoodpoetryintheirpraise.

HisPositionNeartheImams

AbuHashimhadahighpositionneartheimamswithwhomhewascontemporary.Once,Imamal-

Hadi(a.s.)saidtohim,‘OAbuHashim,whichblessingofAllahyouwanttobegratefulfor?AllahhasendowedyouwithfaiththatsavesyourbodyfromFire,endowedyouwithsoundnessthathelpsyouinobedience,andendowedyouwithsatisfactionthatkeepsyouawayfromdegradation.’[242]

HisSocialStatus

All classes of the society highly regarded Abu Hashim. Biographers said about him, ‘He was

preferred by rulers. He was pious, devoted, ascetic, knowledgeable, and active. No one of theTalibites[243]athistimewaslikehiminhishighlineage.’[244]

HisCourage

AbuHashimwassocourageousthathedidnotfearanyruler.Heannouncedthetrutheveninthe

mostcriticalenvironments.HistorianssaidthatwhentheheadofYahya,thegreatrebel,wasbroughttoBaghdad, thepeopleofBaghdadwent toMuhammadbinAbdullahbinTahir,whokilledYahya,congratulatinghimon thevictory!!AbuHashimwas among thosepeople.He said to the emir, ‘Oemir, I have come toyou congratulatingon something that had themessenger ofAllah (a.s.) beenalive,hewouldbeconsoledon.’All present people became silent and no one answered himwith anything.[245]He left angrily

whilerecitingthefollowingversesofpoetry:“OFamilyofTahir,eatitharmfully,forthefleshoftheProphetisnotedible.Arevengesuchthatits

seekerisAllah,Definitelyitwillbetaken.”[246]

HisDeath

HediedinJumadial-Oola[247]in261AH,[248]ayearafter thedeathofImamAbuMuhammad

(a.s.).

40.Sa’dbinAbdullahal-Qummi

HewascontemporarywithImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Sheikhat-Toosisaidthathedidnotknow

whether Sa’d had narrated from the imam (a.s.) or not.[249] An-Najashi said, ‘He was the chief,jurisprudent, and notable of this sect (the Shi’a). He heard many traditions from the public. Hetraveled around seeking traditions. He met al-Hasan bin Arafa, Muhammad bin Abdul Malik ad-Daqiqi,AbuHatimar-Razi,andAbbasat-Tarqufi,andhemetourmasterAbuMuhammad(a.s.)…Hecompiledmanybooks like“Mercy”,“Wudu”,“Prayer”,“Zakat”,“Hajj”,besidesmanyotherbookswrittenbyhim.’[250]Hediedin301or299AH.[251]

41.As-Sindibinar-Rabee’

Sheikhat-Toosimentionedhimasoneof Imamal-Askari'scompanionsandadded thathewasa

reliablenarrotorfromKufa.[252]

42.AbuSa’eedSahlbinZiyadal-Aadamiar-Razi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[253]An-Najashisaid,‘He

was weak in narration and undependable. Ahmad bin Muhammad bin Eesa accused him ofexcessivenessandlyingandheexiledhimfromQumtoar-Riyywherehelivedbefore.HewrotetoAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)throughMuhammadbinAbdulHameedal-Attar…Hehadabookonrarities.’[254]

43.ShahwayhbinAbdullahal-Jallab

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[255]

44.SalihbinAbuHammad

An-Najashi said, ‘Salih bin Abu HammadAbul Khayr ar-Razi met ImamAbul Hasan (al-Hadi)

(a.s.).Hewasanambiguousnarrator,sincesomepeopleknewhimwhileothersdeniedhim.Hehadsome books like “The speeches of Ameerul Mu’minin” and “Rarities”.[256] Sheikh at-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[257]

45.SalihbinAbdullahal-Jallab

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[258]

46.AbdulAdheemal-Hasani

This noble master belonged to the pure progeny of Imam al-Hasan (a.s.) the grandson of the

messengerofAllah (a.s.).Hewas the sonofAbdullahbinAlibinal-HasanbinZaydbin Imamal-Hasan (a.s.). Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[259] An-NajashimentionedthatAhmadbinMuhammadbinKhalidal-Barqisaid,‘AbdulAdheemcametoar-Riyyescapingfromtheruler.HelivedinavaultinahouseofoneoftheShi’ainSikkatal-Mawali.He worshipped Allah in that vault; fasting during the day and spending the night in praying andsupplicating.Hewentoutindisguisetovisitthetombthatwasoppositehis(future)tomb.HesaidthatitwasatombofoneofthesonsofImamMusabinJa’far(a.s.).HeremainedlivinginthatvaultandhisnewsmovedfromonetoanotheroftheShi’auntilmostofthemknewhim.OnceamanfromtheShi’asawinsleepthatthemessengerofAllah(a.s.)saidtohim,‘AmanfrommyprogenyshallbecarriedfromSikkatal-MawaliandburiedneartheappletreeinthegardenofAbdulJabbarbinAbdulWahab’andhepointedtotheplace.Themanwenttobuythetreeanditsplacefromitsowner.Theowneraskedhim,‘Whatfordoyouwanttobuythetreeanditsplace?’Themantoldhimabouthisdream,andthentheownerofthetreerememberedthathealsohadseensuchadreamandentailedtheplace of the tree and the entire garden on theSharif and theShi’a to be buried in.AbdulAdheembecameillandthendied(mayAllahhavemercyonhim).Whenhewastobewashed,apieceofpaperwas found in his pocket, written in it was his noble lineage.’[260]This noble man was aknowledgeable jurisprudent. Abu Hammad ar-Razi said, ‘Once, I went to Ali binMuhammad (al-Hadi)(a.s.)inSurraManRa’a.Iaskedhimaboutsomequestionsofhalalandharamandheansweredme.When I wanted to leave him, he said to me, ‘O Hammad, if some thing of your religion isdubious to you, ask Abdul Adheem bin Abdullah al-Hasani about it and give him my bestregards!’[261]

47.AbdullahbinJa’faral-Himyarial-Qummi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,[262]andsodidal-Barqi.

[263]An-Najashisaid,‘AbulAbbasAbdullahbinJa’farbinal-HasanbinMalikbinJami’al-Himyarial-Qummiwas thechiefandanotableof thepeopleofQumm.Hewent toKufaafter290AH.Thepeople of Kufa heard from him many traditions. He compiled many books such as “al-Amanah:depositorfidelity”,“ad-Dala’il:proofs”,“al-Adhamahwet-Tawhid:greatnessandmonotheism”,“al-Ghaybah wel Heerah: occultation and confusion”, “Fadhl al-Arab: preference of the Arabs”, “at-TawhidwelBada’welIradahwelIstita’ahwelMa’rifah:monotheism,bada’[264],will,capability,andknowledge”,“Qurbal-Isnadila(closeattributionto)AbuJa’farbinar-Redha”,“MaBayna(between)Hishambinal-HakamandHishamandal-Abbas”,“al-Arwahwel JannahwelNar : souls,Paradise,and Fire”, “al-Hadithayn al-Mukhtalifayn: the two different traditions”, “Massa’il ad-Dajjal: thequestionsoftheimposter”,“MukatabatAbulHasanath-Thalith:correspondencesofAbulHasantheThird”,“Massa’il li (questionsof)AbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAlialayad(through)Muhammadbin Uthaman al-Umari”, “Qurb al-Isnad ila Sahib al-Amr (the man of the matter)”, “Massail AbuMuhammadwaTawqi’atuh(handwritings)”,andthebook“at-Tibb:medicine”.Thesedifferentbooksshowhisvastknowledgeandhisspecializationindifferentsciences.

48.AbdullahbinHamdwayhal-Bayhaqi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[265]Hewasfromthebest

Shi’a.Once,theimam(a.s.)wrotealetterinwhichheprayedAllahtohavemercyonhim.Wehavementionedthisletterinapreviouschapter.

49.AbdullahbinMuhammadbinKhalidat-Tayalisial-Kufi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[266]An-Najashisaid,‘He

was trustworthy, benevolent man from our (Shi’a) companions, and so was his brother AbuMuhammadal-Hasan.Hehadabookofrarities.[267]MuhammadbinMass’oodsaidabouthim,‘AsforAbdullahbinMuhammadbinKhalidat-Tayalisi,Ihavenotknownabouthimbutforhimbeinggoodandtrustworthy.’[268]

50.AbuMuhammadAbdullahbinMuhammadash-Shamiad-Damashqi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,andaddedthathenarrated

fromAhmadbinMuhammadbin‘Isaandothers.[269]

51.AbuAmrUthmanbinSa’eedal-Umariaz-Zayyat

He was also called as as-Samman. He was one of the great faithful and pious Muslims. As if

religionwasapartofhim.Weshalltalkinbriefabouthim.

TheImamsPraisingHim

TheImams,whomal-Umariwascontemporarywith,praisedandhighlyregardedhim.Ahmadbin

IsaaqbinSa’dal-Qummisaid,‘‘Oneday,IwenttoAbulHasanAlibinMuhammad(Imamal-Hadi)(blessingsbeonhim)andsaidtohim:Omymaster,sometimesIamhereandsometimesIamnot.Icannotcometoyouateverytime.Whosesayingsdoweacceptandwhoseordersdowefollow?’Hesaid, ‘This isAbuAmrthe trustworthy, thefaithful.Whateverhesays toyou is frommeand

whateverheinformsyouofisinbehalfofme.’WhenAbulHasan (a.s.)died, I referred tohis sonAbuMuhammadal-Hasanal-Askari (a.s.) and

askedhimonedayasIhadaskedhisfatherbefore.Hesaidtome,‘ThisisAbuAmrthetrustworthy,thefaithful.Heisthetrustoftheformersandmytrustinlifeanddeath.Whateverhesaystoyouisfrommeandwhateverheinformsyouofisinbehalfofme.’[270]AhmadbinIsaaqalsosaid,‘IaskedAbulHasan(a.s.):withwhomshallIdealandfromwhomshall

I take (religious rulings), and whose saying shall I accept? He said to me, ‘Al-Umary my trust;whateverheinformsyouofisonbehalfofmeandwhateverhesaystoyouisonbehalfofme.Listenandobeyhim,forheistrustworthyandreliable.[271]Thisisaclearproofofhisfaith,piety,andreligiousness.

HisagencytoImamal-Mahdi(a.s.)

He assumed the agency in the Holy District (Surra Man Ra’a) for fifty years.[272] The Shi’a

offeredtheirquestionstohimandheofferedthemtotheimam(a.s.).

HisDeath

Historians said that hehaddugagrave forhimself.Everyday,hewentdown into thegrave and

recitedapartfromtheHolyQur'anandthenhecameup.HediedinJumadial-Oolain304or305AH.Hehadpredictedthedayofhisdeath.HistombisinBaghdadandheisknownbytheBaghdadisasash-Sheikhal-Khilafi.[273]

52.Urwahal-Wakilal-Qummi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[274]

53.Al-AkmaribinAlibinMuhammadal-Bawfakian-Nayshaburi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,andaddedthathebought

someTurksinSamarqandfor(Imam)al-Askari.[275]

54.AliBinBilal

Sheikhat-Toosimentionedhimasoneof Imamal-Hadi and Imamal-Askari's companions.[276]

An-Najashisaid,‘HewasaBaghdadiandthenhemovedtoWasit.HenarratedfromAbulHasantheThird(a.s.).Hehadabook.’[277]InaletterfromImamal-Askari(a.s.)toIsaaqitwasmentioned,‘OIsaaq, read our book to al-Bilali, may Allah have mercy on him, because he is trustworthy andreliable, andheknowswhathehas todo.’Al-Kashshi said, “I foundabookwrittenby Jabra’il binAhmadthatMuhammadbinEesaal-Yaqtinisaidtohim,‘Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)wrotealettertoAlibinBilalin232AHsayinginit,‘‘IpraiseAllahandthankHimforHismightandmercy,andpraythatHesendsHisblessingandmercyonMuhammadtheProphetandonhisprogeny.IhaveappointedAbuAliinplaceofal-HusaynbinAbdRabbihandentrustedhimwiththatpositionfortheknowledgethathe has, such that no one is preferred over him. I knowyou are the chief of your district and so Iwantedtohonoryoubywritingthisletteronthattoyou.Youhavetoobeyhimanddelivertohimallthedues thatarewithyou.Youhave to informmyfollowersandrecommendthemof that, for thiswillsupportandsufficehim,andsaveuseffortsandpleaseus.Doingthis,youwillhavetherewardofAllah,andAllahgiveswhomeverHelikes.HeistheGiver,WhorewardswithHismercyandyouare in the trust of Allah. I have written this letter with my handwriting and I praise Allahmuch.’”[278]Thislettershowsthathewastrustworthyandreliedonbytheimam(a.s.).

55.AlibinJa’farbinal-Abbasal-Khuza’iy

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[279]

56.AlibinJa’faral-Humanial-Barmaki

Al-Barqimentionedhimasoneof Imamal-HadiandImamal-Askari'scompanions.[280]Sheikh

at-Toosisaid,‘Hewasagood,benevolentmanfromtheagentsofAbulHasanandAbuMuhammad(peacebeonthem).’[281]AbuJa’faral-Umarisaid,‘Once,AbuTahirbinBilalwenttoperformthehajj and he sawAli bin Ja’far spendingmoney excessively.When hewent back, hewrote toAbuMuhammad (Imamal-Askari) (a.s.) about that andAbuMuhammad (a.s.) replied to him: ‘Wehaveorderedtogivehimonehundredthousanddinarsandthenanotheronehundredthousanddinarsbutherefusedtotakethemsothatwewouldkeepthemforpeople…HewenttoAbulHasan(a.s.)andheorderedtogivehimthirtythousanddinars.’[282]Al-KashshimentionedthatYusufbinas-Sakhtsaid,‘Ali bin Ja’far was one of the deputies of Imam al-Hadi (a.s.). One day, he was betrayed and al-Mutawakkilthrewhimintoprison.Heremainedinprisonforalongtimeandhecouldnotbearthisany longer.Therefore,heaskedanagentof theAbbasidgovernment to intercedeforhimtobesetfreeandhewouldgivehimthreethousanddinarsforthat.TheagentwenttoUbaydillah,whohadagoodpositionnearal-Mutawakkil,andaskedhimtointercedewithal-MutawakkilforAlibinJa’far.Ubaydillah responded to him and intercededwith al-Mutawakkil to set Ali bin Ja’far free, but al-Mutawakkilrefusedandsaidtohim,‘IfIdoubtedyou,IwouldsayyouareaRafidhi(Shi’a).ThisisadeputyofAbulHasanal-HadiandIhavedeterminedtokillhim.’Ubaydillahregrettedhisintercessionandtoldhisfriend(theagent)thatal-MutawakkilhaddeterminedtokillAlibinJa’farandtherewasnochanceforsettinghimfree.AlibinJa’farbecamesodistressedandwrotealettertoImamal-Hadi(a.s.)sayingtohim,‘Omymaster,pleasedosomethingforme!IfearImaylosemyfaith.’Imamal-Hadi (a.s.) replied to him, ‘Since thematter has reached this pointwith you, Iwill prayAllah foryou.’Al-Mutawakkilbecameseriouslyillandhisfever increased.Therefore,heorderedhismentoset free all prisoners and gave a special order to set Ali bin Ja’far free. Al-Mutawakkil orderedUbaydillahtosetAlifreeandtobeghimtoforgivehim(al-Mutawakkil)forwhathehaddonetohim.AliwassetfreeandwenttoliveinMeccaasImamal-Hadi(a.s.)hadorderedhim.’[283]Al-Kashshimentioned in thebiographyofFarisbinHatimal-Qazwini that therewasadisputebetweenAlibinJa’farandFaris,andthatIbrahimbinMuhammadwrotetoImamal-Hadi(a.s.)tellinghimaboutthatand asking him to show himwhich of them he should follow. Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) replied to himsaying,“Itshouldnotbeaskedaboutonelikethismanandheshouldneverbedoubted.Thepositionof Ali bin Ja’far is so great to us. May Allah please us with him. He is far above others to becomparedwith them.Go toAli bin Ja’far to satisfyyourneeds, and fearFaris anddonot let himinterfereinyouraffairs.Letyouandthosewhofollowyoufromthepeopleofyourcountrydothat.Ihave been informed of what he (Faris) misrepresented to people. Do not pay attention to himinsha’Allah!’[284]This letter shows that thismanwas so faithful that the imam (a.s.) had appointedhimasanauthorityfortheShi’a.

57.Alibinal-HasanbinFadhdhalal-Kufi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[285]An-Najashisaid,‘He

was the best jurisprudent of our companions in Kufa and one of the notables there. He wastrustworthyandthemostawareofHadithamongthem.Ourcompanionslistenedtoandobeyedhim.Manytraditionswereheardfromhim.Nofaultwasfoundinhimandhewasaccusedofnothing.Heseldomnarratedfromaweaknarrator.HewasFatahite[286]anddidnotnarratefromhisfatheranytradition. When I was eighteen years, I discussed his books with him, but at that time I did notunderstandtraditionsanddidnotpermitmyselftonarratethembeforehim.Henarratedfromhistwobrotherswhonarrated from their father.Hehadwrittenmanybooks such as the bookof “Wudu’”,“Haydh andNafas;menstruation and puerperium”, “Salat; prayer”, “Zakat andKhums”, “Fasting”,“Manasik (ritualsof)al-Hajj”,“Divorce”,“Nikah;marriage”,“al-Ma’rifah:knowledge”,“at-Tanzilmin al-Qur ’an wet Tahrif: the revelation and distortion”, “az-Zuhd: asceticism”, and manyothers.’[287]Hewasattheheadofthescholarsofhistime,andhismanybooksprovedhisvastknowledge.

58.AlibinSulaymanbinDawudar-Riqqi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[288]

59.Alibinar-Rayyanbinas-Saltal-Ash’arial-Qummi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[289]

60.AlibinRamees

Sheikh at-Toosimentioned him as one of Imam al-Hadi and Imam al-Askari's companions, and

saidthathewasfromBaghdadandwasweak.[290]

61.AlibinZaydbinAlial-Alawi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[291]

62.AlibinShuja’an-Naysaburi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[292]

63.AlibinMuhammadas-Saymari

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[293]

64.AlibinMuhammadbinIlyas

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[294]

65.UmarbinAbuMuslim

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[295]

66.AmrbinSuwaydal-Mada’ini

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[296]

67.Al-Fadhlbinal-Harith

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[297] Al-Kashshi

mentionedthatal-Fadhlsaid,‘IwasinSurraManRa’aatthetimeofthedepartureofmymasterAbulHasan(al-Hadi)(a.s.).WesawAbuMuhammadwalkinglater, tearinghisclothesoutofsorrowforhisfather.Iwasastonishedathisgravityandathiscolorandexpressions.Ifeltpityforhistiredness.Whennightcame,Isawhiminmysleepandhesaidtome,‘ThecolorthatyouwereastonishedatwasthetryingofAllahofHiscreatures.HetrieswithitasHewills.Itisalessonforthosewhohavesight.Thereisnoblameinitonthetriedone,andwearenotlikeotherpeopletobetiredastheyare.WeaskAllahtofixusonfaithandtomakeusponderonHiscreation…Knowthateachofusinsleepislikeeachofusinwakefulness.’[298]

68.Al-FadhlbinShathan

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[299]Hewasattheheadof

theeminentscholarsofhistime.Hewrotebooksondifferentsciencesandarts.Hehadwrittenonehundredandeightybooks.[300]SomeofhisbookswereadmiredbyImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Hesaidaboutoneof them,‘This is trueandmustbeactedupon.’[301]Onceagain,hereadoneof thebooksandsaid,‘IenvythepeopleofKhurasanforthepositionofal-FadhlbinShathan,andhisbeingamong them.’[302]ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) glorified and highly regarded al-Fadhl.He prayedAllahtohavemercyonhimthreetimes.[303]Al-Kashshimentionedsometraditionsdispraisinghim,butthosetraditionswerefabricatedagainsthimbytheopponentswhohadspiteagainsthim.

69.QassimbinHishamal-Lu’lu’iy

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,andsaidthathenarrated

fromAbuAyyub.[304]An-Najashisaidthathadabookofrarities.[305]

70.MuhammadbinIbrahimbinMahziyar

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[306]Muhammad bin

Ya’qubnarratedthatMuhammadbinIbrahimbinMahziyarsaid,‘AfterthedeathofAbuMuhammad(a.s.)Iwasindoubt.Muchmoneywasaccumulatedwithmyfather.Hecarriedthemoneyandrodeontheship.Iescortedhim.Hefeltseverepainandsaidtome,‘Takemeback!Itisdeath.’Andthenhesaidtome,‘FearAllahinthismoney!’Hemadehiswillanddied.Isaidtomyself,‘Myfatherwouldnot recommendof anything that is not right.Letme take thismoney andgo to Iraq. I shall rent ahouseatthebankoftheriverandIshallnottellanyoneaboutanything.Ifsomethingbecomescleartomeas itwasclearduring the timeofAbuMuhammad, I shall spend themoney,andotherwise Ishallenjoymyselfwithit.’Aftersomedays,amessengercametomewithaletter,andwritteninitwas:“OMuhammad,thereisso-and-sowithyouinso-and-so…’HementionedtomeallthatwhichIpossessed,eventhatwhichIdidnotknow.Igaveittothemessengerandfeltashamedforsomedays.Iwasverysad,butthenalettercamefromtheimam(a.s.)saying,‘Wehaveappointedyouinplaceofyour father, so thank Allah!’[307] This means that Ibrahim had a respectable position and a highstanding.

71.MuhammadbinAbulSahban

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,[308]andsodidal-Barqi.

[309]

72.MuhammadbinAhmadbinJa’faral-Qummial-Attar

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanionsandsaidhewashisagent.

