(11) THE BIRTH
At dawn, on the 15th Sha'ban 255 A.H., the rays of the
illuminating world shone with a powerful shaft of light
into a human form which became the source of existence
for the universe.
Yes, finally the Divine Promise was fulfilled and Imam
al-Mahdi (a.s.) was born in spite of the efforts of those
who denied him.
It is one of history's miracles that the Umayyids
'Abbasides and other opponents of this Holy Imam
attempted to extinguish this divine light but met with
complete failure.
The cruel and tyrannical caliphs of the Bani 'Abbas
had heard that the Twelfth Imam of the Shi'ites would
establish a just Government and would rule over the east
and west of the world, and would destroy the foundations
of injustice Therefore, to counter this event, they
tortured and shed the blood of the Shi'ites as much as
they could. The conditions of the martyred Shi'ites can
be referred in the books on this subject.
In the year 235 A. H., Mutawakkil, the 'Abbasid
caliph, ordered the Tenth Imam Muhammad al-Hadi (a.s.)
and his family to be shifted from Medina to samarra', his
seat of government, so that he could keep a close watch
on the Imam of the Shi'ites.
Similarly, Mu'tamid, the 'Abbasid caliph, the Pharaoh
of the time, was afraid of the son of Imam Hasan
al-'Askari (a.s.). He formed a group of detectives and
midwives who had the mission of frequently searching
through the houses of the 'Alawiyyin, and especially the
house of Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.), so that if a
newly-born child were found, he could be killed
immediately.
The search to find and kill Imam al- Mahdi (a.s.) was
intensified when Imam Hasan al-'Askari ( a.s.) left this
world for the eternal one. This is because everyone knew
that on that day the command of Divine Leadership
(Imamate) was to be entrusted to the Twelfth Imam, and
the universe would come under his authority.
Shaykh Saduq, the eminent scholar of the Shi'ite
world, writes in Kamalu 'd-din:
"When the holy body of Imam Hasan al-'Askari (
a.s.) was buried and the people went away, the caliph and
his comrades started their efforts to search for his
growing son and inspected the houses carefully."
Shaykh Mufid, a distinguished Shi'ite scholar, also
wrote in Irshad:
"When Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) passed away,
the caliph of that time, pursued his son because the
Shi'ite Imamiyyah's belief was famous and was spread
about that the Shi'ites were awaiting His Eminence."
Mu'tadid one of the tyrant 'Abbasid caliphs who ruled
from 279 to 289 A H., decided all at once to destroy the
entire family of al, Askari when he heard that more than
twenty years had passed since the birth of the son of
Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s ) and that he was still living
in spite of the attempts of the preceding caliph to kill
him.
One of Mu'tadid's officers said:
"Mu'tadid has ordered me and two other persons,
each of us to mount a horse and to proceed to Samarra' in
full speed without even stopping for prayer. He gave us
the address of (Imam) al- Askari and instructed us to
enter his house without his permission and to bring him
the head of whoever we find there."
As a matter of fact, they were unaware that the same
power which had protected the Imam from the former
caliphs would give him protection from his evil, because:
Allah disdains ( nothing) save that He shall
perfect His light,
however much the disbelievers are averse. (Qur'an,
9:32)
Indeed what an immature thought and foolish act it
was! If the Divine Will bears on some matter, can a
person revolt against it and combat it? Is it possible
that definite Divine Promises may not be compiled with?
Or is it possible that the reins of oppressive imposters
who fight against the Divine decree will not cut?
Is it not more amazing that Peerless, Almighty Allah
has shown His power many times before, so that after that
all men should know that if He wishes to give His chosen
servant government and sovereignty and to destroy in
fidelity and irreligiousness through him, then there is
no one who can disrupt His rule?
Fortunately , this sensational story is mentioned in
the Holy Qur'an.
Pharaoh, the great emperor of Egypt, who had great power
and pride, claimed the divinity for himself. He
determined to kill all the youths and boy children of
Bani Isra'il as a result of what he had heard about a son
being born who would destroy his empire and divinity.
