He inherited this nature from his great-grandfather the...

He inherited this nature from his great-grandfather the Prophet (PBUHH) whose high morals included all people equally. His high morals affected his enemies and opponents, and they turned out to be his loyal lovers. Imam al-Askari (PBUH) was from the most patient people. He always suppressed his anger and treated whoever wronged him with kindness and forgiveness. The Abbasid Caliphate arrested and put him in prison while he was patient, saying nothing.

He did not complain to anyone about what he suffered, but he entrusted his case to Allah the Almighty. This was from the signs of his patience. Similarly, Imam Abu Muhammad (PBUH) was distinguished by his strong will. The Abbasid rulers tried to involve him in the government body and spared no effort to subject him to their desires, but they failed. The Imam (PBUH) insisted on his independence and keeping away from them.

The Abbasids considered him the only representative of the opposition against their policies that were based on subjugation and oppression. Imam Askari resisted all the seductions that the Abbasid government offered to bring him its way. He preferred the obedience of Allah and the satisfaction of his conscience to everything else. His Imamate After the martyrdom of his father, Imam Ali al-Hadi in 868, the majority of his followers acknowledged his son, al-Askari, as their next Imam.

Other traditions were narrated from the Prophet (PBUHH) concerning the appointing of guardians and caliphs after him among whom was Imam Abu Muhammad al-Askari. These traditions were mentioned in the famous reference books of Hadith and history. Al-Askari’s contact with the Shia population was restricted by the caliphs and instead, he communicated with his followers through a network of representatives.

Hadiths on his Imamate The following are a few of the hadiths that were transmitted from Imam al-Hadi (PBUH) concerning the appointing of his son, Abu Muhammad al-Hasan as the Imam after him. Yahya ibn Yasar al-Anbari said, ‘Abul Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi entrusted his son Abu Muhammad al-Hasan with the matter (Imamate) four months before his martyrdom and made me and some of his adherents bear witness to that.

[13] ’ Ali ibn Umar an-Nawfali said, “Once, I was with Abul Hasan (al-Hadi) (a.s.) in the yard of his house when his son Muhammad (Abu Ja’far) passed by us. I said to him, ‘May I die for you! Is this our man (the imam) after you?’ He said to me, ‘Your man after me is al-Hasan.