HehadmetImamAbulHasanal-Hadi(a.s.).[310]

73.MuhammadbinAhmadbinMutahhar

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[311]

74.AbuAbdullahMuhammadbinAhmadbinNa’eembinShathanan-Naysaburi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[312]As-Saduqmentioned

thatMuhammad bin Ahmad bin Shathan said, ‘Somemoney came to me for al-Qa’im (Imam al-Mahdi),peacebeuponhim.Itwasfivehundredlackingtwentydirhams.Ihatedtosendthemeageramount so I added twenty dirhams frommymoney and sent the amount toMuhammad bin Ja’farwithoutmentioningmymoney.ThereceiptcametoMuhammadbinJa’far(fromtheimam)saying:“Fivehundreddirhamswere received.Twentydirhams from themareyours.”Imamal-Qa’im (a.s.)saidabouthim,‘AsforMuhammadbinShathanbinNa’eem,heisamanfromourShi’a,wetheAhlulBayt(a.s).’[313]

75.MuhammadbinAhmadal-Ja’farial-Qummi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanionsandsaidhewashisagent,

andthathehadmetImamAbulHasan(a.s.).[314]

76.MuhammadbinBilal

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions and said he was

trustworthy.[315]

77.Muhammadbinal-HasanbinShammun

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanionsandsaidhewasexcessive

manfromBasra.[316]An-Najashisaid,‘HewasaWaqifite[317]andthenheturnedexcessive.Hewastooweak(intraditions)andofbadbeliefs.SometraditionsonWaqifismwereascribedtohim.Itwasmentionedthathehadsaid,‘IheardImamMusabinJa’far(s)saying,‘Whoevertellsyouthathehasnursedme,washedme(afterdeath),enshroudedme,putmeinacoffin,buriedmeandshookdustoffhis hand, do not believe him.Whoever asks about me, tell him that I am alive, and praise be toAllah.’[318]Al-Kashshi mentioned from him his saying, ‘I wrote to Abu Muhammad (Imam al-Askari)complainingofpovertyand thenIsaid tomyself:hasAbuAbdullah(Imamas-Sadiq)(a.s.)notsaid,‘Povertywithus(theAhlulBayt)isbetterthanwealthwithourenemy,andbeingkilledwithusisbetterthanlivingwithourenemy.’Thereplytomylettercamesaying,‘AllahtheAlmightytriesourfollowers,whentheirsinsincrease,bypoverty,andHemayforgivemany(ofsins),anditisasyour self said to you: poverty with us is better thanwealth with our enemy.We are a shelter forwhoeverresortstousandalightforwhoeverseekslight,andpreservationforwhoeverresortstous.Whoever lovesuswillbewithus in thehighestposition,andwhoeverdeviates fromuswillbe inFire.’[319]

78.Muhammadbinal-Hasanas-Saffar

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions and said he had some

doubtsabouthim.[320]An-Najashisaid, ‘HewaseminentnotableamongourcompanionsofQum.Hewastrustworthy,highlyrespectable,preferred,andoflittlemistakinginnarration.Hehadsomebooks like “Prayer”, “Wudu”, “Funerals”, “Hajj”, “Marriage”, “Divorce”, “theFreeingofSlaves”,“Correspondence”, “Management”, “Trades”, “Gains”, “Hunting and Slaughtering”, “Penalties”,“Blood money”, “Obligations”, “Inheritance”, “Du’a: supplication”, “the Shrine”, “Refuting theexcessive”, “Drinks”, “Magnanimity”, “Asceticism”, “Khums”, “Zakat”, “Witnesses”, “Battles”,“PrecautionaryDissimulation”,“theBeliever”,“OathsandVows”,“Defects”,“InsightsofDegrees”,“what has been narrated about the children of the imams”, “what has been narrated in Sha’ban”,“Jihad”,and“theValueoftheQur'an”.’[321]Thisnoblesheikhdiedin290AH.

79.Muhammadbinal-HusaynbinAbulKhattab

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[322]An-Najashisaid,‘He

wasaneminentnotablefromourShi’acompanions.Hewastrustworthy.Henarratedmanytraditionsandhisnarrationswerereliedon.Hehadcompiledgoodbookssuchas“Monotheism”,“KnowledgeandBad’a’”,“RefutingtheFatalists”,“Imamate”,“ThePearle”,“therecommendationsoftheimams”,and“Rarities”.’[323]IbnShahrashubconsideredhimasoneof theclosecompanionsofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Hediedin262AH.

80.MuhammadbinJa’faral-Umari

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[324]Al-Kashisaidthathis

father,Hafs,wasanagentofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).

81.Muhammadbinar-Rabee’binas-Suwaydas-Sa’iy

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[325]

82.MuhammadbinZiyad

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned himwith this name as one of Imam al-Askari's companions adding

nothingelse.[326]

83.MuhammadbinSalihal-Armani

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[327]

84.MuhammadbinSalihbinMuhammadal-Hamadani

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[328] Sheikh as-Saduq

said,‘HewasoneofthosewhosawthemiraclesoftheAwaitedImam(a.s.).’[329]

85.MuhammadbinSalihal-Khash’ami

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[330]

86.MuhammadbinAbdulHameedbinSalimal-Attaral-Kufi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[331]An-Najashisaid:He

wasatrustworthynarratorfromourKufiShi’acompanions.Hehadabookonrarities.’[332]

87.AbuJa’farMuhammadbinUthmanal-Umari

He was trustworthy and loyal. He and his father were agents of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.). Many

traditionswerementionedabouthisloftinessandhighposition.Once,AhmadbinIsaaqaskedImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.), ‘Withwhom shall I ideal, fromwhom shall I take (religious rulings), andwhosesayingshallIaccept?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Al-Umari(hemeantUthman)andhisson (Muhammad)! They are trustworthy.Whatever they tell you they tell on behalf ofme.’[333]AlettercamefromImamal-Mahdi (a.s.) toMuhammadbinUthmanal-Umaricomfortinghimon thedeathofhisfatherUthmaninwhichhesaid,‘MayAllahrewardandcomfortyouwiththebest.Youareafflictedandweare afflicted.Hisdeparturedistressedyouanddistressedus.MayAllahpleasehiminhisfinalabode.ItwasfromhisperfecthappinessthatAllahhadgivenhimasonlikeyoutosucceedhimafterhisdeath,replacehim,andinvokethemercyofAllahonhim.Isay:praisebetoAllahforsoulsarepleasedwithyouandwithwhatHehasputinyouandgivenyou.MayHeassist,strengthen, andmake you successful, and be yourGuardian,Keeper, andSufficer.’[334]Sheikh as-SaduqmentionedthatAbdullahbinJa’faral-Himyarisaid,‘Once,IaskedMuhammadbinUthmanal-Umariwhetherhehadseen theManof theMatter (Imamal-Mahdi),peacebeonhim,andhe said,‘Yes, the last time I had seen himwas in the InviolableHouse ofAllah (theKaaba)while hewassaying:“OAllah,carryouttomewhatYouhavepromisedme!’MuhammadbinUthmanalsosaid,‘IsawhimclingingtothecurtainsoftheKaabainal-Mustajar(resort)whilesaying:“OAllah,avengeonYourenemies!”’[335]MuhammadbinUthmandiedin305AH.[336]

88.MuhammadbinAlibinBilal

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[337]Hewastrustworthy,

butlateronherobbedthemoniesoftheimam(a.s.)thatwerewithhimandherefusedtodeliverthemto the Imam’sagentMuhammadbinUthmanclaiming thathehimselfwas theagent.After this, theShi’arejectedhimandannouncedtheywerefreefromhim.[338]

89.MuhammadbinAliat-Tasturi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,[339]andsodidal-Barqi.

90.MuhammadbinAliaz-Zari’

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.

91.MuhammadbinAlial-Qasri

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[340]

92.MuhammadbinAlial-Katib

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[341]

93.Muhammadbin‘IsabinUbaydal-Yaqtini

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[342]An-Najashisaid,‘He

was lofty, trustworthynotable from theShi’a.Hehadnarratedmany traditionsandcompiled somegoodbooks.HenarratedtraditionsfromAbuJa’fartheSecond(Imamal-Jawad)throughlettersandorally.MuhammadbinJa’farar-Razzazsaid thatMuhammadbin‘Isa livedinSuqal-Attashandhadwrittenandcompiledagoodcollectionofbooks.[343]

94.MuhammadbinMusaas-Saree’iy

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanionsandsaidhewasexcessive.

[344]Al-Kashshisaid,‘HeandMuhammadbinMusaash-ShurayqiwerefromthedisciplesofAlibinHasaka. They are cursed, may Allah curse them.’[345] Some narrators narrated from AbuMuhammadat-Talla’kabrithatAbuAliMuhammadbinHumamsaid,‘As-Saree’iywassurnamedasAbuMuhammad…hewasfromthecompanionsofAbulHasanAlibinMuhammad(al-Hadi)andal-Hasanal-Askari(peacebeonthem).HewasthefirstonewhoclaimedapositionthatAllahhadnotmadeforhimandhedidnotdeserve it.Hefabricated liesagainstAllahandagainstHisauthorities(peace be on them). He ascribed to them what did not fit them; therefore, the Shi’a cursed anddisavowed him. Then a book came from the imam (a.s.) cursing and disavowing him…and thendisbeliefandatheismappearedinhissayings.’[346]

95.MuhammadbinMusaan-Naysaburi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[347]Once,theimam(a.s.)

sentaletterwithhimtoIbrahimbinAbdah.[348]

96.MuhammadbinMusabinFurat

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[349]

97.MuhammadbinYahyabinZiyad

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[350]

98.MuhammadbinYahyaal-Mu’athi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[351]

99.MuhammadbinYazdad

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[352]

100.HarunbinMuslimbinSa’dan

HewasfromKufa,andthenhemovedtoBasra,andthentoBaghdad.Sheikhat-Toosimentioned

himasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[353]An-Najashisaid,‘Hewasatrustworthynotable.Hehad a school in “compulsion” and “Tashbih: comparing Allah to the created”. He met AbuMuhammadandAbulHasan(peacebeonthem).Hehadsomebookslike“at-Tawhid:monotheism”,“al-Fadha’il:virtues”,“al-Khutab:sermons”,“al-Maghazi:battles”,and“ad-Du’a”.HehadquestionswithAbulHasantheThird(al-Hadi)(a.s.).’[354]

101.Yahyaal-Basri

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[355]

102.Ya’qubbinIsaaqal-Barqi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[356]

103.Ya’qubbinManqush

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions.[357] Sheikh as-Saduq

mentionedthatYa’qubbinManqushsaid,“Oneday,IwenttoAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli(a.s.)andaskedhim,‘Omymaster,whowillbethemanofthismatter(imamate)?’HeaskedmetoliftascreenthereandIdid.Ayoungboyofeightortenyearscameouttous…hesatonthethighofAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Then,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidtome,‘Thisisyourman.’TheboyjumpedandAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidtohim,‘Omyson,goinuntiltheprescribedtime!’TheboywentinwhileIwaslookingathim.AbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidtome,‘OYa’qub,gointoseewhothereisinthehouse!’Iwentin,butfoundnoone.’[358]

104.Yusufbinas-Sakht

Sheikh at-Toosimentioned him as one of Imamal-Askari's companions.[359] Ibn al-Ghadhayiri

said,‘Hewasweak,andofunreliablespeech.ThepeopleofQumexcludedhimfromthe“raritiesofwisdom”.’[360]

105.AbuKhalafal-Ijli

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions,andsaidthatAlibinal-

HusaynbinBabwayhnarratedfromhimfromImamAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli(a.s.).[361]

106.AbuMuhammadAlibinBilalal-Iskafi

Sheikhat-ToosimentionedhimasoneofImamal-Askari'scompanions.[362]

107.AbulBakhtari

Sheikh at-Toosi mentioned him as one of Imam al-Askari's companions, and said he was the

teacherofal-Hajjaj’schildren.[363]Notes:[178]Rijalan-Najashi.[179]Rijalat-Toosi.[180]Rijalat-Toosi.[181]Rijalat-Toosi.[182]Ibid.[183]Rijalal-Kashshi.[184]Rijalan-Najashi.[185]Rijalal-Kashshi.[186]Mu’jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.1p.169.[187]Rijalat-Toosi.[188]Ibid.[189]Banimeans‘thefamilyorthetribeof’.[190]Rijalan-Najashi.[191]RijalibnDawud.[192]Rijalal-Kashshi.[193]Rijalat-Toosi.[194]Rijalan-Najashi.[195]Rijalan-Najashi.[196]Rijalat-Toosi.[197]Rijalal-Kashshi.[198]Usoolal-Kafi,chap.ofal-Hujjah.[199]Rijalat-Toosi.[200]A sect believing thatAbdullah al-Aftah the sonof Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (s)was the imam

afterhisfather.[201]Rijalan-Najashi.[202]Rijalat-Toosi.[203]Qur'an,3:25.[204]Rijalal-Kashshi.[205]Rijalal-Barqi.[206]Amursaltraditionisthetraditionthatisnarratedwhileoneortwoofthechainofnarrators

aremissing.[207]Rijalan-Najashi.[208]Rijalal-Kashshi.[209]Rijalat-Toosi.[210]Mu’jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.2p.329.[211]Rijalat-Toosi.[212]Ibid.[213]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.4p.367.[214]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.2p.367.

[215]Rijalat-Toosi.[216]Wehavementioneditinapreviouschapter.[217]Rijalat-Toosi.[218]Rijalal-Kashshi.[219]Rijalat-Toosi.[220]Ibid.[221]Ibid[222]Rijalat-Toosi.[223]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.4p.293.[224]Rijalat-Toosi.[225]Ibid.[226]Ibid.[227]Rijalan-Najashi.[228]InearlyShiism“bab”denotestheseniorauthorizeddiscipleoftheimam.[229]Rijalat-Toosi.[230]Ibid.[231]Ikmalad-Deen.[232]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith.[233]Rijalat-Toosi.[234]Ibid.[235]Rijalal-Kashshi.[236]Rijalat-Toosi.[237]Rijalat-Toosi.[238]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith.[239]Rijalat-Toosi.[240]Rijalal-Barqi.[241]Al-KunawelAlqab,vol.1p.174.[242]ThelifeofImamal-HadibyBaqirSharifal-Qurashi.[243]TheprogenyofAbuTalib.[244]Al-KunawelAlqab,vol.1p.176.[245]Maqatilat-Talibiyeen,p.164.[246]Tareekhat-Tabari,vol.11p.9.[247]ItisthefifthmonthintheIslamicyear.[248]Al-KunawelAlqab,vol.1p.176.[249]Rijalat-Toosi.[250]Rijalan-Najashi.[251]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith.[252]Rijalat-Toosi.[253]Ibid.[254]Rijalan-Najashi.[255]Rijalat-Toosi.[256]Rijalan-Najashi.[257]Rijalat-Toosi.[258]Ibid.[259]Ibid.[260]Rijalan-Najashi.[261]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.10p.53.

[262]Rijalat-Toosi.[263]Rijalal-Barqi.[264] The alteration of Allah’s purpose, the emergence of new circumstances, which cause a

changeinanearlierruling.[265]Rijalat-Toosi.[266]Ibid.[267]Rijalan-Najashi.[268]Rijalal-Kashshi.[269]Rijalat-Toosi.[270]Al-GhaybahbySheikhat-Toosi.[271]Usoolal-Kafi.[272]Al-KunawelAlqab,vol.3p.267.[273]Ibid.,p.268.[274]Rijalat-Toosi.[275]Rijalat-Toosi.[276]Rijalat-Toosi.[277]Rijalan-Najashi.[278]Rijalat-Toosi.[279]Rijalat-Toosi.[280]Rijalal-Barqi.[281]Al-Ghaybah.[282]Ibid.[283]Rijalal-Kashshi.[284]Rijalal-Kashshi.[285]Rijalat-Toosi.[286]A sect believing thatAbdullah al-Aftah the sonof Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (s)was the imam

afterhisfather.[287]Rijalan-Najashi.[288]Rijalat-Toosi.[289]Ibid.[290]Rijalat-Toosi.[291]Ibid.[292]Ibid.[293]Ibid.[294]Rijalat-Toosi.[295]Ibid.[296]Ibid.[297]Ibid.[298]Rijalal-Kashshi.[299]Rijalat-Toosi.[300]Rijalan-Najashi.[301]Rijalal-Kashshi.[302]Ibid.[303]Ibid.[304]Rijalat-Toosi.[305]Rijalan-Najashi.[306]Rijalat-Toosi.

[307]Usoolal-Kafi.[308]Rijalat-Toosi.[309]Rijalal-Barqi.[310]Rijalat-Toosi.[311]Ibid.[312]Rijalat-Toosi.[313]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith.[314]Rijalat-Toosi.[315]Ibid.[316]Rijalat-Toosi.[317]Thewaqifiteswereagroupofpeoplewhobelievedintheimamateofthefirstsevenimams,

fromImamAli(a.s.)toImamMusabinJa’faral-Kadhim(a.s.),butdidnotbelieveintheremainingfiveimams.[318]Rijalan-Najashi.[319]Rijalal-Kashshi.[320]Rijalat-Toosi.[321]Rijalan-Najashi.[322]Rijalat-Toosi.[323]Rijalan-Najashi.[324]Rijalat-Toosi.[325]Ibid.[326]Ibid.[327]Ibid.[328]Ibid.[329]Ikmaluddeen.[330]Rijalat-Toosi.[331]Rijalat-Toosi.[332]Rijalan-Najashi.[333]Usoolal-Kafi,vol.1chap.al-Hujja.[334]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.16p.310.[335]ManLaYahdhuruhual-Faqih,vol.2chap.of“raritiesofthehajj”.[336]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.16p.310.[337]Rijalat-Toosi.[338]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.16p.350.[339]Rijalat-Toosi.[340]Rijalat-Toosi.[341]Rijalat-Toosi.[342]Ibid.[343]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.17p.126.[344]Rijalat-Toosi.[345]Rijalal-Kashshi.[346]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.17p.323.[347]Rijalat-Toosi.[348]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith.[349]Rijalat-Toosi.[350]Ibid.[351]Ibid.[352]Rijalat-Toosi.

[353]Ibid.[354]Rijalan-Najashi.[355]Rijalat-Toosi.[356]Ibid.[357]Ibid.[358]Ikmaluddeen.[359]Rijalat-Toosi.[360]Mu'jamRijalal-Hadith,vol.20p.200.[361]Rijalat-Toosi.[362]Ibid.[363]Rijalat-Toosi.

11ChapterTheAgeoftheImam

The studyof the age that ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) lived in is no longer akindof luxuryor

ornamentation for the book, rather it is a necessity that the modern scientific research requires.Studying an age has become one of the methodical studies that a researcher cannot leave aside,because it reveals therealityof thegeneral lifewhichthatcertainpersonlives in,andalso itshedslights on the events that takes place during that agewhich naturally have a great influence on thebehaviorofthatperson.Sociologistssaythatthesociallifeaffectsandisaffectedbythepeoplelivinginthatage.Anyhow, we objectively shall offer several sides of the general life of the age that ImamAbu

Muhammad(a.s.)livedin.

TheEconomicalLife

BeforeweshedlightontheeconomicallifeoftheageofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),wewould

liketoshowthatIslamhaspaidextremeattentiontothedevelopingoftheeconomyofthenation,thegrowthof individual income,and theprosperityofgeneral life. Islamhasconsideredpovertyasadestroyingdisasterwhichmustbe removedbyallmeans. Islamhascompareddisbelief topoverty,andasdisbeliefmustberemovedduetotheIslamicShariah,povertymustberemovedfromsocietyaswell. IslamhasorderedMuslim rulers and leaders to spareno effort to saveMuslims from thedangers of poverty and wretchedness which are the reasons behind the intellectual and moraldeviationamongpeople.of the creativemethods that the Islamic economy is based on is that the Sharia has limited the

authoritiesofrulersandofficials.Theyarenotpermittedinanycasetoplaywiththetreasuryofthestate,becauseitisforallMuslimsandnotforoneperson.ThewealthofMuslimsmustbespentonMuslims,andneither the rulernoranymemberofhisgovernmenthas the right toextort from thetreasurytospendonhimselforhiskin,forthisistreasonagainstAllahandagainstMuslims.TheAbbasidrule,duringallitsages,followedaspecialeconomicalpolicythatwasopposedtothe

trueIslamicsystem,anditwastoofarfromthelawsIslamhaslegislatedtocontrolthewealthoftheIslamicstate.WeshalldiscusshereinbriefthegeneraleconomicalsystemintheAbbasidage.

IncomesofTheState

Themajority of the state income was collected from land taxes and zakat which ranged in the

millionsofdinars.Historianssaiditwasaboutthreehundredandsixtymilliondirhamsayear,[364]anditwasaboutfivehundredmilliondirhamsinsomeyears.[365]Inthatageadirhamhadagoodvalue.Itequaledthepriceofasheep,ajarofhoney,orajarofoil,whereasadinarequaledthepriceof a camel.[366]Unfortunately, these abundant monies were not spent to develop the scientific,medical,andeconomicallifeasIslamwanted,buttheywenttothepocketsofrulerswhospentthemonbuildinghighpalaces,asal-Mutawakkildid,andonsingers,dancers,drinkingcompanions,andotherfieldsofdebaucheryandpleasures.