He shed the blood of innocents, and banished many
persons to unknown regions; but see how Almighty Allah
restored His Prophet and how the Divine Will worked to
protect the life of Musa (Moses - a.s.) and destroy
Pharaoh:
And We revealed to the mother of Musa, saying,
"Give him suck; and if you fear for him,
launch him on the river. and fear not, nor grieve;
for We will return him to you and make him
one of the Messengers." And took him up
Pharaoh's people, that he might be to them an enemy
and a (cause of their) grief (for) verily Pharaoh and
Haman and their hosts were sinners. . . So
We did restore him to his mother that her age might
be refreshed and that she might not grieve,
and that she might know that the promise of Allah is
(always) true, but most of them know not.
(28:7- 13)
Yes, Allah will protect His Proof (Hujjah) and
will fulfil His promises and glad tidings because His
decision is based on its execution, although most people
do not know it.
Would Allah wish to save the life of Prophet Musa
(a.s.), who was only a messenger to a certain nation and
tribe, and yield the Imam of the Age (Imam-e Zaman)
into the hands of Mu'tamid and Mu'tadid?
Would Allah protect the life of Musa (a.s.) while he
was in the middle of the roaring waves of a river, and
give no security to the Imam of the Age who was in the
house of his father, Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.)?
Would the Sustaining Allah of the Prophet Ibrahim
(Abraham - a.s.) (Whose story is mentioned in the Qur'an)
protect Ibrahim (a.s.) in the middle of the flaming fire,
but allow the Last Pearl of the Prophet's progeny to be a
victim of the lust and anger of the 'Abbasid caliphs?
Really, how do false thinkers and feebleminded people
At dawn, on the middle day of Sha'ban in the year 255
A.H., Imam Hasan al-'Askari (a.s.) beheld the heavenly,
shinning face of his son who was to fulfil all Divine
promises and glad tidings.
Not more than three days had passed after his birth
when the Eleventh Imam took the holy child to his comp
anions 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 companions:
"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 Banu Hashim to mark the happy and auspicious
birthday. 'Uthman ibn Sa'id was charged with this
important work which he undertook in the best way.
From the very beginning; Imam Hasan al-'Askari ( a.s.)
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-Mahdi (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 recognize Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) after the demise
of His Eminence (father)."
Although the affairs of Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) were
unknown to his enemies and opponents, the sincere
Shi'ites gathered the news of this important event.
Some of them were informed by Imam al-'Askari (a.s.)
through a letter. One of the sincere Shi'ites, Ahmad ibn
Is'haq, received a letter from the Imam written in his
own handwriting, saying:
"A son is born to me. Therefore, keep secret the
news of it from people and inform only his near relatives
and particular friends."
Some of the Shi'ites used to pay private visits to
Imam al-'Askari (a.s.) who would take them into the
presence of the Twelfth Imam al-Mahdi (a.s.) who would
guide them. Abu 'Umari and Ahwazi reported:
"Abu Muhammad (Imam Hasan al-'Askari -a.s.)
showed me his son (the Twelfth Imam) and told me, 'This
is your Master (sahib).'"
Some other Shi'ites used to visit Imam al-'Askari
(a.s.) in a group, and if the Imam trusted in them that
they would faithfully keep their visit secret, he would
show them his beloved son.
Mu'awiyah ibn Hakim, Muhammad ibn Ayyub and Muhammad
ibn 'Uthman 'Umari have narrated that:
"We were forty persons who gathered at the house
of Imam Hasan, then His Eminence showed us his son and
said to us, 'This is your Imam and my successor. You
should obey him after me and should not oppose him lest
you perish.'"
Anyhow, from the time of the birth of the Twelfth
"moon" till his Imamate, the Shi'ites used to
go to the Eleventh Imam and congratulate him.
Hasan ibn Hasan al-'Alawi said:
"I went to see Imam Hasan (al-'Askari) in
Samarra' and congratulated him on the birth of his
son."
And 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas al-'Alawi also said:
"I visited Imam al-'Askari (a.s.) in Samarra' and
congratulate him on the birth of his son."
Yes, in this manner was the Imam of the Age (Imam-e
Zaman) born and kept hidden from the reach of
strangers. On some occasions only were virtuous Shi'ites
allowed to see him, until the year 260 A H., when the
Eleventh Imam expired, and by Divine decree the office of
Divine Leadership (Imamate) was vested in the Master of
the Authority (Sahibu 'lAmr).