Not more than three days had passed after his birth when the...

Not more than three days had passed after his birth when the Eleventh Imam took the holy child to his companions and told them: "After me this will be your master of authority and my successor, and he is the "Support’ (al-Qa’im) for whose appearance all people will wait; when the earth is full of injustice and tyranny, he will fill it with peace and justice." At the time of his son’s birth, the Eleventh Imam told some of his companion: "Oppressors were plotting to kill me so that my son would not be born, but now see how great is the power of the All-powerful." Imam Hasan al-’Askari (a.s.), ordered ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) of bread and meat to be distributed among the Bani Hashim to mark the happy and auspicious birthday.

‘Uthmin ibn Sa'id was charged with this important work which he undertook in the best way.26 From the very beginning, Imam Hasan al-’Askari (as.) hide his son from stangers. Read carefully these words of Shaykh Mufid, part of which was quoted above. "Imam Hasan al-’Askari (a.s.) Prepared a true Government for his fruitful son.

He kept secret the birth of his son and other related matters, because His Eminence was living in a difficult time when the caliphs were intensively searching for his son and were keeping a close eye on the affairs of Imam al-’Askari. This is because the Shi’ite Imamiyyah belief about the Imam al-Mehdi (a.s.) had become so current that they were waiting for His Eminence. Hence, Imam Hasan al-’Askari (a.s) did not show his son, and, therefore, the enemies could not…