ViolenceInCollectingTheLandTax

Violence,oppression,andpunishmentswerecommonmethodsincollectingthelandtaxesduring

mostof theAbbasidages.Peoplesufferedexhaustingkindsofoppressionfromthepublicans,whohadnobitofmercyandkindnessintheirhearts.Theyimposedtaxesaccordingtotheirdesiresandgreed,andwhoeverrefusedordelayedtopaytheimposedtaxeshisfatewouldbeeitherbethegraveorprison.Al-Jahshiyarisaid,‘Thepeopleofkharaj(whodidnotorcouldnotpaythelandtax)werepunished

severelywithdifferentkindsoftormentlikebeingthrowntobeastsofpreyandbees.MuhammadbinMuslimwasaclosecompaniontoal-Mahdi(theAbbasidcaliph).Whenal-Mahdi

became the caliph and found that the people of kharaj were tortured severely, he consulted withMuhammad bin Muslim who said to him, ‘O Ameerul Mu’minin, this is a situation that can bechanged.TheyaredebtorsofMuslimsandmustbetreatedasdebtors.’Thenthecaliphorderedtostoppunishingthem.’[367]Duringthereignofar-Rashid,peoplecriticizedal-FadhlbinYahyaal-Barmakiwhowasthewali

ofKhurasan.Theycomplainedalotabouthimtilar-RashiddeposedhimandappointedinplaceofhimAlibin‘Isa,whokilledmanynotablesfromthepeopleofKhurasanandfarmedgreatmonies.Once,hesenttoar-Rashidtenmilliondirhamsinasackmadeofsilk.[368]ThepeopleofMosulalsosufferedterribleoppressionbecauseofthefarmingofthekharaj(land

tax).Thewali,appointedbyar-Rashid,onthemwasYahyabinSa’eed.Heorderedthemtopayhimthekharajofpastyears,andhewhippedmostofthem.[369]Islam has boundwalis to be kind to their subjects and to improve their economical conditions.

Peoplemust notmeet anypressure from rulers in farming thekharaj and zakat, butmostAbbasidkings paid no attention to that, and rather, they subjected the nation by violence and oppression incollectingthekharaj.

IncreasingTheKharaj

TheofficialsoftheAbbasidgovernmentsoftenaskedpeopletopaymorethanthelegaltaxesand

theytooktheextraamountsforthemselves.WhenAbuUbaydillahbinYasarbecamethevizierofal-Mahdi,hemadethekharajondatepalmsandtrees,anditcontinuedsoafterhim.[370]Egyptsuffereddifferentmisfortunes and distresses because of the kharaj. Itswali,Musa binMus’ab, doubled thekharajoneveryacre,andheimposedtaxesonthepeopleofmarketsandoncattle.Hetookbribesinjudgment.People revoltedagainsthimbecauseofhisoppression.[371] IbnTaghri said, ‘Hepressedonpeopleinfarmingthekharaj.Hedoubledthetaxoneveryacreunlikewhathadbeenbeforehim.Peoplemetdistressesfromhim.Hewasbadtopeople.Hetookbribesonjudgments…soldiershatedhim. They caused him trouble and often opposed him because he was an oppressivetyrant.’[372]ThesedoingsweretoofarfromtheessenceandrealityofIslam.Thosemenwerebutagang of thieves and highwaymenwhowent far into crimes and sins. Umar bin Ubayd said to al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, the Abbasid caliph, ‘Behind your door there are fires flaming because ofoppression.BehindyourdoorareperformesactionsthatareneitherfromtheBookofAllahnortheSunnaofHismessenger.’[373]

AppropriatingTheWealthofTheState

TheAbbasidsmisappropriatedthewealthofthenationandtookforthemselvesandfortheirkin,as

theyliked.TheincomeofMuhammadbinSulaymanal-Abbasiadaywasaboutonehundredthousanddirhams.[374]When he died, he left a great inheritance fromwhich ar-Rashid took sixty thousanddirhams.Historianssay,‘Greatmoniescametoal-Khayzuran(themotherofHarunar-Rashid)untilherwealthbecameaboutonehundredmillionandsixtythousanddirhams.Somewritersaysthatthisamount equaled the half of the revenue of the state at that time and two thirds of the revenue ofRockefellerinthis[20th]century.Itwasfoundwiththewifeofal-Mutawakkil(anAbbasidking)onemillionandeighthundred thousanddinars.Themotherof al-Muqtadir (anAbbasidking)wasalsoexcessively wealthy.[375] Ibn al-Jawzi said about her, ‘She had a great wealth that was beyondcounting.Shegotfromherlandsonemilliondinarseveryyear.’[376]TheAbbasidkingsgiftedtheirrelatives with great monies. Ar-Rashid distributed among his uncles and relatives monies that nocaliphbeforehimhadeverdistributed.[377]Al-Mansurad-Dawaniqiassignedonemilliondirhamstoeachone of his uncles.[378]TheAbbasid family grewuntil theywere, at the reignof al-Ma’mun,about thirty-three thousand persons.[379] This family, that had no any preference to the rest ofMuslims,misappropriated thewealth of the nation and enjoyed the greatmonies,while the rest ofMuslimpeoplesweresunkintopoverty,deprivation,andwretchedness.

GreatGiftsToBondmaids

TheAbbasidkingswereexcessiveingiftingthebondmaidsandsongstresses.Once,ar-Rashidgave

hisbondmaidDananir,atthenightofaneid,anecklaceofthirtythousanddinars.[380]Al-Muqtadirgave tooneofhisconcubines the threeweightsOrphanPearl.[381]AbulFarajal-Isfahanisaid thatHamwayhhiredforhisbondmaidsomejewelsfromsomejewelerfortwelvemilliondinars.Whenar-Rashid saw the jewels, he admired them.He bought them and offered them as a present to thebondmaid.[382]Al-Muqtadirplayedwithmoney.Heeffacedcoinsandthengavethemtowomenandbondmaids.[383]Al-Mutawakkil had a bondmaid called Fadhl. She sat on a chair and arguedwithpoetsinhispresence.Heaskedherwhenheboughther,‘Are you a poet?’She said, ‘So claims hewho bought and soldme.’Al-Mutawakkil laughed and

askedhertorecitehimsomeversesofherpoetry.Shedid,andheadmiredherpoetryandorderedtogiveherfiftythousanddirhams.[384]Al-Muqtadirhadavillage-likestatuemadeofsilver.Itwasveryexpensive.Hedonated it tooneofhis servants justbecauseoneofhisbondmaidsaskedhim todothat.Theseare just fewexampleson thewastingof theAbbasidcaliphswhospent thewealthof thenationontheirpleasurespayingnoattentiontothewelfareofthesocietyortothedevelopmentofthegenerallife.

AbundantGiftsToPoets

Poets were the only media in that age. They supported the Abbasid rule and spread fabricated

virtues ascribed to the Abbasid kings. They preferred those kings to the Alawids who were thepropagandistsofsocialjusticeinIslam.TheAbbasidsendowedpoetswithabundantmoniesandmadethem extremely wealthy.Once, Abul Shibl al-Barjami al-Kufi praised al-Mutawakkil with a thirty-verse-poemandal-Mutawakkilgavehimthirtythousanddirhamsforthat.[385]When al-Mutawakkil held a general meeting for people to pay homage to his three sons al-

Muntasir,al-Mu’tazz,andal-Mu’ayyadastheheirapparentsafterhim,as-Sawlirecitedapoemontheoccasion and al-Mutawakkil gave him one hundred dirhams, and so did each one of his sons.[386]Once,Ibrahimbinal-Mudbirrecitedapoempraisingal-MutawakkilwhowaspleasedwiththepoemandgavethepoetfiftythousanddirhamsandaskedhisvizierUbaydillahbinYahyatofindhima good job.Marwan bin Abul Janub was one of the poets who got abundant monies from al-Mutawakkil.Hewasveryinterestedinpraisingal-Mutawakkil.Once,hegotfromhimfiftythousanddirhamsafterapoem.Ontheoccasionofthehomagetohisthreesons,al-Mutawakkilgavethepoetonehundredand twenty thousanddirhams, fiftygarments,amule,ahorse,andadonkey.[387]Foranother poem, al-Mutawakkil gave him one hundred gold dinars.Al-Buhturi,whowas the emir ofpoets at that time, prepared all his talents to praise al-Mutawakkilwhogave to himhigh titles andgoodepithetsbesidesgreatwealth.Al-MutawakkilgaveabundantwealthtoAlibinal-Jahmandinvitedhim to his meetings after praising him and declared his enmity towards the Ahlul Bayt (a.s). HedispraisedtheAhlulBayt(a.s)bitterlyandpreferredoverthemtheAbbasidswhohadnovirtuesaveseizingoftheruleandleadingthenationtowardsdarkabyssesofoppression.Thiswastefulspendingonpoetsscatteredanimportantpartfromthewealthofthenationthathadtobespentonthepublicandtosatisfyallneedsofthenation.

Palaces

TheAbbasidswereveryexcessiveinbuildingpalaces.Theyspentincredibleamountsonbuilding

theirpalacesanddecoratingthemwithwonderfuldecorationsthelikeofwhichnoonehadeverseenin history. Al-Mutawakkil built a palace called al-Burj. It was the most beautiful building of al-Mutawakkil.Heconstructedinitlargestatutesofgoldandsilver,andawidepoolwithplatesofgoldand silver. Beside the pool there was a tree of gold with birds that whistled. It was adorned withjewels.Abigthroneofgold,withtwobiglionsandadrawerhavingstatuesofbeastsandeagles,wasmadeforhimtherewithotherthingsasthethroneofProphetSolomon(a.s.)hadbeendescribed.Thewallswerecoveredfrominsideandoutsidewithmosaicandgildedmarble.Hespentonthebuildinganddecoratingofthispalaceaboutonemillionandsevenhundredthousanddinars.Heorderedthatnooneshouldenter thispalaceexcept inclothesofembroideredsilk.Hebroughtdancers,singers,musicians,anddrinkingcompanionsintothepalace.Whenhesatinthisparadise,hisvizierYahyabinKhaqansaidtohim,‘OAmeerulMu’minin,IhopethatAllahwillthankyouforbuildingthispalaceand rewardyouwith theParadise.’Al-Mutawakkil asked, ‘What for?’Yahya said, ‘Youhave filledpeoplewithdesireoftheParadisebythispalace,forthiswillleadthemtodogooddeedsinordertobeinParadise.’Al-Mutawakkilbecamedelightedathearingthat.[388]From the other palaces that al-Mutawakkil had built was al-Ja’fari. The cost of building and

decoratingthispalacewasmorethantwomilliondinars.Whenthepalacewascompleted,hebroughtsingers,dancers,andclownsandgaveeachofthemtwothousanddirhams.[389]Anyhow,wehavementionedthegreatexpensesthatal-Mutawakkilhadspentonallhispalacesin

ourbook“theLifeofImamal-Hadi”whichshowedtheeconomicalimbalanceinthattimewheretheAbbasidfamilyappropriatedtherevenueofthestateandspentitontheirpleasuresandlusts.

TheLuxuryofTheAbbasidWomen

ThegreaterpartofthestaterevenuewasspentontheladiesoftheAbbasidpalace.Theylivedin

absolute luxury and bliss. Lady Zubayda (Harun ar-Rashid’s wife) was interested in expensiveembroidered clothes that one dress of hers cost fifty thousand dinars.[390] This luxury was notlimited to theAbbasid ladies only, but it also included the ladies of viziers.Utabah, themother ofJa’faral-Barmakihadonehundredbondmaidsandeachoneof themputonjewelryandornamentsdifferentfromtheother.[391]

TheWretchednessofThePublic

ItwasnaturalthatthemajorityoftheMuslimpeoplessufferedpovertyandwretchednessafterthey

hadbeendeprivedfromthestatetreasury,sincethatwasspentonthepleasuresofthekings,viziers,andthemedia,whereaspovertyspreadamongmostofpeople.Once,al-Asma’iysawapoetclingtothecurtainsoftheKaabawhilereciting,“OmyLord,IamaskingasYousee,wearingtwo(ragged)clocksasYousee,andmyoldwifeissittingthereasYousee,andmystomachishungryasYousee,sowhatdoYouseeaboutwhatYousee?”[392]Manyotherpoetsdescribedintheirpoetrythemiserablelifeofsufferingstheylived.Itwasvery

difficultforthem(andformostofpeople)tofindabitoffoodandapieceofclothfortheirhungry,nakedchildren.Themiserablelifethatsomepoets,whohadnorelationwiththeAbbasidpalace,lived,ledthemto

beg through their poetry viziers, judges andother officials, andmade their poetry as ameans forgaining.AbuFir ’ownas-Sasiwasinutmostneed,andwhenhewasunabletobearanymore,hewentto al-Hasan bin Sahl the vizier of al-Ma’mun and praised him in a poem. In the same poem heexpressedhisbadconditionandthewretchednessofhischildren.PovertystungAbuFir ’ownseverelyandthistimehewenttooneofthejudgesofBasrabegging

hishelp.Itwasshametothosekingswhohadthetreasuresoftheworldintheirhandsbutlefttheirpeoplessufferingneedinessanddeprivation.Fromthepoets,whosufferedpoverty,wasAbushShamaqmaqwhowenttothekingbegginghim

afterhesawhischildrenwrithewithhungerandpain.Thesepoets represented the livesof theirpeoples and their sufferingsofhunger,pain, and loss.

The economical life was not sound and right, but it was confused and paralyzed. The Abbasidgovernmentsdidnotachieveeaseforpeople,anddidnotprovideagoodlifeforthem.Therevenueof the statewas spenton theAbbasid family, theviziers, and theprominent statesmen,whereas themajorityofpeoplelivedinpovertyandwretchednessandcouldnotobtaineventheleastnecessitiesofliving.

TheImam’sCondition

Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) represented the front of opposition to the Abbasid rule. He often

criticizedtherulersforappropriatingthewealthofthenationandextortingthelivelihoodofpeople.Fromthenotable formsof theopposition that ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.) followedwas thathe

prohibited himself from communicating or cooperating with those kings who took the wealth ofAllahastheirsandthepeopleofAllahastheirslaves.Theysparednoefforttojointheimam(a.s.)totheirretinuesbuttheycouldnot,andthentheytreatedhimwithabsoluteseverity.Theyfoughthiminthemeansofhislivingandcausedhimtobeinpressingneediness.TheypreventedmoniestocometohimfromhisShi’afollowers,butoneoftheShi’asentjarsofoiltotheimam(a.s.)andheputmoneyinsidethem[393]whichdecreasedthepressureofthatblockade.Anyhow,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sidedwiththepoorandthedeprivedwhowerethevictimsof

thosekingswhorobbedthewealthofthenationandleftthestateineconomicalimbalance.Notes:[364]Tareekhat-Tamaddunal-Islami(thehistoryoftheIslamiccivilization),vol.5p.79.[365]Al-

Wuzara’welKuttab(viziersandclerks),p.288.[366]ThelifeofImamMusabinJa’far.[367]Al-Wuzara’welKuttab,p.142.[368]Ibid.,p.268.[369]Al-Kamilfit-Tareekh,vol.6p.268.[370]Al-Fakhri,p.164.[371]Al-WulatwelQudhat(walisandjudges),p.125-126.[372]An-Nujoomaz-Zahirah,vol.2p.54,al-Khutatbyal-Maqrizi,vol.2p.94.[373]Al-Akhbarat-Tuwal,p.384.[374]Al-Wuzara’welKuttab,p.250.[375]Nashwaral-Muhadharah,vol.1p.293.[376]Al-Muntadham,vol.6p.253.[377]An-Nujoomaz-Zahira,vol.2p.65.[378]Al-Kamilfit-Tareekh,vol.6p.319.[379]Ibid.[380]Al-MustadhrafminAkhbaral-JawaribySalahuddeen,p.28.[381]Tareekhal-Khulafa’byas-Sayouti,p.384.[382]Al-Aghani,vol.16p.226.[383]Samtan-Nujoomal-Awali,vol.3p.354.[384]Nisa’al-Khulafa’(thecaliph’swomen)byibnas-Sa’iy,p.86.[385]Al-Aghani,vol.14p.193.[386]Al-Aghani,vol.14p.193.[387]Al-aghani[388]Uyoonat-Tawareekh,vol.6p.170.[389]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.158.[390]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.2p.366.[391]Al-Wuzara’welKuttab,p.192.[392]Al-MahasinwelMasawi’,p.585.[393]Safeenatal-Bihar,vol.2p.158.

12ChapterPoliticalLife

ThepoliticallifeintheageofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)wasverybadandunstable.Oppression,

injustice,andseditionsprevailedeverywhere,andmanyrevoltsbrokeout.That,asIthink,wasduetothedominationoftheTurksoverthereinsofgovernment,andtheirabsolutecontroloverallaffairsofthestate,thoughtheywereexpertneitherinpoliticsnorinadministration.Theyoppressedpeople,transgressedtherules,andspreadterrorism.Theotherreasonbehindthiswasthe ignoranceof theAbbasidkings,theirindulginginpleasuresandlusts,andtheirinadvertencetotheinterestsofpeople,whichcausedmanypoliticalcrisesatthattime.

OppressingtheAlawids

TheAlawidswereseverelytriedandextremelyburdenedduringmostperiodsoftheAbbasidrule.

TheAbbasidkingsofficiallyoppressedtheAlawids,andpursuedandpunishedthemseverely.Theyimposedonthemeconomicalblockadeuntiltheywereinutmostneediness.Historians say that during the reign of al-Mutawakkil, the Alawids suffered neediness and

deprivationsobitterandhorrible thatcouldnotbedescribed.Theyhadnothingbutonecloak,andwheneveranAlawidmanoranAlawidwomanwantedtogoout,heorsheputiton.Peoplerefrainedfrom associatingwith them for fear of the tyrannical government.One day,Muhammad bin Salih(bin) al-Husaynasked Ibrahimbin al-Mudbir (tobe as amediator) to ask ‘IsabinMusaal-Jarmi’sdaughter ’shand.Thefatherofthegirlrefusedandsaidtothemediator,‘Ijusttellyouthetruth.ByAllah,Idonotknowonenoblerormorehonorable thanhim,butIrefusedhimjustbecauseIfearfromal-Mutawakkilandhissonsafterhimformylifeandwealth.’[394]MuslimsrefrainedfromcontactingtheAlawids,andevenfromgreetingthem,becausetheAbbasid

governmentspunishedseverelywhoevershowedanykindofrespectandregardtowardstheAlawids.TheworstperiodtheAlawidsunderwentwasthereignofal-Mutawakkilwhopouredallhisrage

andspiteonthem.Theyranawaytoalltownsandvillages[395]forfearthatthegovernmentmightarrestandleadthemeithertograveyardsorprisons.

TheImam’sAmulet

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)suffereddifferentkindsofoppressionandcrueltyduringthereignof

al-Mutawakkil and other Abbasid kings whom the imam was contemporary with. Therefore, heresortedtoAllahtoprotecthimfromtheirplotsandsavehimfromtheirevils.Hearmedhimselfwiththisdu’a:“IhavecharmedmyselfwiththecharmofAllah;thelightbywhichHehashiddenfromeyes,and

takenprecautionformyself,family,children,properties,andallthatundermychargebythenameofAllah, theBeneficent, theMerciful, andsought refuge formyselfandall that fromwhat I fearandbewareofwithAllahWho(there isnogodbutHim, theEverliving, theEternal.SlumberdoesnotovertakeHimnorsleep;whateverisintheheavensandwhateverisintheearthisHis,whoishethatcan intercedewithHimbut byHis permission?He knowswhat is before them andwhat is behindthem, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, Hisknowledgeextendsovertheheavensandtheearth,andthepreservationofthembothtiresHimnot,andHeis theMostHigh, theGreat),[386](Andwhoismoreunjust thanhewhoisremindedof thesignsofhisLord, thenhe turnsawayfromthemandforgetswhathis twohandshavesentbefore?SurelyWehaveplacedveilsovertheirheartslesttheyshouldunderstanditandaheavinessintheirears; and ifyoucall them to theguidance, theywill not ever follow the right course in that case),[397](Haveyouseenhimwhomakeshisdesirehisgod,andAllahsendshimastraypurposely,andsealsuphishearing andhisheart, and setsonhis sight a covering?Thenwhowill leadhimafterAllah(hascondemnedhim)?Willyenotthenheed?),[398](ThesearetheyonwhoseheartsandtheirhearingandtheireyesAllahhassetaseal,andthesearetheheedlessones),[399](AndwhenyourecitetheQur ’an,Weplacebetweenyouandthosewhodonotbelieveinthehereafterahiddenbarrier.AndWehaveplaced coverings on their hearts and a heaviness in their ears lest theyunderstand it, andwhenyoumentionyourLordalone in theQur ’an they turn theirbacks inaversion),[400]andmayAllahhaveblessingsonMuhammadandonhispureprogeny…”[401]Thisdu’a shows the extentof the fears the imam (a.s.) felt from theAbbasids, and therefore,he

resortedtoAllahtosavehimandhisfamilyfromtheir(theAbbasids’)oppressionandplotting.HealsocharmedhimselfagainsttheoppressionoftheAbbasidsbythisdu’a:“O You, my means at my distress, O You, my succor at my grief, O You, my relief at my

loneliness, guard me by Your eye that does not sleep, and shield me by Your shelter that isunreachable.[402]

PersecutingThePeopleofQum

TheAbbasids persecuted the people ofQum and treated themwith oppression and terror. They

appointedMusabinYahya,whowaswickedandunjust,aswalioverthem.Hewasimpolite,immoral,and inhuman, and people desisted fromhim.He treated people in a very badway and excessivelyoppressed themuntil thenotablesofQum resorted to ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) complaining tohimaboutwhatthattyrantdidtothem.TheimamprayedtoAllahtheAlmightytosavethemfromtheevilofthatmean,oppressivewali,

andtaughtthemthisdu’aandaskedthemtoreciteitinthequnutoftheirprayerssothatAllahmightrelievethemfromthiscalamity:“Praise be to Allah as gratefulness to his blessings, calling for His abundance, imploring His

livelihood,beingloyal toHimandnot toother thanHim,andrefrainingfromdisbelievinginHimanddenyingHismightandexaltedness,apraiseofonewhoknowsthatall theblessingshehasarefromhisLord,andthepunishmentsthatafflicthimareforthewrongshishandshavecommitted,andtheblessingsofAllahbeonMuhammadHisslaveandmessenger,andthebestofHiscreation,andthe means of believers towards His mercy, and (blessings be) on his pure progeny who are hisguardians.OAllah,Youhavecalled(Yourpeople)forYourfavor,andordered(them)tosupplicateYou,and

