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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Occultation of the Twelfth Imam (A Historical Background) The Fourth Saf’ir and the Complete Occultation of the Twelfth Imam The Career of the Fourth Saf’ir (326-329/937-941) Al-Tusi reports that Ibn Ruh designated Abu al-Hasan ‘Ali b. Muhammad al-Sammari as his successor[^1]. According to al-Tabarsi, this designation was by the stipulation and order of the Twelfth Imam himself[^2].

His surname is derived from the name of al-Sammar or al-Saymar, situated in one of the districts of Basra, where the relatives of al­-Sammari used to live[^3]. According to al-Mas’udi many members of this family, like al-Hasan and Muhammad, the sons of Isma’il b. Salih and ‘Ali b. Ziyad, had large estates in Basra. They devoted half of the income from these estates to the eleventh Imam, who used to receive it every year and correspond with them[^4].

Moreover, some of al-Sammari s relatives were agents of the Twelfth Imam. Among these was ‘Ali b. Muhammad b. Ziyad, who had also been an agent to the tenth and eleventh Imams and who wrote a book called al - Awsiyya to confirm the Imamate of the Twelfth Imam[^5]. He was the brother-in­law of the vizier Ja’far b. Muhammad, a relationship which enabled him to achieve an important office in the ‘Abbasid administration[^6].

According to al-Kulayni, the Twelfth Imam divulged to him in a letter that his death would occur in 280/893, when it actually occurred[^7]. These points indicate that al-Sammari came from a family whose members were well-known for their Shiite beliefs and their service to the organization.

In fact, such a background was necessary to enable al-Sammari to reach the office of the sifara with little opposition, especially if one takes into consideration the prolonged occultation of the Twelfth Imam, which shook the faith of a considerable body of the Imamites. However, the sifara of al-Sammari was too short-lived to cause any remarkable changes in the relations between him and the other agents.

Although nothing is known about the details of his activities, a report mentioned by al-Saduq makes it clear that the agents recognised him as the rightful Saf’ir and handed the khums over to him[^8]. Al-Sammari died on the 15th of Sha’ban 329/15th May 941 and was buried in al-Khaljani street in the quarter of al-Muhawwal[^9]. According to Yaqut, this quarter was situated to the north of the village of Buratha, on the western side of Baghdad[^10].