He deserves it by his virtue...

He deserves it by his virtue, chastity, guidance, gravity, asceticism, worshiping, good morals, and righteousness…’[^88] Ubayd did not believe in imamate. In fact, he was contrary to that, but the bright reality of Imam Abu Muhammad (a.s.) made him declare that the imam was the worthiest of the caliphate for the high qualities he had. 6.

Sheikh al-Mufid Sheikh al-Mufid said, ‘The imam after Abul Hasan Ali bin Muhammad (al-Hadi) was his son Abu Muhammad al-Hasan bin Ali for he had all high qualities and virtues and he was preferred to all people of his age. He deserved imamate and leadership for his incomparable knowledge, asceticism, perfect mind, infallibility, courage, generosity, and the many good deeds that took him close to Allah…’[^89] 7.

Ibn as-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 a master and a son of a master that no one ever doubts or suspect his imamate. Know that if a good quality was sold, the seller was other than him and he was the buyer…He was the unique of his time with no equal, and he was sole with no like. He was the master of the people of his time and the imam of the people of his age.

His sayings were true and his deeds were praiseworthy. If the good people of his time were as a poem, he would be the main verse of that poem, and if they were organized as a necklace, he was the unique, middle pearl. He was the knight of knowledge that was not possible to keep pace with him, and he was the explainer of mysteries that it was not possible to argue with him. He was the uncoverer of facts by his true thinking, and the discloser of minutes by his sharp reason.

He was the informed in secrecy of the unseen. He was the highborn, of high soul and high essence…’[^90] 8. Bin Shaharshub as-Sarawi Abu Ja’far Rasheedudeen Muhammad bin Ali bin Shahrashub as-Sarawi said about the imam, ‘He was al-Hasan bin Ali the guide, the subjugator of difficulties…He was pure, free from any fault, trustee with the unseen.

He was the essence of gravity with no blemish, humble with liberal hand, modest, true to his word…of little food, of much smiling, patient, the father of the (awaited) successor…’[^91] 9. Ibn Shadqam Ibn Shadqam, the genealogist, said, ‘Al-Hasan al-Askari was a guiding imam, exalted master, and a pure guardian.’[^92] 10.