YouhaveinsuredresponsetoYourpeople.YouhavenotdisappointedwhoeverresortedtoYouwithawishandturnedtoYouwithaneed.YouhavenotletanyaskinghandcomebackemptyfromYourgiftordesperateofYourdonation.WasthereanytravelerwhotraveledtoYouanddidnotfindYounear, or a comerwho came toYou andYou put obstacles betweenYou and him?!Was there anyinsisteronaskingYouthattheflowofYourfavordidnotincludehim…?OAllah,IcometoYouwithmywish,thehandofmyrequestknocksatthedoorofYourfavor,my

heartinvokesYouwiththereverenceofsubmission,andIfoundYouthebestintercessorformewithYou. You knowmy request before it comes to my mind or gets in my imagination. O Allah, socompletemydu’abyYourresponsetomeandmeetmyrequestbythesatisfyingofmywish!O Allah, the aberration of seditions has included us, the haze of confusion has overcome us,

meannessandlownesshavefoughtwithus, theuntrustworthyonYourreligionhaveruledoverus,thewicked,whohaveannulledYourrule,haveextortedouraffairsandtriedtodamageYourpeopleandcorruptYourland.OAllah,ourwealthisappropriatedafteritwasdistributed(amongall),andourrulehasbecome

domination after it was shura (consultation) and monarchy after it was the nation’s option;amusementsandmusicalshavebeenboughtbythesharesoforphansandwidows,non-Muslimsruleover the believers, and sinners have been entrustedwith their (people’s) affairs, and no protectorprotectedthemfromadanger,andnoguardianlookedatthemwiththeeyeofmercifulness,andnokindonesatisfied the thirstyhearts froma famine,andso theyareweakandhungry inahomeofloss,captivesofwretchedness,inheritorsofmelancholy,meanness…OAllah,theplantoffalsenesshascometoharvest,reacheditsfull,itsstickhasbecomefirm…its

brancheshavegonehighandfixed.OAllah,bring,fromthetruth,itsreapertoreapit,breakitsstock,smashitsbranches,cutoffits

hump,andamputateitsextents,sothatfalseness,withitsuglypicture,disappears,andtruth,withitsbeautifuldress,appears.OAllah,leavenopillarofoppression,butYoutearitdown;noshield,butYouexposeit;nounity,

butYouseparateit;noheavyforce,butYouslightit;nohighrank,butYoumakeitlow;nopostofabanner,butYouturnitover;andnolivelything,butYouperishit.OAllah,coverhis[403]sun,putouthislight,effacehismention,hit,bythetruth,hishead,scatter

hisarmies,andfrightentheheartsofhispeople!OAllah,donotleavearemainderofhim,unlessitisannihilated,norastructureunlessitistorn

down,noraunityunless it isbroken,nor anarmunless it isdisabled,nor aboundaryunless it isviolated,noraflagpoleunlessitisoverthrown!OAllah, showus his supporters scattered after affinity, separate after unity, and disgraced after

theirdominationoverthenation!OAllah,bringusthedayofjustice,andshowittouseternalwithnodarknessinit,andpurelight

withnopollutantinit,andmakeitsgoodnessfalldownonus,anditsblessingcomedownonus,andavengeonhis[404]opponent,andsupporthimoverhisenemy!OAllah,showthetruth,[405]andmakeitshineintheduskofdarkness,andambiguityofconfusion!O Allah, enliven by it the dead hearts, unite by it the separate desires and different opinions,

establishbyittheannulledpenaltiesandneglectedrulings,satiatebyitthehungrystomachs,relievebyittheweakandtiredbodies,asYoumadeusmentionit,andputintoourmindYoursupplicating,madeussuccessfulincallingforit,andkeepingthepeopleofignoranceawayfromit,houseinourheartsitslove,andeagernesstoit,andexpectingittoestablishitsceremonies!OAllah,giveuscompletecertaintyabout it,OYou, theAchieverofgoodwills, theAttainerof

delayed hopes. O Allah, refute the fabricators who fabricate against You in it, and confute thesuspicionsofthedesperateofYourmercyanddesperateofit!OAllah,makeusameansofitsmeans,afigureofitsfigures,afortofitsforts,andbrightenour

faceswithitsbrightness,honorusbyitssupport,andmakeourintentiongood…OAllah,Youhavemade us knowour selves, and see our defects thatwe fear not to be able to

respondtoYou,whileYoufavorthosewhodonotdeserveit,andbestowonrequestersbeforetheyrequest,sogiveusduetoYourgenerosityandfavor,forYoudowhatYoulike,anddetermineasYouwant,andwehaveresortedtoYou,andrepentedofoursins.OAllah,…andthecallerforYou,thedoerofjusticefromYourpeople,thepoortoYourmercy,

andtheneedyofYourhelponYourobedience…Youhavegivenhimyourblessing,dressedhimwiththedressesofYourhonor, thrownonhimthe loveofYourobedience, fixedhis love in thehearts,madehimsuccessfultodoYourcommandthatthepeopleofhistimeareindifferentof,madehimaresortofthewrongedofYourpeople,andasupporttothosewhodonotfindasupportersaveYou,andarestorerofwhathasbeenannulledoftheverdictsofYourBook,andabuilderofwhathasbeenruinedofthelawsofYourreligion,andtherulingsofYourProphet,Yourblessing,peace,andmercybeonhimandonhisprogeny.OAllah,makehimsafefromtheplottingofenemies…andtakehimtothe best thatYou have taken the doers ofYour justice from among the successors of prophets.OAllah,degradebyhimwhoeverdoesnotturnbacktoYourlove,andwhoeverbearsenmityagainsthim, and shoot byYourdeadly stonewhoever incites againstYour religionbydegradinghimandscatteringhispower…OAllah,ashehasmadehimselfatargettothefarforthesakeofYou,andsacrificedhissoulto

defend thebelievers, and resist theevilof suspiciousapostatesuntilhe shall remove the spreadofdisobediences, and show what Ulema[scholars] have left behind their backs, whereas they havecovenantedtodeclareitforpeopleandnottoconcealit,andheshallcallfortheobedienceofYoualone,withoutascribingapartnertoYoufromYourcreationthathiscommandmaybeoverYours…OAllah,assisthimbyYourvictory,enablehiminwhatheisunablein,increasehispowerfromYourassistance…OAllah,honorhimwith thedoingofYour command to see the standingofReckoningas it is,

delight Your Prophet (Your blessings be on him) by seeing him andwhoever follows him in hismission,rewardhimwiththebestfordoingYourcommand,takehimclosertoYouinhislife,andpityourwretchedness…OAllah,makehimsafefromwhatisfearedforhim,driveawayfromhimthearrowsofplottingthatthepeopleofgrudgethrowathim,andattheparticipantinhismatter,andhisassistantson theobedienceofAllahwhomYouhavemadeashis fort, resort,andcomfort,andwho leave their families and children and country, give up comfortable beds and ease, stop theirtrades,harmtheirlivings…andrejectedthetransientpleasuresofthisworld.OAllah,keeptheminYoursafetyandprotection,defendthemagainstwhoeverhasenmityagainstthemfromYourpeople,suffice them and provide them with Your help, assistance, and victory. Defeat, by their right, thefalseness of whoever wants to put out Your light. O Allah, fill by them every horizon and everycountrywithjustice,fairness,mercy,andvirtue,andthankthemduetoYourgenerosityandbountywithwhatYouhavebestowedon the doers of justice fromYour people, and saved for them fromYour reward thatmight raise in degrees. You dowhateverYou like, and determinewhateverYouwant…[406]

OppressionandTyrannyofViziers

MostviziersoftheAbbasidrulersweretyrannicalandoppressive.Theyweredisdainfulofpeople

andwereexcessive insubjugatingandharming them.Onedayduring the reignofal-Muntasir,hisvizierAhmadbinal-Khasibwentoutridingonahorse.Somemanapproachedhimcomplaining,andhe(thevizier)tookhislegoutofthestirrupandkickedthemaninhischestandkilledhim.[407]MuhammadbinAbdulMalik,thevizierofal-Wathiq,madeanovenandputnailsintoittotorture

peopleinit.[408]Inadditiontothat,theviziersembezzledthewealthofthestate.UthamanbinImarah,whowasthe

waliofSajistanduringthereignofHarunar-Rashid,wasputintoprisonforfivethousanddirhams.ThoseviziersjustimitatedtheirmasterstheAbbasidkingswhoextortedthewealthofMuslimsand

lefttheminterriblepoverty.Historianssay,‘Al-Mansurtookfrompeopleuntilheleftnothingwiththem.Whathehadtakenfromthemwasabouteighthundredmilliondirhams.[409]

InternalRevolts

ItwasnaturalfortheMuslimpeoplestostruggleandrebelagainst theAbbasidgovernmentsthat

ruledunjustlyandappropriatedthewealthandtheeconomicalpowersofthosepeoples.Manylocalrevolts took place aiming at getting rid of enslavement, oppression, and persecution. Here wemention some of those revolts to prove our saying that the political life at that agewas unstable,confused,andlackingsecurity.

TheRevoltofYahya

The great martyr Yahya bin Umar at-Talibi rebelled against the Abbasid rule calling for the

achievementofsocialjusticeandthedistributionofMuslims’wealthamongthepoorandtheneedy.The deprived and all other classes of people joined him because of his real and true aims ofimprovingthegenerallifeofthenation.HeoccupiedKufaandsetfreeallthewrongedandoppressedpeoplefromitsprisons.However, lateron, theAbbasidgovernmentwasabletoovercomeandkillhim.HisheadwastakentoMuhammadbinAbdullahbinTahironeofthetyrantsofthatagewhotookthe head to the tyrant caliph al-Musta’een. The head was hung in Samarra’ to be as a lesson forwhoevermightthinktorebel.OpportunistswenttoMuhammadbinAbdullahbinTahircongratulatinghimonthatvictory!AbuHashimal-Ja’fariaswellwenttothisemirbutsaidtohim,‘Oemir,youarebeingcongratulatedonthekillingofamanthatifthemessengerofAllah(a.s.)wasalive,hewouldbeconsoledon.’All present people became silent and no one answered him with anything.[401] He left angrily

whilerecitingthefollowing:“OFamilyofTahir,eatitharmfully,forthefleshoftheProphetisnotedible.ArevengesuchthatitsseekerisAllah,Definitelywillbetaken.”ThekillingofYahyawasoneofthedisastersthatafflictedMuslimsatthatageandcausedagreat

loss.Poetscomposedmanypoemselegizingthisgreatrevolutionaryleader.

TheRevoltofTheNegroes

FromtherevoltsthatdazedtheAbbasidsinthatagewastherevoltoftheNegroesledbyAlibin

Abdurrahim from bani Abdul Qays who claimed that he was Alawid. He claimed that his lineagebelonged to the eternalmartyr Zayd binAli bin al-Husayn, so that the publicmight join him andsupporthisrevolt.Anyhow,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)deniedtheclaimsofAlibinMuhammadtheleaderofthisrevoltandsaid,‘Theman(leader)oftheNegroesisnotfromustheAhlulBayt(a.s).[411]Thedetailsofthisrevolthavementionedinallbooksofhistory.

TheRevoltofSham[412]

Al-Mutawakkil appointed awolf fromamonghis agents andmercenarieswho turned the lifeof

people there into hell, but then they free rebelled against him and drove him away. When al-Mutawakkil foundout about that, he sent an armyof seven thousandhorsemen and three thousandinfantrymen, and authorized the general leader to ravage Damascus for three days as Yazeed binMo’awiyahaddonetothetownoftheProphet(a.s)Medinabefore.[413]

TheDominationoftheTurksontheRule

From the prominent factors of the political and administrational corruption in the body of the

AbbasidgovernmentattheageofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)wasthedominationoftheTurksoverthegovernmentandtheirplayingwiththedestiniesofthestate.TheAbbasidthronewasundertheirwillanddesire.Theyappointedanddeposedwhomevertheyliked.Allconstitutionalauthoritieswerein their hands, and the king was but in name, for he was deprived of all his administrationalauthoritiesandallthingselseexceptamusementandlusts.Al-Mu’tamid was disabled by the Turks to a degree that he was prevented from spending any

moneywhereastheentireworldwasunderhisthrone.TheTurkshadcontrolovereverything.Somepoetsaidaboutal-Musta’eentheAbbasidcaliph,“Acaliphinacage,betweenWaseefandBugha.Hesayswhatevertheysaytohim,Asaparrotdoes.”[414]Whenal-Mu’tazzassumedthecaliphate,someofhiscompanionssentforadivinerandaskedhim

how long the caliphwould sit on the throne and how long hewould live.A humorousman fromamongtheattendantssaid,‘Iknowthat.’Theyaskedhimtotellthemandhesaid,‘ThematterisinthehandsoftheTurks.Theydecidehowlongherulesandhowlonghelives.’Theallburstintolaughter.[415]Notes:[394]Maqatilat-Talibiyeen,p.604.[395]Ibid.,p.615.[396]Qur'an,2:255.[397]Qur'an,18:57.[398]Qur'an,54:23.[399]Qur'an,16:108.[400]Qur'an,17:45-46.[401]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.44-45.[402]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.45.[403]Theunjustruler.[404]Theawaitedsavior.[405]Hemeant by “the truth” the savior whowould rulewith justice, and remove all kinds of

oppression.[406]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.63-67.[407]LecturesontheHistoryoftheIslamicnations,p.270.[408]Al-MahasinwelMasawi’,p.531,al-Fakhri,p.214.[409]Tareekhal-Ya’qubi,vol.3p.125.[410]Maqatilat-Talibiyeen,p.164.[411]Hamish(footnoteormargin)al-KunawelAlqab,vol.2p.402.[412]NowadaysDamascus,but then,Shamencompassed thepresentSyria, Jordan,Lebanonand

Palestine.[413]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.169.

[414]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.61.[415]Al-Fakhri,p.181.

13ChapterTheReligiousLife

The religious life at the time of ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) was not sound or straight. It was

confusedandroiledbysomedeviantswhoraisedspuriousargumentsaboutthepureIslamicbeliefs.Some non-Muslim jugglers tried to misguide Muslims and corrupt their beliefs. Imam AbuMuhammad(a.s.)resistedallthoseattemptsandherefutedallthosefabricationsandillusions,andhebroughtoutthepurefaceofIslam.Therewas another phenomenon that appeared in the age of ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.). Some

charlatanfabricatedliesagainstImamAbuMuhammadandhisfather(a.s.)beforehimtocorruptthebeliefsofthefollowersoftheAhlulBayt(a.s),buttheimamcursedhimandorderedhisfollowerstocurseanddisavowhim.

RefutingAl-Kindi

Isaaqal-KindiwasthephilosopherofIraq.Histhoughtspredisposedhimtosomesuspicionabout

theHolyQur'an,andhespreadamongscholarsthathehadwrittenabookcalled“TheContradictionof theQur'an”.Hebusiedhimselfwith thismatter.Thisnewscame to ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)whometoneofal-Kindi’sdisciplesandsaidtohim,‘Istherenowisemanamongyoutopreventyourteacheral-KindifromthatwhichhehasbusiedhimselfwithintheQur'an?’Thedisciplesaid,‘Wearehisdisciples.Howisitpossibleforustoobjecttohimwhetherinthis

matterorelse?’ImamAbuMuhammadsaidtohim,‘DoyoutellhimwhatIshallsaytoyou?’Hesaid,‘Yes.’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidtohim,‘Gotohim,becourteouswithhim,andshowhimthatyou

will help him inwhat he is in.When he feels comfortablewith you, you say to him, ‘If someonerecitestheQur'an,isitpossiblethathemeansothermeaningsthanwhatyouthinkyouunderstand?’Heshallsaythatit ispossiblebecauseheisamanwhounderstandswhenhelistens.Ifhesaysthat,yousaytohim,“Howdoyouknow?Hemightmeanotherthanthemeaningsthatyouthink,andsohefabricatesotherthanits(theQur'an)meanings…’The disciple went to his teacher al-Kindi and did as the imam told him. Al-Kindi said to his

disciple,‘IadjureyoubyAllahtotellwhereyouhavegotthisfrom!’Thedisciplesaid,‘ItwassomethingthatcametomymindandImentionedittoyou.’Al-Kindi said, ‘No, noone likeyou canget to this.Wouldyou tellmewhereyouhavegot this

from?’Hesaid,‘ImamAbuMuhammadaskedmetosaythat…’Al-Kindisaid,‘Nowyousaythetruth.Thelikeofthiscannotbeexpressed,exceptfromthathouse

(theAhlulBayt)…’Afterthat,al-Kindiburnthisbook.[416]

RefutingAMonk

Once,peoplesufferedfromaterribledrought.Al-Mu’tamid,theAbbasidcaliph,orderedpeopleto

gooutintheopenairforthreedaysinordertooffertheprayerforrain.Theydid,butnorainfelldown.Christians aswellwent outwithwhom therewas amonkwhowhenever stretched his handtowardsthesky,itrained.Hedidthatmanytimesandsomeignorant(Muslims)doubtedtheirreligionandsomeothersapostatized.Thiswashardforal-Mu’tamid.HewenttoImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)whowas inprison thenand said tohim, ‘Attain to thenationofyourgrandfatherbefore theywillperish!’ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) said tohim, ‘Letpeoplegoout tomorrowand I shall remove their

doubtsinsha’Allah.’Al-Mu’tamidsettheimamfreefromprison,buttheimamaskedhimtosetfreeallhiscompanions

fromprison too, and al-Mu’tamid agreed to his request.On the followingday, peoplewent out tooffertheprayerforrain.Themonkraisedhishandtowardstheskyanditcloudedandrained.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)askedhismentocatchthemonkshandandtakewhattherewasinit.Therewasaboneofahumanbeing.The imamtook thebone from themonkandaskedhim topray for rainagain.Themonkraisedhishandstowardsthesky,butcloudsdisappearedandthesunshone.Peoplewereastonished.Al-Mu’tamidaskedImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)whatthatthingwasandtheimamsaid,‘Thisisa

bone of one of the prophets that this monk has got in some way or another from some grave.Wheneveraprophet’sboneisexposedunderthesky,itwillrain…’Al-Mu’tamidchecked thatand itwasas the imamsaid.Thensuspicionsanddoubtswererefuted.

[417]

LiarsandFabricators

Liarsand fabricatorswerenot fewat that time,and thiswasanotherplagueof thatage. Itwasa

resultofweakfaith.FromthemostfamousfabricatorswasUrwahbinYahyaad-Dihqanal-Baghdadiwho fabricated lies against Imam Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad al-Hadi (a.s.) and Imam AbuMuhammad al-Hasan bin Ali (a.s.) after him. He embezzled the monies that came to Imam AbuMuhammad(a.s.)fromhisfollowers.Theimamcursedhimandorderedhisfollowerstocurseanddisavowhimlesthewoulddestroytheirbeliefs.[418]

AmusementandDiversion

Amusement,singing,dancing,andallkindsofdiversionwerewidespreadintheageofImamAbu

Muhammad(a.s.).BaghdadandSamarra’werefullofdebaucheryandvices.ItwastheAbbasidkingswholedthesocietytothiscorruption.Theysubmittedtotheirlustsanddesires,andtheirrednightswerefullofallkindsofvicesandsins.Al-Mahdi, theAbbasid king,was the firstwhoopened the door ofmusic, singing, dancing, and

drinkingfortheotherAbbasidkings.HewasfondofasongstresscalledJawhar.[419]As forHarunar-Rashid,hewas famous forhis indulging in amusement and singing.Hisnights

were fullofallkindsofmusic, singing,dancing,anddrinking.Hewas fondofabondmaidcalledThatulKhal.Once,hesworeforherthathewouldcarryouteverythingsheaskedhimfor.SheaskedhimtoappointsomemaninchargeofwarandkharajinPersiaforsevenyears.Hedidthatandwroteacovenantandmadeaconditionfor theheirapparent tocarry thatoutafterhim if itcouldnotbedoneinhislife.[420]Al-Ma’mun, who was said to bemoderate in conduct, spent many of his nights in singing and

playing.HewasfondofabondmaidcalledUrayb,andheoftencomposedpoetryabouther.Al-Mutawakkil, who was contemporary with Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.), was immature,

followingafterhis lustsanddesires.Hewas themostdissolutekingamongtheAbbasids.Weshalltalkaboutthisandotherthingswhenweshalltalkabouthislifeinacomingchapter.Notes:[416]Al-Manaqib,vol.4p.424.[417]Jawharatal-Kalam,p.154,Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117.[418]Rijalal-Kashshi,p.353.[419]Al-Bayanwet-Tebyeen,vol.3p.370-371.[420]Al-Aghani,vol.19p.116.

14ChapterTheKingsintheAgeoftheImam

Weshouldhaveashortbreaktotalk-inbrief-aboutthekingswhomImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)

wascontemporarywith,andgiveapictureabouttheirconductsandthemisfortunes,anddistressestheimamsufferedundertheirreigns.

