The 8th of Rabi al-Awwal marks two important occasions which are intertwined with each other – the martyrdom of the 11th Imam and the beginning of the Imamate of the 12th Imam. Killed at the very young age of 28, Imam Hassan ibne Ali al-Askari (peace be upon him) was one of the youngest Imams to leave this mortal world.
As history tells us, the scholars of Islam knew that the Prophet would be succeeded by twelve Imams. The Prophet had, on numerous occasions, told his nation that there would be twelve Imams after him, all from the tribe of Bani Hashim. These traditions can be found in the Shi’a books and the major books of Hadith of other Muslims.
These traditions also foretold of the plan of the twelfth Imam, especially the removal of oppression and tyranny. The Prophet was quoted as saying that this final Imam would “fill the Earth with justice and equality just as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.” Without doubt, the loss of power, prestige, wealth and authority are things that the usurping powers feared. Thus, their fear meant that they needed to ensure that this twelfth Imam did not come into existence!
Fearing that, with the 11th Imam alive, a son would soon arrive to remove them from their power, the Abbaside authority in the city of Samarrah, some 60 miles north of Baghdad, ensured that the Imam Hassan al-Askari was under close watch. Kept under close guard in the area of Samarrah where the Abbaside army was situated (thus his name al-Askari, which, in Arabic, refers to military troops), the Imam was forced to live his life under difficult conditions.
Even though the Imam lived a peaceful life without direct confrontation with the rulers of his time, his sublime and simple life still caused the caliph Al-Mu’tamid trouble. It is for this reason that in the beginning of Rabi al-Awwal, the caliph administered poison to the Imam in his food. Some days later, on the 8th of the month, the Imam left this world to his permanent abode.
The Imam left behind many treasures, including one short tradition that outlined the signs of a true believer:
- 51 Rakat of Salat per day [17 obligatory and 34 recommended]
- Sajdah on earth [such as the earth of Kerbala]
- Wearing a ring on the right hand
- Recitation of the Bismillah in all Salat out loud
- Performance of Ziyarat of Arbaeen – being in Kerbala on this day to pay respects to the martyrs of Kerbala