Sheikh Mufid writes in this regard...

Sheikh Mufid writes in this regard: “He was born at Ṣurya in Medina, the city of the Apostle, in the middle of the month of Dhū al-Ḥijja in the year 212 A.H. (828) [6] “ . Another mentioned date was the 2nd day of Rajab, 212 [7] (1st of October, 827).

His Title and Teknonym Imam Ali ibn Muhammad has several titles including al-Hadi (the guide); al-Naqi (the pure); An-Nasih (loyal); Al-Mutawakkil (reliant on Allah); At-Taqiy (pious, devout); Al-Murtadha (being pleased with Allah); Al-Faqeeh (jurisprudent); Al-Aalim (knowledgeable); Al-Ameen (trustee on religion and life); At-Tayyib (generous, kind-hearted, good-natured); Ar-Rasheed (wise, prudent); Ash-Shaheed (the martyr); Al-Wafiy (loyal) and Al-Khalis (pure from every defect and bad) [8] .

His teknonym was Abu al-Hasan. However, in hadith sources, Imam Ali al-Hadi is known as Abu al-Hasan al-Thalith (the third Abu l-Hasan) while Imam al-Kadhim (a.s) is called Abu al-Hasan al-Awwal (the first Abu l-Hasan) and Imam al-Rida (a.s) is called Abu l-Hasan al-Thani (the second Abu l-Hasan). His Personality and Character Imam Hadi (a.s) just like his father and honorable grandfathers, was a perfect human, possessing all high human virtues.

He resembled his grandfather Imam Ali (a.s) in eloquence and rhetoric, and his grandfather Imam Zayn al-Abidin in piety, worship, and asceticism. Historians mentioned wonderful anecdotes of the high conduct of Imam Hadi (a.s). Imam Hadi (a.s) possesses an unequal mastery of religious sciences and exemplary moral excellence.

While describing him (a.s), Ibn Hajar has said, “Abul Hasan (a.s.) was the holder of his father’s legacy regarding knowledge and generosity [9] .” Because of this, he (a.s) attempted to teach religious sciences to the Muslims, but unfortunately, he faced limitations that hindered his ideal performance. He (a.s) was formally under severe guarding of secret agents, therefore, the Shiites and advocates of Imam (a.s) faced limitations for gaining knowledge from him.

That is why the traditions narrated from him are scarce. However, there are some traditions from Imam Hadi (a.s) about religious principles, ethics, preaching, and various jurisprudential issues in Hadith books. Besides, Imam Hadi (a.s) trained many students, whose names are recorded in history, tradition, and rijal books.