Al-Mutawakkil

Al-Mutawakkil son al-Mu’tasim assumed the rule in 232 AH.[421] In the same year ImamAbu

Muhammad(a.s.)wasborn.[422]Whenal-Mutawakkilassumedtherule,peoplewereafflictedwithanaturaldisasterthattheyhadneverseenbefore.AsimoomblewinIraq,anddestroyedtheplantsofBasra,Kufa, andBaghdadandkilledmany travelers. It lasted for fiftydaysand reachedHamadan,Mosul, and Sanjar. It destroyed plants and cattle, prevented people from dealing in markets andwalkinginstreets,andkilledalargenumberofpeople.[423]ItmightbeawarningfromtheHeavensontheevilomenofthereignofthisking.Whenal-Mutawakkilwaspaidhomageasking,UbaydillahbinTahirgavehimasapresentfourhundredbondmaidsattheheadofwhomwasMahbubahwhomal-Mutawakkilbecameveryfondof.[424]

HisCharacteristics

Al-Mutawakkil lived a life of frivolity with no tendency to seriousness. His life was full ofamusementandjoking.Historianssay,‘Noplay,joking,orclowningappearedinthemeetingsoftheAbbasidcaliphsbeforeal-Mutawakkil.Whenal-Mutawakkilassumedtherule,hebroughtall thattohismeeting and thenmost of the upper class imitated him in that.[425]He brought imitators,whoimitatedthegesturesandvoicesofsomepeopleanddidcomicacts,inhismeeting.[426]Hewasveryinterestedinpleasuresanddrinking.[427]BananandZanamweretwoboyservantsof

his.Theywereskilledinplayingandsinging.Oneplayedtheluteandtheotherblewthepipe.Hedidnotdrinkexceptwiththeirplaying.[428]Hisretinuecurriedfavorswithhimbygivinghimasapresentbeautifulbondmaidsandmatured

wines because he was exceesingly fond of both. Once, al-Fath bin Khaqan gave him, after herecoveredfromillness,averybeautifulbondmaid,agoldcup,acrystalvatfullofwine,andapieceof paper having written in it some verses of poetry. Al-Mutawakkil admired that. Youhannah binMaswayh, his special physician, said to him, ‘O Ameerul Mu’minin, by Allah, al-Fath is morecurativethanme.Donotopposewhatheadvisedyouof!’[429]Hewaspreoccupiedwithsexuallife.Historianssaythathehadfivethousandconcubinesandthat

hehadsleptwithallofthem.Abdsaid,‘ByAllah,ifal-Mutawakkilwasnotkilled,hewouldnotlivelongerbecauseoftheabundanceofhissexualintercourses.’[430]Hewasvery fondofbeautifulbondmaidsandof talkingwith them.He lovedabondmaidcalled

Qabihah.HesaidtoAlibinal-Jahm,‘Oneday,IwenttoQabihaandsawthatshehadwrittenmynamewiththeghaliyah(akindofperfume)onhercheek.ByAllah,Ihavenotseenathingmorebeautifulthantheblackofthatghaliyahonthewhiteofthatcheek.Wouldyoupleasecomposesomeversesonthat?’Once,hebecameangryathisbondmaidMahbubahandleftheraloneforsometime.Hesawinsleepthatshemadepeacewithhim.Hesentoneofhisservantstoseewhatthematterwithherwas.Theservantcamebacktellinghimthatshewassittingsinging.Heandhisservantwenttolistentohersinging.Shewassingingsomeversesofpoetrywhichpleasedhim.Whenshefelthim,shecameandtoldhimthatshesawinsleepthathecameandmadepeacewithherandsosherecitedthispoetry.Al-Mutawakkilandhisbondmaidwenttogethertodrink.Hegavehiscompanionsgoodpresentsontheoccasion.[431]Al-Mutawakkil committed vices openly and he did not feel shy before people. Once, he played

backgammonwithhisvizieral-FathbinKhaqan.JudgeAhmadbinDawudaskedpermissiontocomein toal-Mutawakkil.Al-Fathwanted tohide thebackgammonbutal-Mutawakkilpreventedhimandsaid,‘DoIdosomethingbeforeAllahandconcealitfromHispeople?’[432]HewasrecklessanddidnotfearAllah.Hiscompanionsplayedchessbeforehim,[433]andifthey

knew that it displeased him, theywould not dare to do that.His recklessness and committing viceswereknowntoallpeople.HeaskedhiswifeReetahbintal-Anbastounveilherselfandtobraidherhairlikeboysdid,andwhensherefused,hedivorcedher.[434]Allpeopletalkedaboutthat,buthewasindifferenttoanycriticism.Fromhisothercharacteristics

werehaughtinessandprideespeciallyonhis lastdayswhenhis rulebecameconstantand firm.Hewasdespotic,proud,andhaughtytowardspeople.[435]He despised al-Buhturi, the emir of poets at that time, who praised him in his poems. Al-

Mutawakkil incitedAbulAnbastoharmanddisgraceal-Buhturiwhoranawaysaying,‘Knowledgehasbeenlostandliteraturehasperished.’[436]

HisEnmityTowardsTheAlawids

Al-Mutawakkil’sheartwasfullofenmityandspiteagainsttheProphet’sprogeny.Hetriedhisbest

to exhaust them.Theymetmanymisfortunes and distresses during his reign that they did notmetfrom the unjust rulers before him. He imposed an economic blockade on them and officiallyprohibitedanyformofassistancetothem.Wheneverhewasinformedthatsomeonehelpedthem,heseverely punished him and imposed a heavy fine on him.[437] People refrained from helping orassociatingwiththeAlawidsforfearoftheseverepunishmentofthistyrant.The economicblockadeharmed theAlawids and exhausted them to a degree that onedresswas

usedbysomewomenofthem.Oneofthemworeitandofferedtheprayerandthenanotheroneandsoon.Theyalwayspatchedit.Theysatattheirspindleseminakedwithunveiledheads,[438]whereasthe tyrant al-Mutawakkil spent on his red nightsmillions of dinars, and donated,withoutmeasure,thousands to singers, drinking companions, and effeminates, but prevented the progeny of themessenger ofAllah (a.s.) from receiving their rights and legal dues until hemade thempoor andwretched.Besides, hemade all themedia in his government defame and degrade theAlawids.Mercenary

poets,likeMarwanbinAbulJanub,dispraisedtheAlawidsandpreferredtheoppressorsandtyrantstothem.Al-MutawakkilgiftedthosepoetswithgoldandsilvertogofurtherindefamingtheAlawids,thinkingthattheseprocedureswouldtakeMuslimsawayfromtheprogenyoftheirprophet(a.s.).Hewasbadlymistakeninthat,forthatmadepeoplebelievemorethattheAhlulBayt(a.s)weretherealleadersofthenation.Allclassesofpeopleglorifiedandhighlyregardedthem.Theypreferredthemtoallotherpeople.Al-Mutawakkil bore hatred and spite against Imam Ali (a.s.). He rejected him and declared his

hatredanddespisetowardshimopenly.HemadeoneofhiseffeminateservantsdanceandcomparehimselftoImamAli(a.s.).Thisuglydoingprovokedal-Muntasir,al-Mutawakkil’sson,andmadehimkillhisfather.Al-Mutawakkilwas full of ragewhenever he heard or saw crowds of people visit the shrine of

Imam al-Husayn (a.s.) the master of the youth of Paradise, whereas the graves of his (al-Mutawakkil’s) fathers and their cousins theUmayyads turned intodunghills indark,drearyplaces,which became resorts for beasts. Those graves, with their misery and gloominess, spoke of theoppressionandviolenceoftheirinhabitantsagainstMuslims.Historianssay that thereason,whichmadeal-Mutawakkildestroy theholyshrine,was thatsome

songstresssenthimhermaidsbeforeheassumedtheruletosingforhimwhenhedrank,andwhenhebecamethecaliph,hesentforhertosendhimasongstressbutshewasnotthere.ItwassaidtohimthatshehadgonetovisittheholytombofImamal-Husayn(a.s.).ShewasinformedofthatwhileshewasinKerbala.ShehurriedbacktoBaghdadandsental-Mutawakkiloneofhermaids.Heaskedthemaidwheretheywereandshesaid,‘Myladywenttoperformthehajj(pilgrimage)andtookuswithher.’ Itwas themonth of Sha’ban.Al-Mutawakkilwas astonished and said to her, ‘Where did youperformthehajjinSha’ban?’Shesaid,‘Tothetombofal-Husayn.’ThetyrantwasalarmedandangrywhenheheardthatthepilgrimagewastotheholytombofImam

al-Husayn (a.s.). He arrested the lady of themaid and confiscated all her wealth, and ordered hisofficials todestroy the tomb.They refused insistently todestroy the tombof thegrandsonof theirProphet. Then, al-Mutawakkil asked some Jews, headed by ad-Dayzaj, to destroy the tomb. Theyrespondedtohimanddestroyedtheholytombin237AH,[439]anddestroyedallbuildingsaroundthetomb. They plowed the land around the tomb and made water flow over the land,[440]but waterflowedaround the tombwithout reaching it; therefore, itwascalledal-Ha’ir.Apleasant smellwasemittedfromthetomb,thelikeofwhichpeoplehadneversmeltbefore.[441]AnomadfrombaniAsadgot thehonorofvisitingtheholytombafter ithadbeendestroyed.He

begansmellingtheearthsothatitmightguidehimtotheholytomb.Whenhetookahandfulofearth,smelt it, and found it emittingaverypleasant smell.Hecriedandaddressed Imamal-Husayn (a.s.)saying,‘Maymyfatherandmotherdieforyou!Howfineyouare!Howfineyourtombis,andhowfineyourearthis!’Thenherecitedthefollowingverse,“Theywantedtohidehistombfromhiscompanion,butthefinesmellofthetomb’searthguidedtothetomb.”Muslimscomplainedofal-Mutawakkilandabusedhimintheirsocietiesandmeetings,andprayed

Allah against him in their prayers. They wrote curses against him on mosques and walls. Thefollowing verses, which were composed by a poet who concealed his name for fear of thegovernment, though itwasascribed to ibnas-Sikkitoral-Bastami,[442]werememorizedbypeopleandspreadamongallclassesofsociety:“ByAllah,iftheUmayyadshadkilledtheson[443]oftheProphetunjustly,hiscousins[444]didthesame;hereishistombdestroyed!Theyfeltsorrythattheydidnotparticipateinkillinghim,Sotheychasedhiminthegrave.’[455]Kingdomscomeandgo,butal-Husayn(a.s.)withhismentionandshrineremainsasashiningstar

intheskyoftheArabsandMuslimsforhehasoccupiedtheheartsofMuslimsandhisloveflowedintheirveins,whereasal-Mutawakkilandhis likesarechasedby thecurse,wrath,andpunishmentofAllah.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)wasintheprimeofyouthandheheardabouttheunjustdecisionthat

al-Mutawakkilhadtakenagainsttheshrineofhisgrandfather,andabouttheseverepunishmentsthevisitors of the shrine faced from al-Mutawakkil. Surely these procedures caused him pains anddistresses.

WithImamAl-Hadi

Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) was the master of the Ahlul Bayt (a.s) at that age. All the nation regarded,

glorified,andpreferredhim,duetohisknowledge,piety,andvirtues,toallothers,andapartofthenation believed in his imamate.Al-Mutawakkil could not bear to see a great personality from hisenemies, theAlawids, intheMuslimnation,whomallpeopletalkedhighlyaboutandwhosetalentsandintelligencewerementionedinallmeetings.Mercenaries, opportunists, and the government agents began spreading lies against the imam

sayingthatgreatmoniesweresenttohim,andthathehaddeterminedtorevoltagainsttheAbbasidrule.Al-Mutawakkilbecamesoupsetandangry.HeorderedhismentobringImamal-Hadi(a.s.)toSamarra’thecapitaloftheAbbasidstateatthattime.Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)andhisfamilywerebroughtfromMedinatoSamarra’.Al-MutawakkilimposedhousearrestontheimamanddidnotlethimleaveSamrra’aftersurroundinghishousewithdetectivesandpolicementowatchallhisactivities,andtopreventtheShi’afromcommunicatingwithhim.Aftersometime,al-Mutawakkilimposedaneconomicblockadeontheimamandhisfamilysothat

nomoneycametohimfromhisfollowersexceptafterhardefforts.TheShi’afollowedallwaysandmeanstotakemoneytotheimam.Oneofthosemeanswasthattheypretendedtoselloil,andinsidethebottlesofoiltheysoldtotheImam,theyconcealedmoney.Somevillainwenttoal-MutawakkilandinformedhimaboutImamal-Hadi(a.s.)falselyclaiming

that he had books, arms, and monies and that he might revolt against the government of al-Mutawakkil,whobecameworriedandterrifieduponhearingso.Al-MutawakkilorderedsomeofhisTurkpolicementoattackthehouseofImamal-Hadi(a.s.)inthenightandarresthim. They attacked Imam al-Hadi (a.s.) unexpectedly and found him in a simple house wearing a

garmentofwoolandtherewasnothingbetweenhimandthegroundsaveacarpetofsandandpebbleswhilefacingtheqiblaandrecitingthissayingofAllah,(Nay!dothosewhohavewroughtevildeedsthinkthatWewillmakethemlikethosewhobelieveanddogoodthattheirlifeandtheirdeathshallbeequal?Baditisthattheyjudge).[446]Theytookhimtoal-Mutawakkilwhilehewasinthatstate[447]thatrepresentedtheasceticismof

prophets and spirituality of apostles. Al-Mutawakkil was drunk at the table ofwine.When he sawImamal-Hadi(a.s.),heofferedhimaglassofwine,butImamal-Hadi(a.s.)shoutedathim,‘ByAllah,ithasnevermixedwithmybloodandfleshatall.’Al-Mutawakkilaskedtheimam,‘Recitemesomepoetry!’Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)said,‘Iseldomrecitepoetry.’Al-Mutawakkilinsistedonhimsaying,‘Youmustrecitemesomepoetry!’Imamal-Hadi(a.s.) foundhimselfobliged torecitesomepoetry,andsoherecited thefollowing

versesthatchangedtheecstasyofal-Mutawakkilintosorrowandweeping,“Theywereonthetopsofmountains,guardedbystrong,bravemen,butthosetopssufficedthemnot.

Afterglory,theyweretakendownfromtheirpositions,andputintoholes.Howbadanabodetheydweltin!Acriercalledthemafterbeingburied:Wherearethethrones,crowns,andtreasures?Wherearethefacesthatwereateaseandluxury,thatcurtainsandscreenswereputbeforethem?Thegraveshowedthosefaceswherewormswerefightingonthem.Howlongtheyateanddrank!Butafterthatlongeating,theywereeaten!”Al-Mutawakkilwas shakenand intoxication flew fromhishead.Hebegancrying incontrollably.

TheattendantsinthemeetingfearedforImamal-Hadi(a.s.)thatal-Mutawakkilmightassaulthimandtheythoughtthatal-Mutawakkilwouldtakerevengeonhim.Al-Mutawakkilorderedhismentotaketheglassesofwineawayfromthemeeting.Heturnedtothe

pureImam(a.s.)andsaidtohimreverently,‘OAbulHasan,areyouindebt?’Imamal-Hadi(a.s.)said,‘Yes,fourthousanddinars.’Al-Mutawakkilorderedfour thousanddinars tobegiventoImamal-Hadi(a.s.).Hereturnedhim

backtohishousewithrespectandhonor.[448]ThiseventshowedthejihadofImamal-Hadi(a.s.)andhisfixedsituationtowardsthattyrant.Hedid

notcareforhisruleandpower.HepreachedandwarnedhimofthepunishmentofAllahandsaidtohim(throughpoetry)thathewoulddieandneitherhisarmiesnorhisauthoritywouldsavehimfromdeath,andthathisdelicatebodywouldbefoodforwormsinthegrave.Certainly,al-Mutawakkilhadnever heard such preaching before. Instead, he filled his ears with the voices of songsters andsongstresses.Finally,deathcametohimwhilehewasbetweenmusiciansandcupsofwine.Anyhow,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sawwhathappenedtohisfatherfromal-Mutawakkil.

TheDeathofAl-Mutawakkil

Al-Mutawakkil and his vizier al-Fath bin Khaqan were killed after a plot concluded by al-

Mutawakkil’ssonal-Muntasir,Waseef,andBughatheTurks.Theyattackedhiminthenightandcuthimandhisvizierby theirswords intopiecesso thathis fleshcouldnotbedistinguishedfromhisvizier ’s.Al-Mutawakkilwaskilledandablackpageofdebauchery,diversion,corruption,andoppression

wasfolded,andpeoplecouldbreathefreelyforashorttime.

TheReignofAl-Muntasir

Al-Muntasir assumed the rule after the coup he led against his father.TheShi’a felt delight and

joyfulafterthenightmareofoppressiondisappeared.Al-Muntasirfollowedarightly,fairpolicytowards theAlawidsandtheShi’a.Fromthegoodhe

did to theAlawidswere that he returned Fadak[449] to theAlawids, cancelled the interdict on theentailsof theAlawidsandgave thoseback to them,deposed thewaliofYathribSalihbinAli,whotreatedtheAlawidsbadly,andappointedAlibinal-Hasaninsteadofhim.HeorderedhimtotreattheAlawidskindlyanddogood to them.Hegavehimsomemoneytodistribute itamongtheAlawidsandamonghisfamilyaccordingtotheirranks.Al-MuntasirpermittedMuslimstovisit thetombofImam al-Husayn (a.s.) after al-Mutawakkil had forbidden that and decreed severe penalties againstwhoevervisitedthatholytomb.Poets praised al-Muntasir in their poems and people appreciated his favors and good situations

towardstheAlawids.Thisnobleman,whorefreshedtheheartsoftheAlawids,didnotlivelong.Deathcameoverhimin

thebeginningofhisrule.Mostofhistorianssaidhedidnotdieanaturaldeathbuthewaspoisoned.The Turks assassinated him fearing that hemight kill them and do awaywith their influence anddominationovertheIslamicnation.TheTurksbribedhisphysicianibnTayfurbygivinghimthirtythousanddinarstoassassinatehim.

Al-Muntasirwasillandthephysicianadvisedtobleedhim.Hebledhimwithapoisonedbladeandhediedsoon.[450]HediedonSaturday,thefourthofRabee’ath-Thani,[451]248AHandwasburiedinal-Jawsaq.[452]Byhisdeath,people lostmuch. Itwashewhodestroyedhis father ’s throne,whichwasbasedonoppressionandtyranny,andenmitytowardstheinfallibleimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).ThebooksofhistoryathanddidnotmentionanymeetingoreventthattookplacebetweenImam

AbuMuhammad(a.s.)andal-Muntasir.ThecertainthingisthattheImam(a.s.)wasdelightedforal-Muntasir ’s procedures towards theAlawids that returned to them safety and settlementwhich theymissed during the reign of al-Mutawakkil. People, especially the Shi’a,were refreshed during hisreign,thoughitwasveryshort.

TheReignofAl-Musta’een

After thedeathofal-Muntasir,al-Musta’eenassumed the ruleonSunday, the fifthofRabee’ath-

Thaniintheyear248AH.HewasasapuppetcontrolledbytheTurks.Hehadnopoliticalinfluenceoverthebodyofhisgovernment.Oneofthepoetsremarkedonthat,“AcaliphinacagebetweenWaseefandBugha,hesayswhattheybothsaytohimasaparrotdoes.”[453]Al-Musta’eenbeforetheTurkswasasacorpseinawasher ’shands.Hehadnopowerorauthority.

The statewas run by theTurkswhile hewas busywith lusts, pleasures, drinking, and listening tosinging.

HisSpiteTowardsTheImam

Al-Musta’eenbitterlyhated ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).The followingare someof the reasons

thatwerebehindhisgrudgetowardstheimam:First,people,intheirmeetings,alwaystalkedabouttheimam’shighposition,talents,andintellect.

Besides that, a good part of the nation believed in his imamate and followed him, whereas al-Musta’een,thoughhewasthecaliph,hadnorespectorvaluenearMuslims.Second,mercenariesandagentsofthegovernmentoftenflatteredtherulersbyfalselyinforming

againsttheimam,claimingthatgreatmoniescametohimfromtheShi’aandthathemightriseinaviolentrevoltagainsttheAbbasidrule.Thismadeal-Musta’eenfeartheimam.Third,fromthereasonsthatmadeal-Muta’eenbearagrudgeagainstImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)

washisfearofhis(theimam’s)son,theawaitedimam(a.s.)whomtheProphet(a.s)hadbroughtgoodnewsabout.Manytruetraditionssaidthatitwashewhowouldrepairreligion,doawaywithinjusticeandoppression,andrelievetheoppressedandthewronged.TheheartsoftheAbbasidswerefulloffear from him thinking that he would do away with their rule, and therefore they bore a grudgeagainstImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Theyputhimunderstrictobservationandsentwomentospyonthebirthoftheawaitedimaminordertoarresthim.

ArrestingTheImam

Al-Musta’eengaveordertohispolicementoarrestImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).Hewasarrested

andputintotheprisonofAlibinAwtamishwhowasfromthebitterestenemiesoftheprogenyofAbuTalib.The authority insisted on this jailer to harmandpress the imam, but hewas affected by theimam.Hechangedandhisgrudgetowardstheimamwasremovedfromhisheart.Heputhischeekonthe ground out of humbleness to the imam, and did not raise his eyes before the imam out ofglorification and respect. He turned to be one of the best people in thought and faith towards theimam.[454]‘Isabinal-FathwasinprisonwithImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)saidto

him,‘O‘Isa,youaresixty-fiveyearsandamonthandtwodaysold.’‘Isawasastonished.Hereviewedhisbirthdate inabookwithhimandfounditwasas theimam

told.Thentheimamasked‘Isaifhehadasonandhesaidhehadnot.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)prayedAllahforhimsaying,‘OAllah,givehimasontobeasupport

forhim.Thebestofsupportasonis…’‘Isasaid,‘Omymaster,andyou?Doyouhaveason?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘ByAllah,Ishallhaveasonwhowillfilltheearthwithjustice

andfairness,butnotnow.’[455]

FearofTheShi’a

ThefrighteningnewsoftheimprisonmentofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)reachedallmilieusof

Muslims,whoreactedinsorrowanddesiredtotakerevengeagainsttheAbbasids.TheTwelverShi’a,whobelievedintheimamateofAbuMuhammad(a.s.),wereshockedaftertheywereinformedthatal-Musta’eenhaddeterminedtokilltheirimambyorderinghischamberlain,Sa’eed,totaketheimamtoKufaandassassinatehimontheway.Muhammad bin Abdullah and al-Haytham bin Subabahwrote a letter to ImamAbuMuhammad

(a.s.)saying,‘Maywedieforyou!Wehaveheardnewsthatworriedanddistressedus…’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)calmedthemdownandtoldthemthatnofearshouldbeonhimand

thathisoppressiveenemy(al-Musta’een)wouldbedeposedafterthreedays.Itwasashesaid.[456]AmrbinMuhammadbinRayyan said, ‘Once, Iwent toAbuAhmadbinAbdullah binTahir and

foundinhishandtheletterofAbuMuhammad(a.s.)writteninit:“IprayedtoAllahagainstthistyrant(al-Musta’een)totakehimafterthree(days).’Onthethirdday,theTurksdeposedhim.[457]

TheDepositionofAl-Musta’een

TheTurkssnubbedal-Musta’eenandfearedhim.Oneday,hesetouttowardsBaghdad.TheTurks

sentforhimaskinghimtoreturntoSamarra’.HerefusedandwentontoBaghdad.Theydeposedhimandtookal-Mu’tazzoutofprisonandpaidhimhomageasthecaliph.TheypreparedagreatarmytooccupyBaghdad.Thetwoarmiesmetandbothsidessufferedgreatlossesbutthewarcontinued.Atlast,theyagreedthatal-Musta’eenshouldannouncehisresigningandgivethecaliphatetoal-Mu’tazzoncertainconditionsthattheybothagreedupon.Al-Musta’eenhandedthecaliphateovertoal-Mu’tazz,whodidnotobservetheconditionsrequired

fromhimandheputal-Musta’eenintheprisonofWasit.Heremainedforninemonthsinthatprison.The Turks felt fear of al-Musta’een although he was in prison. They took him out of prison andbroughthimtoSamarra’.Al-Mu’tazzaskedhischamberlainSa’eedtokillhimandhedid.[458]Theauthorofal-Fakhrisaidhewasweakinmind,reason,andadministration,andthatseveralseditionshappenedduringhisreignandhisstatewasfulloftroublesandconfusion.[459]

TheReignofAl-Mu’tazz

Hewasaz-ZubayrsonofJa’faral-Mutawakkil.Heassumedtherulewhilehewasintheprimeof

youth.Hewasexperiencedneitherinpoliticsnorinadministration.TheTurksappointedhimaskingtobe,asabridgeforthemtopassacrossinordertoachievetheiraimsandwishes.Hehadnowilloroption.He inherited from his fathers that enmity towards the Ahlul Bayt (a.s). He hated Imam Abu

Muhammad(a.s.).Once,hetriedtokillhimbuthefailed.HeaskedSa’eedthechamberlaintotaketheimam to thepalaceof ibnHubayrahandassassinatehim there,butAllah saved the imam[460]aftersomeeventstookplacethatmadethembusyanddivertedtheirattentionfromtheimam.Al-Mu’tazzorderedhismentoarresttheimamandputhimintoprison,forhecouldnotbearto

hearallpeopletalkabouthisvirtues,vastknowledge,andpiety;besidesthat,theimamwasalsothefather of the awaited imam who would remove oppression and injustice and do away with thegovernmentsoftheoppressive.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)becameunabletobeartheoppressionofal-Mu’tazzanymore,andso

heprayedAllahtosavehimfromtheevilsofthistyrant,andAllahrespondedtohimafternotlong.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)hadtoldhisfollowersaboutthedepositionofal-Mu’tazzbeforeittookplace.HerepliedtoAbulHaythambinSubabahsaying,‘Afterthree(days)deliveranceshallcometoyou.’Onthethirdday,al-Mu’tazzwasdeposed.[461]

TheDepositionofAl-Mu’tazz

After the prayer of ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.),Allah took revenge on al-Mu’tazz. SomeTurk

leadersaskedal-Mu’tazztogivethemtheirsalaries,buttherewasnothinginthetreasury.Al-Mu’tazzwenttohismother,whowasverywealthy,possessingmillionsofdinars,butsherefusedtogivehimany.WhentheTurksbecamedesperateaboutgettingtheirsalaries,theyattackedal-Mu’tazz.Theydrewhimbyhisleg,stunghimwithpins,andstoodhimunderthesunonaveryhotsummer

daysayingtohim,‘Deposeyourself!’Then,theybroughtthejudgeofBaghdadandsomeprominentmen and announced his deposition. Five nights after his deposition, the Turks took him to thebathroom.Afterwashing,hefeltthirsty.Theydidnotgivehimwaterforaperiod,andthentheygavehimicywaterandhedied.[462]ThemenofSalihbinWaseeffollowedafterQabihah,motherofal-Mu’tazz,andtookhermoney

that was about five hundred thousand dinars. They found wardrobes of her under the groundcontaininglargeamountsofmoney.Theyfoundonemillionandthreehundredthousanddinarsinanundergroundroom.Theyfoundaquantityofemeraldsinabasket,largepearlsinanother,andrubiesinathird.AllthiswealthwastakentoSalihbinWaseef.Heabusedherandsaid,‘Sheexposedhersontokillingforfiftythousanddinarswhileshehadallthiswealth!’[463]

TheReignofAl-Muhtadi

After the deposition of al-Mu’tazz by theTurks, al-Muhtadi,whowas thirty-seven years of age,

assumed the rule.[464]He, likehis fathers,boreagrudge towards ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) andafflictedhimwithdistressesandpains.Heorderedhismen toarrest the imamandputhimintoprison.Hedetermined tokillhimashe

determinedtoannihilatealltheShi’a.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)remainedforsomedaysinprison,whereAbuHashimwaswithhim.HesaidtoAbuHashim,‘OAbuHashim,thistyrantwantedtokillmethisnight,butAllahhascuthisold.IhavenosonbutAllahwillgivemeason.[465]Some of the imam’s followers wrote to him, “We have been informed that he (al-Muhtadi)

threatensyourShi’aandsays,‘ByAllah,Iwillremovethemfromthefaceoftheearth.’ImamAbuMuhammadreplied,‘Thatisbeyondhislife.Count,fromthisdayfivedays,andheshall

bekilledinthesixthdayafterdisgrace,meanness,andlownessbefallhim.’Itwasastheimamsaid.[466]TheTurksbecamedispleasedwithal-Muhtadi.Theyattackedhimwithdaggersandkilledhim.[467]

TheReignofAl-Mu’tamid

The caliphate came to al-Mu’tamidwhile hewas twenty-five years old.[468]Historians say, ‘He

wasdissolute,andinterestedinlustsandamusements.Hewasbusywithmusicandsingingpayingnoattentiontohissubjects.Hecommittedsinsthatmadepeoplehatehim.’[469]Inhisreign,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)diedaftermeetingdistressesandmisfortunesfromhim.HeorderedhismentoarrestImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)andhisbrotherJa’farandputtheminto

prison.HeinstructedthejailerAlibinJurayntoinformhimofhisactivitiesandhisconversationsatalltimes.ThejailertoldthecaliphthattheimamdidnotdoanythingthatmightopposetheAbbasidpolicy,andthatheturnedhisbacktothisworldandturnedtoAllahtheAlmighty.Hefastedduringthedayandspentthenightinworships.Anothertime,thecaliphaskedthejailertoinformhimabouteverythingtheimamdidorsaid,and

heansweredwiththesame.Heorderedhimtosettheimamfree,sendhimhisgreeting,andapologizetohim.Thejailerhurriedtotheimamandfoundhimreadytogetout.Hehadputonhisclothesandshoes.Thejailerwonderedatthat.Heinformedtheimamofthedecisionofal-Mu’tamid.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)rodeonhishorsebutdidnotmove.Thejaileraskedhimwhyandhesaid,‘UntilJa’farcomes.’Thejailersaid,‘Butheorderedmetosetyoufreealonewithouthim.’The imamsaid, ‘Goand tell him that I andhewere taken together from thehouse. If I goback

alone,therewillbesomethingthatyouknow!’The jailerwentand toldal-Mu’tamidwhat the imamsaid.Heorderedhim to set Ja’far free too.

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)lefttheprisonwhilereciting,(TheyintendtoputoutthelightofAllahwiththeirmouthsbutAllahwillperfectHislight,thoughtheunbelieversmaybeaverse)[470].[471]ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)suffereddifferentkindsofharmsanddistressesfromal-Mu’tamid.He

surrounded the imam with detectives and policemen to watch him and to chase all thejurisprudents,‘Ulama’,andtheShi’awhotriedtomeethim.Heremainedunderwatchuntilhewasassassinatedwithpoisonbytheorderofal-Mu’tamid.Imam AbuMuhammad (a.s.) was contemporary with these Abbasid kings, who oppressed him,

threwhimintoprison,andtriedtodoawaywithhim,butAllahprotectedhimfromthatbyafflictingthosekingswithimportanteventslikerebellionsorthedominationoftheTurksoverthem.Notes:[421]Tareekhal-Khulafa’byas-Sayouti,p.346.[422]Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117.[423]Tareekhal-Khulafa’,346.[424]Nisa’al-Khulafa’(thecaliphs’women),p.92.

[425]LecturesontheHistoryoftheIslamicnations,p.265-266.[426]Ad-Diyarat,p.26.[427]BaynalKhulafa’welKhula’a’(betweenthecaliphsandthedissolute),p.115.[428]Thimaral-Quloob(fruitsofhearts),p.122.[429]EncyclopediaoftheTwentiethCentury,vol.10p.964.[430]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.69.[431]Nisa’al-Khulafa’,p.95-96.[432]Zahral-Adaab,vol.4p.31.[433]BaynalKhulafa’welKhula’a’,p.108.[434]Mir ’ataz-Zaman,vol.6p.169.[435]Uyoonat-Tawareekh,vol.6p.170.[436]Akhbaral-Buhturibyas-Sawli,p.89.[437]Maqatilat-Talibiyeen,p.597.[438]Ibid.,p.599.[439]Akhbarad-Duwal,p.359.[440]Maqatilat-Talibiyin,p.598.[441]Maqatilat-Talibiyin,p.598.[442]Fawatal-Wafiyyat,vol.1p.203.[443]ImamHusayn(a.s).[444]TheAbbasidswhowerethecousinsoftheProphet(a.s)andofImamHusayn(a.s).[445]Akhbarad-Duwal,p.159,Tareekhal-Khulafa’,p.347.[446]Qur'an,45:21.[447]Rawdhatal-A’yan,manuscript.[448]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.44-45.[449]Fadakwasaveryvast,fertilevillagethattheProphet(s)haddonatedtohisdaughterFatima

(s).Itwasrichofdatepalmsandotherfruitfultrees.[450]Tareekhal-Khulafa’byas-Sayooti,p.357.[451]ItisthefourthmonthintheIslamiclunarcalendar.[452]Al-Anba’feeTareekhal-Khulafa’.[453]Tareekhal-Khulafa’,p.357.[454]Usoolal-Kafi,vol.1p.508.[455]Jawharatal-Kalam,p.155.[456]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.273.[457]Al-GhaybahbySheikhat-Toosi,p.132.[458]Tareekhal-Khulafa’,p.358-359.[459]Al-Fakhri,p.132.[460]Dala’ilal-Imamah,p.225,Muhajad-Da’awat.[461]Dala’ilal-Imamah,p.225.Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117.[462]Tareekhal-Khulafa’,p.360.[463]Tareekhibnal-Atheer,vol.5p.344.[464]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.124.[465]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.274.[466]Ibid.[467]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4p.127.[468]Muroojath-Thahab,vol.4,p.138.[469]Tareekhal-Khulafa’,p.363.[470]Qur'an,61:8.

[471]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.274.

15ChapterTotheBetterWorld

ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) spent his short life in sufferings and distresses.TheAbbasid kings

sparednoeffortinoppressinghim.Theymovedhimfromaprisontoanother.Theysubjectedhimtoconfinementandimposedonhimeconomicalblockades.Theypreventedhimfrommeetingwithhisfollowersastheyprevented‘Ulama’andscholarsfrom

contactingwithhimtotakeawayfromthefountainofhissciences.Andthis,asIthink,wastheworstdistress the imam suffered. They triedmore than once to assassinate him butAllah protected himfromtheirplots.Therewere some reasons thatmade theAbbasids bear a grudge against ImamAbuMuhammad

(a.s.).Herearesomeofthem:First,theAbbasidsfearedtheAwaitedImamwhomtheProphet(a.s)hadbroughtgoodnewsabout

andtoldthathewouldbethegreatestreformerthatmankindhadneverseenlikehimthroughoutallstages of history.TheProphet (a.s) told that theAwaited Imam (a.s.)would spreadpolitical, socialjusticeallover theworld,woulddoawaywithallkindsof injusticeandoppression,anddefeatalltyrantsandoppressivepowersintheworld.Hewoulddoawaywithpolytheismandatheism,andraisethebanneroffaithandtruth.Hewould

revivetheannulledlawsofAllah.Therefore,theAbbasidstriedtokillImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)tobesurehewouldnotleaveanyoffspring.ImamAbuMuhammadsaidaboutthat,‘Theyclaimedthattheywantedtokillmeinordertocutoffmyoffspring,butAllahfalsifiedtheirsaying,andpraisebetoAllah.’[472]Second, theAbbasids bore envy towards ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) for his popularity and the

great respect that all classes of society showed him,whereas the authoritywas in the hand of theAbbasidswho received nothing of respect or honor from people. Therefore, they plotted day andnighttodoawaywithhim.Third, theAlawids rose inmany revolts against theAbbasid rule since its beginning, aiming at

achieving the political justice of Islam and applying its economical and social programs in life.Those revoltswere supportedbygreatmasses of people in thedifferentMuslimcommunities thatharmedthedignityoftheruleandshookitsthroneandwereabouttooverthrowit.ThoserevoltsfilledtheheartsoftheAbbasidswithhatredandgrudgeagainsttheAlawids,andso

theyorderedtheirpolicementochaseeveryAlawid.ItwasnaturallythatImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)sufferedthebitterestdistressesfromtheAbbasidsbecausehewasthemasterandchiefoftheAlawids

andtheimamofMuslimatthattime.Now,letuscomebacktothelastdaysofImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.).

AppointingImamAl-MahdiastheNextImam

Imamal-Mahdi(a.s.) is thehope,notonlyforMuslims,butforalloppressedhumanbeingswho

sufferslavery,oppression,andsubjection.He is theSaviorwhowill free thewillofmanandsavepeoplesandnationsfromtheoppressionofthecorruptiveregimeswhohaveturnedthisworldintounbearablehell.Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) was and is a great miracle in Islam. Allah concealed his birth, as he had

concealedthebirthofProphetMoses(a.s.),becausetheAbbasidgovernmentlookedforhim…andinhisremainingalive(inoccultation)throughoutthelongstagesoflifeisalsoamiracleforIslam,andinhisreappearanceandannouncingthepureprinciplesofIslamisanothermiracletoo.The following are some of the traditions transmitted from ImamAbuMuhammad al-Hasan al-

Askari(a.s.)concerningtheImamateofhissonal-Mahdi(a.s.).1.AhmadbinIsaaqbinSa’eedal-Ash’arisaid,“Once,IwenttoAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli

(a.s.)intendingtoaskhimaboutthesuccessorafterhim.HesaidtomebeforeIaskedhim,‘OAhmadbin Isaaq, Allah the Almighty did not deprive the earth since He created Adam, and He will notdeprive it until the Day of Resurrection, of an authority over His people. By him (the authority)distresses are pushed away from the people of the earth, by him rain falls down, and by him theblessingsoftheearthareemitted.’Isaidtohim,‘OsonofthemessengerofAllah,whoistheimamandsuccessorafteryou?’Hegot

uphastily andwent in thehouse.Then,he cameoutholdinga three-year-oldboy,whose facewas(bright)likeafullmoon,onhisshoulderandsaid,‘OAhmad,wereitnotforyourhonornearAllahthe Almighty and near His authorities, I would not show you my this son. He was named andsurnamedlikethemessengerofAllah(a.s.).Hewillfilltheearthwithjusticeandfairnessafterithasbeenfilledwithinjusticeandoppression.OAhmad,he,inthisnation,islikeal-Khidhr(Elijah)andThulQarnayn.ByAllah,hewillhideinanoccultation,duringwhichnooneshallbesavedexceptonewhomAllah fixes on the belief in his imamate and supplicatingAllah to hasten his deliverance.’ Isaid,‘IsthereanysignsothatImaybesure?’Theyoungboysaid,‘IamtherepresentativeofAllahinHisearthandtheavengeronHisenemies.Donotlookforasignafteraproof!’Ileftdelightedly.Onthefollowingday,Icamebacktohimandsaid,‘Osonofthemessengerof

Allah,mydelightwassogreatforwhatyoufavoredmewith.Wouldyoupleasetellmewhatnormwithal-KhidrandThulQarnaynwas?’Hesaid,‘Longoccultation.’Isaid,‘OsonofthemessengerofAllah,shallhis(Imamal-Mahdi’s)occultationlastlong?’ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘Yes,bymyLord,untilmanyofthose,whobelieveinthismatter

(occultation and reappearance), shall apostatize, and no one shall remain (believing) except thosewhomAllah has taken from them a covenant on our guardianship, fixed faith in their hearts, andsupportedthemwithamercyfromHim.OAhmad,thisisacommandfromAllah,asecretfromthesecretsofAllah,andanunseenmatterfromtheunseen(matters)ofAllah.TakewhatItoldyou,andbefromthegrateful;youshallbewithusinIlliyin.[473]”[474]

2. Muhammad bin Uthman al-Umari narrated that his father said, “Once, I was with Abu

Muhammadal-HasanbinAli(al-Askari)whenhewasaskedaboutthetraditiontransmittedfromhisfatherthattheearthwouldnotbeemptyfromanauthorityfromAllahoverHispeopleuntiltheDayof Resurrection, and that whoever died without knowing the imam of his age would die as anunbeliever.Hesaid,‘Thisistrueasdayistrue.’Someoneaskedhim,‘OsonofthemessengerofAllah,then,whoshallbetheauthorityandimam

afteryou?’He said, ‘My son Muhammad is the imam and the authority after me. Whoever dies without

knowing (acknowledging) him shall dies as an unbeliever.Hewill be in an occultationwhere theignorantwillbeconfused,denierswillperish,anddaters[475]will tell lies.Then,hewillreappear,andasifIseewhiteflagsflutteringoverhisheadatthehillofKufa.’[476]3.ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)said,‘PraisebetoAllahWhodidnottakemeoutofthislifeuntil

Hemademeseethesuccessorafterme.HeisthemostsimilarinshapeandmoralstothemessengerofAllah(a.s.).Allahwillprotecthiminhisoccultationandmakehimreappeartofilltheearthwithjusticeandfairnessafteritwillbefilledwithinjusticeandoppression.’[477]4.MusabinJa’faral-BaghdadinarratedthathehadheardImamAbuMuhammadal-HasanbinAli

al-Askari(a.s.)saying,‘(Itis)AsifIseethatyouwilldisagreeaftermeonmysuccessor.Surely,he,whobelieves in the imams after themessenger ofAllah (a.s.) but deniesmy son, is likeone,whobelieves in all prophets andmessengers ofAllah but denies the prophethood of themessenger ofAllah(Muhammad)(a.s.),becausetheobedienceofthelastofusisliketheobedienceofthefirstofus, andone,whodenies the last of us, is likeonewhodenies the first of us.My sonwill have anoccultationwherepeoplewillbeindoubtaboutitexceptthosewhomAllahpreserves.’[478]

TheImamComfortsHimself

ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)perceivedfrombehindtheunseenthathewouldleavethislifeandgo

nearhisLord.Hesaidtohismother,‘IntheyeartwohundredandsixtyIshallsufferbadfeverfromwhichIshallbeafflicted…’She was distressed, and sorrow overcame her. She began crying. Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.)

calmedherdownsaying,‘ThefateofAllahmusttakeplace.Donotworry…!’Intheyeartwohundredandsixty,hediedashehadpredicted.[479]

AssassinationoftheImam

Al-Mu’tamid, theAbbasid tyrant, couldnotbear ImamAbuMuhammad (a.s.) any longer, forhe

sawandheardpeopleeverywhenandeverywhereglorifytheimamandpreferhimtoalltheAlawidsand theAbbasids.Finally,hemadeuphismind todoawaywith the imam.Heassassinatedhimbypoisoninghim.[480]Thepoisonreactedonhisbody,andhebegansufferingbitterandseverepains,whilebeingpatient,resortingtoAllah.

TheGovernment’sConfusion

TheAbbasidgovernmentwasveryconfusedwhenImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.)becameseriously

ill.Al-Mu’tamid ordered five of his trusted statesmen, amongwhomwasNahrir, to remain in theimam’s house and report to him about every new happening. He also ordered a committee ofphysicians to test the imam’shealthdayandnight.After twodays,heordered thephysiciansnot toleavetheimamalonebecausehisstatewasverygrievous.[481]

ToTheBestofAbodes

The imams’ health gotworse, and the physicianswere despondent of his recovery.Death began

approachinghimquickly.Atthoselastmomentsofhislife,ImamAbuMuhammad(a.s.),mentionedAllah,glorifiedHim,andprayedHimtotakehimnearertoHim.HislipswerebusyrecitingversesfromtheHolyQur'an.HeturnedtowardstheQiblah,andafternotlong,hispuresoulflewtowardstheHeavensurroundedbytheangelsoftheBeneficentLord.ItwasthegreatestlossMuslimssufferedinthatage.Theylosttheirleader,reformer,andinstructor

wholovedandhelpedtheirweak,poor,andorphans.Theimam’sbodywas(ritually)washed,enshrouded,putinthecoffin,andcarriedtobeprayedon

byMuslims.Eesasonofal-Mutawakkil led theprayerbyal-Mu’tamid’sorder.After theprayer,heuncovered the imam’s facebefore theHashemites, theAbbasids, army leaders, government clerks,stateofficials,judges,andphysiciansandsaidtothem,‘Thisisal-HasanbinAlibinMuhammadbinar-Redha(peacebeonthem).Hediedanaturaldeathinhisbed.So-and-soofAmeerulMu’minin’s(al-Mu’tamid) servants and trusted men, So-and-so of judges, and So-and-so of physicians werepresentwithhim.’Thenhecoveredhisholyface.[482]ThepainfulnewsspreadeverywhereinSamarra’.ItwasagreatshockforMuslimswhohurriedup

tothe imam’shousewhilecryingandweeping.Governmentofficesandallmarketswereclosed.ItwasliketheDayofResurrectioninSamarra’.[483]Samarra’ had neverwitnessed before, a day of escorting like this.Waves of human beings and

flowingmassesofpeoplefromallclassesandsocietiescametoescorttheholycorpseofthispureimam(a.s.)whilementioninghisvirtuesandfavorsandtalkingwithgreatsorrowandregretaboutthegreatlosstheywereafflictedwith.

InHisLastAbode

Thepurecorpsewasbroughtunderahalooftakbirandtahlil[484]towardsthelastabode.Imam

AbuMuhammad(a.s.)wasburiedinhishousebesidethetombofhisfatherImamal-Hadi(a.s.).Samarra’hadtwoimamsfromthetwelveimamsandleadersofMuslims,anditbecameoneofthe

chief holy places in the Muslim world. It received and still receives thousands of visitors fromeverywhereintheworldwhocametovisitthetwoholyshrinesofImamal-HadiandImamal-Askari(peacebeonthem).Once, an-Nasir Lideenillah, the Abbasid caliph, visited the holy shrines of these two infallible

imamstobeblessedandclosetoAllah.HisviziersuggestedtohimthathemightvisitthetombsofhisfathersoftheAbbasidkingsandheagreed.Whenhereachedthere,hefoundthegravesdarkandmiserablewheresweepingswereaccumulatedandcrowsgathered.Thevizieraskedthekingtotakecareandpaymoneytorebuildthesegraves,buttheAbbasidkingsaid,‘Howfar!Thatisofnouse.’Thevizierasked,‘why,OAmeerulMu’minin?’Hesaid,‘Didyouseetheflourishingtombsofthepureimams?’Theviziersaid,‘Yes.’Thekingasked,‘Doyouknowthesecretbehindthat?’Thevizieranswered,‘No.’An-Nasir Lideenillah said, ‘My fathers associated with Satan, and thesemasters associated with

Allah, and all that which is for Allah remains, and all that which is for Satan perishes anddisappears.’[485]TheAlawids,theAbbasids,andJa’far,ImamAbuMuhammad’sbrothersstoodatthetombandthe

massesofpeoplebeganconsolingthemforthispainfulaffliction.

TheDateofHisDeath

ImamAbuMuhammadal-Askari(a.s.)lefttothebetterworldontheeighthofRabee’ulAwwal[486]

intheyear twohundredandsixtyofhijra,[487]whilehewastwenty-eightyearsoldandstill in theprimeofyouth.[488]Notes:[472]Kifayatal-Athar.[473]IlliyinisthehighestpositionintheParadise.[474]IkmaluddeenbySheikhas-Saduq,p.216-217.[475]Thosewhodefinescertaindatesforthereappearanceoftheawaitedimam(a.s.).[476]Kifayatal-Athar.[477]Kifayatal-Athar,Ikmaluddeen,p.228.[478]Kifayatal-Athar.[479]Muhajad-Da’awat,p.274.[480]Al-Irshad,p.383.[481]Al-Irshad,p.383.[482]Al-Irshad,p.383.[483]Al-Irshad,p.383,Encyclopediaofal-Bustani,vol.7p.45.[484]Takbiristhesaying“AllahuAkbar-Allahisgreat”andtahlilisthesaying“laillahaillallah-

thereisnogodbutAllah”.[485]Kashfal-Ghummah.[486]TareekhBaghdad,vol.7p.366.[487]Mir ’at al-Jinan, vol.2 p.462,Tareekh al-Khamees, vol.2 p.343,Tareekh ibn al-Wardi, vol.1

p.325.[488]Jami’al-Akhbar,p.42,Akhbarad-Duwal,p.117,al-Irshad,p.389.

16ChapterTheZiyarahofImamAl-HasanAl-Askari

Translatedby:BadrShahin

Shaykh al-Tusi has reported through a considerable series of narrators that Imam al-Hasan al-

Askari (a.s.) said, “Mygravewill be in Surra-man-Ra’a (currentlySamarra). Itwill be shelter forboth the parties.” Explaining this saying, Shaykh al-Majlisi says that ‘both the parties’ means theShi’ahandtheSunnah.ThismeansthatthevirtueoftheImam(a.s.)includesbothhisadherentsandhisenemies.Similarly,theholytombofImamal-Kazim(a.s.)andImamal-Jawad(a.s.)isshelterforthepeopleofBaghdad.SayyidIbnTawussaysthatonceyouintendtovisittheholytombofImamal-Hasanal-Askari(a.s.),

youmaydothefollowinginthebeginning:OnceyouarriveinSamarra,youmaywashyourself(traditionally,thisbathingiscalled‘thebath

ofZiyarah’),putonthecleanestofyourclothes,walkwithgravityandtranquility to the tomb,andwhenyoureachatthegateoftheholymausoleum,youmaysaythefollowingasaformofseekingpermissiontoenter:

OtheProphetofAllah;mayIenter? A’adkhuluYaaNabiyyal-Laah(I) ؟ هللا يبن ای لخدأأ

O the Commander of the Believers; may Ienter? A’adkhuluYaaAmeeral-Mu`Mineen(A) ؟ نینمؤملا ریمأ ای لخدأأ

O Fatimah al-Zahraa, the Leader of thewomenoftheworld;mayIenter?

A’adkhulu Yaa Faat’imataz-Zahraa`USayyidataNisaa`Il-‘Aalameen(A)

ءارهزلا ةمطاف ای لخدأأ؟ نیملاعلا ءاسن ةدیس

Omymaster,al-HasanibnAli;mayIenter? A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya Al-H’asanubna‘Aliyy(In)

نسحلا يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ يلع نب

Omymaster,al-HusaynibnAli;mayIenter? A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya Al-H’usaynubna‘Aliyy(In)

نیسحلا يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ يلع نب

Omymaster,Aliibnal-Husayn;mayIenter? A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya ‘Aliyyubnal-H’usayn(I)

نب يلع يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ نیسحلا

Omymaster,MuhammadibnAli;mayIenter? A’adkhuluYaaMawlaayaMuh’ammadubna‘Aliyy(In)

نب دمحم يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ يلع

O my master, Ja’far ibn Muhammad; may Ienter?

A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya Ja’farubnaMuh’ammad(In)

نب رفعج يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ دمحم

Omymaster,MusaibnJa’far;mayIenter? A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya MoosabnaJa’far(In)

نب ىسوم يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ رفعج

A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya ‘Aliyyubna نب يلع يالوم ای لخدأأ

Omymaster,AliibnMusa;mayIenter? Muh’ammad(In) ؟ ىسوم

Omymaster,MuhammadibnAli;mayIenter? A’adkhuluYaaMawlaayaMuh’ammadubna‘Aliyy(In)

نب دمحم يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ يلع

Omymaster,Abu’l-HasanAliibnMuhammad;mayIenter?

A’adkhuluYaaMawlaayaYaaAbal-H’asani‘AliyyibniMuh’ammad(In)

ابأ ای يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ دمحم نب يلع نسحلا

Omymaster, Abu-Muhammad al-Hasan ibnAli;mayIenter?

A’adkhulu Yaa Mawlaaya Yaa AbaaMuh’ammadinil-H’asanibni‘Aliyy(In)

ابأ ای يالوم ای لخدأأ؟ يلع نب نسحلا دمحم

O the angels of Allahwhomare assigned tomanagethisholymausoleum;mayIenter?

A’adkhulu Yaa Malaa`Ikatal-Laahil-Muwakkaleena Bihaadhal-H’aramish-Shareef(I)

هللا ةكئالم ای لخدأأمرحلا اذهب نیلكوملا

؟ فیرشلا

Then,youmayenter theholymausoleumwithyour right footandwhenyoustopnear the tomb

facing it and giving your back to the kiblah direction, youmay repeat the following one hundredtimes:

AllahistheGreatest AllaahuAkbar(U) ربكأ هللاأ

Then,youmaysaythefollowingformofZiyarah:

Peacebeuponyou,OmyMaster: Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaMawlaay(A) يالوم ای كیلع مالسلا

Abu-Muhammadal-HasansonofAli; Yaa Abaa Muh’ammadinil-H’asanib-Ni‘Aliyy(In)

نسحلا دمحم ابأ ایيلع نب

Theguide,thewell-guided Al-Haadil-Muhtadee يدتهملا يداهلا

Allah’smercyandblessingsbeuponyou. Wa Rah’matul-Laahi WaBarakaatuh(U) هتاكربو هللا ةمحرو ،

Peace be upon you,O the intimate servant of AllahandthesonofAllah’sintimateservants.

Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaWaliyyal-LaahiWabnaAwliyaa`Ih(Ee)

يلو ای كیلع مالسلاهئایلوأ نباو هللا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OthedecisiveArgumentofAllahandthesonofAllah’sdecisiveArguments.

Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaH’ujjatal-LaahiWabnaH’ujajih(Ee)

ةجح ای كیلع مالسلاهججح نباو هللا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OtheeliteofAllahandthesonofAllah’seliteones.

Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaS’afiyyal-LaahiWabnaAs’fiyaa`Ih(Ee)

يفص ای كیلع مالسلاهئایفصأ نباو هللا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OtherepresentativeofAllah,andthesonofAllah’srepresentativesandthefatherofHisrepresentative.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Khaleefatal-LaahiWabna Khulafaa`IheeWa AbaaKhaleefatih(Ee)

ةفیلخ ای كیلع مالسلاابأو هئافلخ نباو هللاهتفیلخ ،

Peace be upon you, O son of the Seal of theProphets.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka YabnaKhaataman-Nabiyyeen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانییبنلا متاخ ،

Peace be upon you, O son of the Chief of theProphets’Successors.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yabna Sayyidil-Was’iyyeen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانییصولا دیس ،

Peacebeuponyou,OsonoftheCommanderoftheFaithfulbelievers.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yabna Ameeril-Mu`Mineen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانینمؤملا ریمأ ،

Peacebeuponyou,Osonoftheleaderofallwomenoftheworld.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yabna SayyidatiNisaa`Il-‘Aalameen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانیملاعلا ءاسن ةدیس ،

Peacebeuponyou,Osonoftheguidingleaders. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yabnal-A`Immatil-Haadeen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانیداهلا ةمئالا ،

Peace be upon you, O son of the orthodoxsuccessors(oftheProphets).

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yabnal-Aws’iyaa`Ir-Raashieen(A)

نب ای كیلع مالسلانیدشارلا ءایصوالا ،

Peacebeuponyou,Otheshelterofthepiousones. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa ‘Is’matal-Muttaqeen(A)

ای كیلع مالسلانیقتملا ةمصع ،

Peacebeuponyou,Otheleaderofthewinningparty. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Imaamal-Faa`Izeen(A)

مامإ ای كیلع مالسلانیزئافلا ،

Peace be upon you, O the haven of the (true)believers.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Ruknal-Mu`Mineen(A)

نكر ای كیلع مالسلانینمؤملا ،

Peace be upon you, O the relief of the aggrievedones.

Assalaam ‘Alayka Yaa Farajal-Malhoofeen(A)

جرف ای كیلع مالسلانیفوهلملا ،

Peacebeuponyou,O theheirof theProphets—thechosenones.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Waarithal-Anbiyaa`Il-Muntajabeen(A)

ثراو ای كیلع مالسلانیبجتنملا ءایبنالا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OthekeeperoftheknowledgeofthesuccessorofAllah’sMessenger.

Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaKhaazina‘IlmiWas’iyyiRasoolil-Laah(I)

نزاخ ای كیلع مالسلالوسر يصو ملع

هللا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OhewhoinvitestothejudgmentofAllah.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Ayyuhad-Daa’eeBih’ukmil-Laah(I)

اهیأ كیلع مالسلاهللا مكحب يعادلا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OhewhospeakswiththeBookofAllah.

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Ayyuhan-Naat’iquBikitaabil-Laah(I)

اهیأ كیلع مالسلاهللا باتكب قطانلا ،

Peacebeuponyou,OtheprimeArgumentofall thearguments(ofAllah).

Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa H’ujjatal-H’ujaj(I)

ةجح ای كیلع مالسلاججحلا ،

Peacebeuponyou,Otheguideofallnations. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Haadil-Umam(I)

يداه ای كیلع مالسلاممالا ،

Peacebeuponyou,Othesourceofallbounties. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Waliyyan-Ni’am(I)

يلو ای كیلع مالسلامعنلا ،

Peacebeuponyou,Othestoreofknowledge. Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaa‘Aybatal-‘Ilm(I) ةبیع ای كیلع مالسلاملعلا ،

Peacebeuponyou,Othearkofforbearance. Assalaamu ‘Alayka Yaa Safeenatal-H’ilm(I)

ةنیفس ای كیلع مالسلاملحلا ،

Peace be upon you, O the father of the AwaitedImam:

Assalaamu‘AlaykaYaaAbal-Imaamil-Muntaz’ar(I)

ابأ ای كیلع مالسلارظتنملا مامالا ،

Whoseclaimisevidentfortherationalpeople; Az’-Z’aahiratiLil-‘AaqiliH’ujjatuh(Oo) لقاعلل ةرهاظلاهتجح ،

Whoserecognitionisfixedinthemostcertainthings; Wath-Thaabitati Fil-YaqeeniMa’rifatuh(Oo)

نیقیلا يف ةتباثلاوهتفرعم ،

Whoisconcealedagainsttheeyesoftheoppressors; Al-Muh’tajabi ‘An A’yuniz’-Z’aalimeen(A)

نیعأ نع بجتحملانیملاظلا ،

Who is hidden from the regimes of the faithlessauthorities;

Wal-Mughayyabi ‘An Dawlatil-Faasiqeen(A)

ةلود نع بیغملاونیقسافلا ،

And throughwhomourLordshall renew Islamagainafteritwillbeeffaced,

Wal-Mu’eedi Rabbunaa Bihil-IslaamaJadeedanBa’dal-Int’imaas(I)

هب انبر دیعملاودعب ادیدج مالسالا

سامطنالا ،

AndHeshallrecovertheQur’anfreshoveragainafteritwillbeeradicated.

Wal-Qur`Aana Ghad’d’an Ba’dal-Indiraas(I)

دعب اضغ نآرقلاوساردنالا ،

Omaster:Ibearwitnessthatyoudidofferprayers, Ash-Hadu Yaa Mawlaaya AnnakaAqamtas’-S’alaa(Ta)

كنأ يالومای دهشأةالصلا تمقأ ،

AndyoudiddefraytheZakat, Wa-Aataytaz-Zakaa(Ta) ةاكزلا تیتآو ،

Andyoudidenjoinedtheright, Wa-AmartaBil-Ma’roof(I) فورعملاب ترمأو ،

Andyoudidforbidthewrong, WaNahayta‘Anil-Munkar(I) ركنملا نع تیهنو ،

AndyoudidcalltothewayofyourLordwithwisdomandgoodlyexhortation,

Wa Da’awta Iaa Sabeeli Rabbika Bil-H’ikmatiWal-Maw-‘Iz’atil-H’asana(Ti)

لیبس ىلإ توعدوةمكحلاب كبرةنسحلا ةظعوملاو ،

AndyoudidworshipAllahsincerelyuntildeathcameuponyou.

Wa ‘Abadtal-LaahaMukhlis’anH’attaaAtaakal-Yaqeen(U)

اصلخم هللا تدبعونیقیلا كاتأ ىتح ،

IthusbeseechAllahinthenameoftherankthatyouenjoywithHim,

As`Alul-Laaha Bish-Sha`Nil-LadheeLakum‘Indah(Oo)

نأشلاب هللا لأسأهدنع مكل يذلا

ThatHemayacceptmyvisittoyou, AnYataqabbalaZiyaarateeLakum مكل يترایز لبقتی نأ ،

AndHemayreceivemyeffortswiththanks, WaYashkuraSa’yeeIlaykum مكیلإ يیعس ركشیو ،

AndHemayrespondtomyprayersthroughyou, WaYastajeebaDu’aa`EeBikum مكب يئاعد بیجتسیو ،

And He may include me with the supporters, thefollowers,andadherentstotheright

Wa Yaj-‘Alanee Min Ans’aaril-H’aqqiWaAtbaa’iheeWaAshyaa’ih(Ee)

راصنأ نم ينلعجیوهعابتأو قحلاهعایشأو

Aswellaswiththedevoteesandtheloversofit. WaMawaaleehiWaMuh’ibbeeh(I) هیبحمو هیلاومو ،

PeaceandAllah’smercyandblessingsbeuponyou. Was-Salaamu ‘AlaykaWaRah’matul-LaahiWaBarakaatuh(Oo)

ةمحرو كیلع مالسلاوهتاكربو هللا .

Youmaythenkisstheholytomb,putyourrightandthenyouleftcheekonit,andsaythefollowing: مث ، هیلع نمیألا كدخ عضو هحیرض لبق مث

لقو رسیألا :

O Allah: (please do) send blessings upon our masterMuhammadanduponhisHousehold,

AllaahummS’alli ‘AlaaSayyidinaaMuh’ammadinWaAhliBaytih(Ee)

اندیس ىلع لص مهللاهتیب لهأو دمحم ،

Andsendblessingsuponal-Hasan,sonofAli,whoguidestoYourreligion,

Wa S’alli ‘Alal-H’asanibnin‘Aliyyinil-HaadeeIlaaDeenik(A)

نب نسحلا ىلع لصوىلإ يداهلا يلعكنید ،

WhocallstoYourway, Wad-Daa’eeIlaaSabeelik(A) كلیبس ىلإ يعادلاو ،

Thesignoftrueguidance ‘Alamil-Hudaa ىدهلا ملع ،

Thelanternoftruepiety WaManaarit-Tuqaa ىقتلا رانمو ،

Theessenceofrationality WaMa’dinil-H’ijaa ىجحلا ندعمو ،

Theresourceofreason WaMa`Wan-Nuhaa ىهنلا ىوأمو ،

Therainingcloudovermankind WaGhaythil-Waraa ىرولا ثیغو ،

Thecloudofwisdom WaSah’aabil-H’ikma(Ti) ةمكحلا باحسو ،

Theoceanofadmonition WaBah’ril-Maw’iz’a(Ti) ةظعوملا رحبو ،

TheheiroftheImams WaWaarithil-A`Imma(Ti) ةمئالا ثراوو ،

Thewitnessoverthe(Muslim)community Wash-Shaheedi‘Alal-Umma(Ti) ةمالا ىلع دیهشلاو ،

Thesinless,thewell-mannered, Al-Ma’s’oomil-Muhadhdhab(I) بذهملا موصعملا ،

Thevirtuous,thefavorite(byAllah), Wal-Faad’ilil-Muqarrab(I) برقملا لضافلاو ،

Thepurifiedagainstfilth Wal-Mut’ahhariMinar-Rijs(I) سجرلا نم رهطملاو ،

The one whom You have given the knowledge of the(Holy)Bookininheritance,

Alladhee Warrathtahoo ‘Ilmal-Kitaab(I)

ملع هتثرو يذلاباتكلا ،

AndYouhavegivenclearjudgment, WaAlhamtahooFas’lal-Khit’aab(I) لصف هتمهلأوباطخلا ،

AndYouhaveappointedhimastheleadingsignforthosewhofollowthedirectionYouhavedecided,

Wa Nas'abtahoo ‘Alaman Li-AhliQiblatik(A)

لهأل املع هتبصنوكتلبق ،

AndYouhavedecidedtheobediencetohimtobeattachedtotheobediencetoYou

Wa Qaranta T’aa’atahooBit’aa’atik(A)

هتعاط تنرقوكتعاطب ،

And You have imposed the love for him upon all Yourcreatures.

WaFarad’taMawaddatahoo ‘AlaaJamee’iKhaleeqatik(A)

ىلع هتدوم تضرفوكتقیلخ عیمج ،

OAllah: on account of the fact that he always turned toyouwithexcellentsincerityinYourOneness,

Allaahumma Fakamaa AnaabaBih’usnil-Ikhlaas’i FeeTawh’eedik(A)

بانأ امكف مهللايف صالخالا نسحب

كدیحوت ،

And he always argued and defeated those whoanthropomorphizedYou

Wa Ardaa Man Khaad’a FeeTashbeehik(A)

يف ضاخ نم ىدرأوكهیبشت ،

And he always defended thosewho faithfully believed inYou;

Wa H’aamaa ‘An Ahlil-EemaaniBik(A)

لهأ نع ىماحوكب نامیالا ،

So, Omy Lord, (please) cover him with Your blessingsdue to which he joins the rank of those who behavehumblytowardsYou,

Fas’alliYaaRabbi‘AlayhiS’alaatanYalh’aqu Bihaa Mah’allal-Khaashi’eeen(A)

هیلع برای لصفلحم اهب قحلی ةالص

نیعشاخلا ،

And due to which he surmounts to the rank of hisforefather—theSealoftheProphets,

Wa Ya’loo Fil-Jannati BidarajatiJaddihee Khaatamin-Nabiyyeen(A)

ةنجلا يف ولعیومتاخ هدج ةجردبنییبنلا ،

And(pleasedo)conveytohimgreetingsandcomplimentsfromus,

Waballigh-Hu Minnaa Tah’iyyatanWaSalaamaa(N)

ةیحت انم هغلبوامالسو ،

And(pleasedo)grantusfavorandbenevolencefromYou,onaccountofourloyaltytohim

Wa Aatinaa Min Ladunka FeeMuwaalaatihee Fad’lan WaIh’saanaa(N)

يف كندل نم انتآوالضف هتالاوماناسحإو

Andalsograntusforgivenessandgratification, Wa Maghfiratan WaRid’waanaa(N) اناوضرو ةرفغمو ،

ForYouare,mostcertainly, theLordofenormous favorandhugebliss.

InnakaDhooFad’lin‘Az’eeminWaManninJaseem(In)

، میظع لضف وذ كنإمیسج نمو .

You may then offer the (two-Rak’ah) Ziyarah Prayer and say the followingthereafter: تغرف اذإف ةرایزلا ةالص يلصت مث

لق :

OAll-eternalLord,OAll-everlasting, YaaDaa`ImuYaaDaymoom(U) مومید ای مئاد ای ،

OEver-living,OAll-subsisting, YaaH’ayyuYaaQayyoom(U) مویق ای يح ای ،

ORelieverofagoniesandgriefs YaaKaashifal-KarbiWal-Hamm(I) مهلاو بركلا فشاك ای ،

OSootherofanguishes, WaYaaFaarijal-Ghamm(I) مغلا جراف ایو ،

OAppointeroftheMessengers, WaYaaBaa’ithar-Rusul(I) لسرلا ثعاب ایو ،

OTruthfultowhatHepromises, WaYaaS’aadiqal-Wa’d(I) دعولا قداص ایو ،

OEver-living,thereisnodeitysaveYou WaYaaH’ayyuLaaIlaahaIllaaAnt(A) تنأ الإ هلإ ال يح ایو ،

I beg You in the name of Your two dear ones:Muhammad

Atawassalu Ilayka Bi-H’abeebaykaMuh’ammad(In) دمحم كبیبحب كیلإ لسوتأ

And his successor, Ali—his cousin and thehusbandofhisdaughter,

WaWas’iyyihee ‘Aliyyinibni ‘AmmiheeWaS’ihrihee‘Alabnatih(Ee)

همع نبا يلع هیصووهتنبا ىلع هرهصو

BybothofwhomYouhavesealedYourlaws Alladhayni Khatamta Bihimash-Sharaa`I’(A) عئارشلا امهب تمتخ نیذلا ،

And by both of whom You have openedinterpretationandYourpioneeringordains,

Wa Fatah’ta Bihimat-Ta`Weela Wat’-T’alaa`I’(A)

لیوأتلا امهب تحتفوعئالطلاو ،

So,(pleasedo)senduponbothofthemblessings Fas’alli ‘Alayhimaa S’alaatan Yash- دهشی ةالص امهیلع لصف

thatarewitnessedbytheancientandthecominggenerations,

Hadu Bihal-Awwaloona Wal-Aakhiroon(A)

نورخآلاو نولوالا اهب ،

And by which the intimate servants and therighteousonesaresaved,

Wa Yanjoo Bihal-Awliyaa`U Was’-S’aalih’oon(A)

ءایلوالا اهب وجنیونوحلاصلاو ،

And I also begYou in the nameof Fatimah theLuminous,themotherofthewell-guidedImams,

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Bi-Faat’imataz-Zahraa`I Waalidatil-A`Immatil-Mahdiyyeen(A)

ةمطافب كیلإ لسوتأوةمئالا ةدلاو ءارهزلانییدهملا ،

AndtheLeaderofallwomenoftheworld, WaSayyidatiNisaa`Il-‘Aalameen(A) نیملاعلا ءاسن ةدیسو ،

Who shall be allowed to intercede for thefollowersofherimmaculatedescendants,

Al-Mushaffa’atiFeeShii’atiAwlaadihat’-T’ayyibeen(A)

اهدالوأ ةعیش يف ةعفشملانیبیطلا ،

So,(pleasedo)senduponherblessingsthatareasendlessasages

Fas’alli ‘AlayhaaS’alaatanDaa`ImatanAbadal-Aabideen(A)

دبأ ةمئاد ةالص اهیلع لصفنیدبآلا ،

Andasendlessastimes. WaDahrad-Daahireen(A) نیرهادلا رهدو ،

AndIalsobegYouinthenameofal-Hasan—thepleased,

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Bil-H’asanir-Rad’iyy(I)

نسحلاب كیلإ لسوتأويضرلا

Theinfallible,andthepure— At’-T’aahiriz-Zakiyy(I) يكزلا رهاطلا ،

And in the name of al-Husayn—the oppressed,thepleased,thepious,andtherighteous—

Wal-H’usaynil-Maz’loomil-Mard’iyyil-Barrit-Taqiyy(I)

يضرملا مولظملا نیسحلاويقتلا ربلا ،

(they both are) the masters of the youth ofParadise, SayyidayShabaabiAhlil-Janna(Ti) ةنجلا لهأ بابش يدیس

ThetwovirtuousandinfallibleImams Al-Imaamaynil-Khayyiraynit’-T’ayyibayn(I) نیبیطلا نیریخلا نیمامالا

Thepious,thepure, At-Taqiyyaynin-Naqiyyayn(I) نییقنلا نییقتلا

Theimmaculate,themartyred At’-T’aahiraynish-Shaheedayn(I) نیدیهشلا نیرهاطلا

Theoppressed,theslain; Al-Maz’loomaynil-Maqtoolayn(I) نیلوتقملا نیمولظملا ،

So, (please do) send upon them blessingswheneverthesunrisesandsets;

Fas’alli ‘Alayhimaa Maa T’ala’atShamsunWaMaaGharabat

تعلط ام امهیلع لصفتبرغ امو سمش

Blessingsthatareconsecutiveandsuccessive. S’alaatan MutawaaliyatanMutataaliya(Tan) ةیلاتتم ةیلاوتم ةالص ،

AndIalsobegYouinthenameofAlisonofal-Husayn—thechiefoftheworshippers,

Wa Atawassalu Ilayk Bi-‘Aliyyibnil-H’usayniSayyidil-‘Aabideen(A)

نب يلعب كیلإ لسوتأونیدباعلا دیس نیسحلا ،

Andtheconcealedforfearoftheoppressors— Al-Mah’joobi Min Khawfiz’-Z’aalimeen(A)

فوخ نم بوجحملانیملاظلا ،

And in the name of Muhammad son of Ali, al-Baqir (i.e. the one who splits knowledge), thepure,

Wa Bimuh’ammadibni ‘Aliyyinil-Baaqirit’-T’aahir(I)

رقابلا يلع نب دمحمبورهاطلا

Theglowinglight. An-Nooriz-Zaahir(I) رهازلا رونلا

(theybothare)thetwoImamsandmasters, Al-Imaamaynis-Sayyidayn(I) نیدیسلا نیمامالا ،

Thekeystoblessings, Miftaah’ayil-Barakaat(I) تاكربلا يحاتفم ،

Andthelanternsinthemurk. WaMis’baah’ayiz’-Z’ulumaat(I) تاملظلا يحابصمو ،

So,(please)sendblessingsuponthemwhenevernightcomes, Fas’alli‘AlayhimaaMaaSaraaLayl(Un) لیل ىرس ام امهیلع لصف

Andwheneverdaylightrises, WaMaaAd’aa`ANahaar(Un) راهن ءاضأ امو

Suchceaselessblessings. S’alaatanTaghdooWaTarooh’(U) حورتو ودغت ةالص ،

AndIalsobegYou in thenameofJa’farsonofMuhammad—

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Bi-Ja’faribniMuh’ammad(In)

نب رفعجب كیلإ لسوتأودمحم

ThetruthfulinwhatheconveysfromAllah, As’-S’aadiqi‘Anil-Laah(I) هللا نع قداصلا ،

ThespokesmanofAllah’sknowledge— Wan-Naat’iqiFee‘Ilmil-Laah(I) هللا ملع يف قطانلاو ،

AndinthenameofMusasonofJa’far, WaBimoosabniJa’far(In) رفعج نب ىسومبو

Theself-righteousservant(ofAllah), Al-‘Abdis’-S’aalih’iFeeNafsih(Ee) هسفن يف حلاصلا دبعلا ،

Andthewell-whishersuccessor(oftheProphet). Wal-Was’iyyin-Naas’ih’(I) حصانلا يصولاو ،

(They both are) the two guiding andwell-guidedImams,

Al-Imaamaynil-Haadiyaynil-Mahdiyyayn(I) نییدهملا نییداهلا نیمامالا

Thetwoadequate,rightImams. Al-Waafiyaynil-Kaafiyayn(I) نییفاكلا نییفاولا ،

So,(please)senduponthemblessingswheneveranangelglorifiesYou

Fas’alli‘AlayhimaaMaaSabbah'aLakaMalak(Un)

كل حبس ام امهیلع لصفكلم ،

Andwheneveraplanetmoves. WaTah’arrakaLakaFalak(Un) كلف كل كرحتو ،

Suchincreasableandgrowingblessings S’alaatanTunmaaWaTazeed(U) دیزتو ىمنت ةالص ،

Thatneitherendnorstop. WaLaaTafnaaWaLaaTabeed(U) دیبت الو ىنفت الو ،

AndIalsobegYou in thenameofAli ibnMusa,thewell-pleased

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Bi-‘AliyyibniMoosar-Rid’aa

نب يلعب كیلإ لسوتأواضرلا ىسوم ،

And in the name of Muhammad son of Ali, thewell-contented—

Wa Bimuh’ammadibni ‘Aliyyinil-Murtad’aa ىضترملا يلع نب دمحمبو

ThetwopurifiedandselectedImams, Al-Imaamaynil-Mut’ahharaynil-Muntajabayn(I)

نیرهطملا نیمامالانیبجتنملا ،

So,(please)senduponthemblessingswhenevermorningglowsandendures,

Fas’alli ‘Alayhimaa Maa Ad’aa`AS’ubh’unWaDaam(A)

ءاضأ ام امهیلع لصفمادو حبص

Such blessings that take themup to the rank ofYourpleasureinthehighestlevelofYourgardensofParadise.

S’alaatan Turaqqeehimaa IlaaRid’waanikaFil-‘IlliyyeenaMinJinaanik

كناوضر ىلإ امهیقرت ةالصكنانج نم نییلعلا يف ،

I also beg You in the name of Ali son ofMuhammad,theorthodox,

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Bi-‘AliyyinibniMuh’ammadinir-Raashid

نب يلعب كیلإ لسوتأودشارلا دمحم

Andinthenameofal-HasanibnAli,theguide; Wal-H’asanibni‘Aliyyinil-Haadee يداهلا يلع نب نسحلاو

(The two Imams) who supervise the affairs ofYourservants, Al-Qaa`ImayniBi`Amri‘Ibaadik(A) كدابع رمأب نیمئاقلا ،

(the two Imams) whom are also tested byunbearableordeals,

Al-Mukhtabarayni Bil-Mih’anil-Haa`Ila(Ti) ةلئاهلا نحملاب نیربتخملا ،

And who acted patiently against the swervingenmities. Was’-S’aabirayniFil-Ih’anil-Maa`Ila(Ti) نحالا يف نیرباصلاو

ةلئاملا ،

So, (please do) send upon them blessings thatare suitable enough to be the reward of theenduringpeople,

Fas’alli ‘Alayhimaa Kifaa`A Ajris’-S’aabireen(A)

رجأ ءافك امهیلع لصفنیرباصلا ،

Andthatareworthbeingtheprizeofthewinners, WaIzaa`AThawaabil-Faa`Izeen(A) نیزئافلا باوث ءازإو

Such blessings that pave for them the way toexaltation.

S’alaatan Tumahhidu Lahumar-Rif’a(Ta) ةعفرلا امهل دهمت ةالص ،

And IalsobegYou,OLord, in thenameofourImam,

Wa Atawassalu Ilayka Yaa Rabbi Bi-Imaaminaa

بر ای كیلإ لسوتأوانمامإب ،

Therisinginourages, WaMuh’aqqiqiZamaaninaa اننامز ققحمو ،

Thepromisedday, Al-Yawmil-Maw’ood(I) دوعوملا مویلا ،

Thewitnessedobserver Wash-Shaahidil-Mash-Hood(I) دوهشملا دهاشلاو ،

Theluminouslight Wan-Nooril-Az-Har(I) رهزالا رونلاو ،

Thebrightillumination Wad’-D’iyaa`Il-Anwar(I) رونالا ءایضلاو ،

Thesupportedbymeansofawe Al-Mans’ooriBir-Ru’b(I) بعرلاب روصنملا ،

Andthetriumphantwithhappiness. Wal-Muz’affariBis-Sa’aada(Ti) ةداعسلاب رفظملاو ،

So,(please)senduponhimblessingsthatareasmanyasthenumberoffruits Fas’alli‘Alayhi‘Adadath-Thamar(I) رمثلا ددع هیلع لصف ،

Andasmanyastheleavesoftrees, WaAwraaqish-Shajar(I) رجشلا قاروأو ،

Andasmanyastownspeople WaAjzaa`Il-Madar(I) ردملا ءازجأو ،

Andasmanyashairsofpeopleandanimals Wa‘Adadash-Sha’riWal-Wabar(I) ربولاو رعشلا ددعو ،

And as many as all things that Your knowledgeencompasses

Wa ‘Adada Maa Ah’aat’a Bihee‘Ilmuk(A) كملع هب طاحأ ام ددعو ،

AndYouBookcounts, WaAh’s’aahuKitaabuk(A) كباتك هاصحأو ،

Such blessings due to which all the ancient andthelastgenerationsenvyhim.

S’alaatan Yaghbit’uhoo Bihal-AwwaloonaWal-Aakhiroon(A)

نولوالا اهب هطبغی ةالصنورخآلاو .

OAllah:(pleasedo)includeuswithhisgroup, Allaahumma Wah’shurnaa FeeZumratih(Ee) هترمز يف انرشحاو مهللا ،

Andcauseustokeeponobeyinghim, Wah’faz’naa‘AlaaT’aa’atih(Ee) هتعاط ىلع انظفحاو ،

Andguardusthroughhisstate Wah’rusnaaBidawlatih(Ee) هتلودب انسرحاو ،

Andconferuponuswiththeloyaltytohim, WaAt-H’ifnaaBiwilaayatih(Ee) هتیالوب انفحتأو ،

Andgiveusvictoryoverourenemiesasaresultofhispower

Wans’urnaa ‘Alaa A’daa`IheeBi-‘Izzatih(Ee)

انئادعأ ىلع انرصناوهتزعب ،

And include us, O Lord, with those who turn toYouconstantly,

Waj-‘Alnaa Yaa Rabbi Minat-Tawwaabeen(A) نیباوتلا نم بر ای انلعجاو

OthemostMercifulofallthosewhoshowmercy. YaaArh’amar-Raah’imeen(A) نیمحارلا محرأ ای .

OAllah:surely,Iblis,therebel,theaccursed, Allaahumma Wa Inna Ibleesal-Mutamarridal-La’een(A)

درمتملا سیلبإ نإو مهللانیعللا

AskedYou togranthimrespiteso thathewouldmisleadYourcreatures,andYougrantedhimso,

Qadis-Tanz’araka Li-Ighwaa`I KhalqikaFa-Anz’artah(Oo)

كقلخ ءاوغال كرظنتسا دقهترظنأف ،

And he asked You to reprieve him so that hewouldmisguideYourservants,andYoureprievedhim,

Wastamhalaka Li-Id’laali ‘Abeedika FaAmhaltah(Oo)

كدیبع لالضال كلهمتساوهتلهمأف

ThisisbecausehecarriedagoodideaaboutYou. Bisaabiqi‘IlmikaFeeh(I) هیف كملع قباسب

Hethusnestedandgavebirthtomanyhosts. Waqad ‘Ashshasha Wa KathuratJunooduh(Oo) هدونج ترثكو ، ششع دقو ،

So,hisarmieshavebeenovercrowding, Wazdah’amatJuyooshuh(Oo) هشویج تمحدزاو ،

And his propagandists are widespread in all thecornersofthisearth,

WantasharatDu’aatuhooFeeAqt’aaril-Ard’(I)

راطقأ يف هتاعد ترشتناوضرالا ،

AndtheyhavemisleadYourservants, Fa-Ad’alloo‘Ibaadak(A) كدابع اولضأف ،

AnddeformedYourreligion, Wa-AfsadooDeenak(A) كنید اودسفأو ،

Anddisplacedthewordsfromtheirrightplaces, Wa H’arraful-Kalima ‘AnMawaad’i’ih(Ee) هعضاوم نع ملكلا اوفرحو ،

And made Your servants indule in diverserevelries,

Wa Ja’aloo ‘Ibaadaka Shiya’anMutafarriqeen(A)

اعیش كدابع اولعجونیقرفتم ،

Andrebelliousparties. WaAh’zaabanMutamarrideen نیدرمتم ابازحأو ،

And You promised that You would demolish his

(i.e.Iblis)edifice, WaqadWa’adtaNaqd’aBunyaanih(Ee) هناینب ضقن تدعو دقو ،

AndYouwouldtearouthismatters, WaTamzeeqaSha`Nih(Ee) هنأش قیزمتو ،

So,(pleasedo)deadenhissonsandarmies, Fa Ahlik Awlaadahoo WaJuyooshah(Oo) هشویجو هدالوأ كلهأف ،

And purify Your lands from his inventions andfabrications,

Wa T’ahhir Bilaadaka Minikh-Tiraa’aatiheeWakh-Tilaafaatih(Ee)

هتاعارتخا نم كدالب رهطوهتافالتخاو ،

And relieveYour servants fromhis factions andanalogies,

WaArih’‘IbaadakaMinMadhaahibiheeWaQiyaasaatih(Ee)

هبهاذم نم كدابع حرأوهتاسایقو ،

Andmakethedisasterofevilsurroundthem, Waj-‘AlDaa`Iratas-Saw`I‘Alayhim مهیلع ءوسلا ةرئاد لعجاو ،

AndextendYourjustice Wabsut’‘Adlak(A) كلدع طسباو ،

AndgivevictorytoYourreligion, WaAz’-HirDeenak(A) كنید رهظأو ،

AndgivestrengthtoYourintimateservants, WaQawwiAwliyaa`Ak(A) كءایلوأ وقو ،

AndweakenYourenemies, WaAwhinA’daa`Ak(A) كءادعأ نهوأو ،

AndmakeYourintimateservantsinheritthelandsofIblisandthoseofhisfans,

WaAwrithDiyaaraIbleesaWaDiyaaraAwliyaa`IheeAwliyaa`Ak(A)

رایدو سیلبإ راید ثروأوكءایلوأ هئایلوأ ،

And make the fans of Iblis stay forever in theblazingFire WaKhallid-HumFil-Jah’eem(I) میحجلا يف مهدلخو ،

Andmakethemtastefromthepainfultorment, Wa Adhiq-Hum Minal-‘Adhaabil-Aleem(I) میلالا باذعلا نم مهقذأو ،

Andmake thecursesofYou thatarekept in theevilpartof thecreationand in thedeformedpartofthenaturesurroundthemforever,

Waj-‘AlLa’aa`Inakal-Mustawda’ataFeeManaah’isil-KhilqatiWaMashaaweehil-Fit’ratiDaa`Iratan‘Alayhim

ةعدوتسملا كنئاعل لعجاوةقلخلا سحانم يفةرئاد ةرطفلا هیواشمومهیلع

Andcontrolthem, WaMuwakkalatanBihim مهب ةلكومو

Andstrikethemeverymorningandevening WaJaariyatanFeehimKullaS’abaah’inWaMasaa`(In)

حابص لك مهیف ةیراجوءاسمو

Andeverysingleminute. WaGhuduwwinWaRawaah’(In) حاورو ودغو .

OOurLord:(pleasedo)grantusgoodnessinthisworld

Rabbanaa Aatinaa Fid-DunyaaH’asana(Tan) ةنسح ایندلا يف انتآ انبر

Andgoodnessintheworldtocome, WaFil-AakhiratiH’asana(Tan) ةنسح ةرخآلا يفو

Andsaveus,outofYourmercy,fromthetormentofFire.

Wa Qinaa Birah’matika ‘Adhaaban-Naar(I) رانلا باذع كتمحرب انقو

YouaresurelythemostMercifulofallthosewhoshowmercy. YaaArh’amar-Raah’imeen(A) نیمحارلا محرأ ای .

YoumaythenpraytoHimforyourselfandyourbrethren-in-faith. كناوخالو كسفنل بحت امب عدا مث .

PrayerforImamal-Hasanal-Askari

OAllah: (pleasedo)sendblessingsuponal-Hasan,sonofAli,sonofMuhammad,

Allaahumma S’alli ‘Alal-H’asanibni‘AliyyinibniMuh’ammad(In)

نسحلا ىلع لص مهللادمحم نب يلع نب

Theupright,thepious, Al-Barrit-Taqiyy(I) يقتلا ربلا ،

Thehonest,thefaithful, As’-S’aadiqil-Wafiyy(I) يفولا قداصلا ،

Thebrilliantlight An-Nooril-Mudhee`(I) ءيضملا رونلا ،

ThekeeperofYourknowledge, Khaazini‘Ilmik(A) كملع نزاخ ،

AndthereminderofYourOneness, Wal-MudhakkiriBitawh’eedik(A) كدیحوتب ركذملاو ،

AndYourrepresentative, WaWaliyyiAmrik(A) كرمأ يلوو ،

Andthesuccessoroftheleadersofthereligion—theguide,orthodoxones—

Wa Khalafi A`Immatid-Deenil-Hudaatir-Raashideen(A)

ةادهلا نیدلا ةمئأ فلخونیدشارلا ،

AndtheClaimagainsttheinhabitantsofthisworld. Wal-H’ujjati‘AlaaAhlid-Dunyaa ایندلا لهأ ىلع ةجحلاو ،

So,OLord:(pleasedo)sendblessingsuponhim, Fas’alli‘AlayhiYaaRabb(I) بر ای هیلع لصف

InthebestmannerthatYouhaveeversentblessingsuponanyofYoureliteservants,

Afd’ala Maa S’allayta ‘Alaa Ah’adinMinAs’fiyaa`Ik(A)

ىلع تیلص ام لضفأكئایفصأ نم دحأ

And Your Claimants, and the descendants of YourApostles, WaH’ujajikaWaAwlaadiRusulik(A) كلسر دالوأو كججحو

OtheGodoftheWorlds. YaaIlaahal-‘Aalameen(A) نیملاعلا هلإ ای .

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