Imam Hassan Asgari’s martyrdom in Iran in 2023:The annual commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hassan al-Askari occurs on the eighth day of Rabi al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. This year, it will be observed on September 23. A descendant of the prophet Muhammad, Al-Askari is regarded as the twelfth of the Twelve Imams. Al-Askari died at the age of 28 on the eighth day of Rabi al-Awwal, which corresponds to approximately December 873 or January 874 based on the Gregorian calendar. The majority of Shias believe al-Askari was poisoned at the instigation of caliph al-Mu’tamid.
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Background of Imam Hassan Asgari’s martyrdom
According to Shia sources, Hasan ibn Ali ibn Muhammad, also known as Hasan al-Askari, was born in Rabi al-Awwal 230 of the Islamic calendar. This would have occurred between November 844 and November 847 on the Gregorian calendar. He was born in Medina or Samarra to Ali al-Hadi, the tenth Shia Imam. At the age of two, Hasan and his father migrated to Samarra. Ja’far, another of al-Hadi’s sons, unsuccessfully attempted to claim the Imamate for himself after al-Hadi’s demise in approximately 868 A.D. However, the majority of al-Hadi’s followers accepted al-Askari as the new Imam.
During his tenure as Imam, the Sunni Abbasid Caliphate closely monitored and harshly limited al-Askari’s contact with the Shia population. In fact, he was given the appellation ‘al-Askari’ because he was required to reside in Samarra, also known as Askar. In addition to the pervasive persecution of Shias by the Caliphate, it has been suggested that the reason for this restriction was some Shia elites’ belief that the eleventh Imam would father the Mahdi. In Islam, the Mahdi is believed to be a messianic savior who will restore true religion and herald in an eight- to nine-year golden age prior to the end of the world.
Al-Askari died at the age of 28 on the eighth day of the month Rabi al-Awwal, between December 873 and January 874 A.D. The majority of Shias believe al-Askari was poisoned at the instigation of caliph al-Mu’tamid. He was interred next to his father at his ancestral home. Subsequently, influential Shia and Sunni patrons converted the residence into a shrine.
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Five essential facts about Samarra
- Samarra is one of the four Islamic holy cities in Iraq.
- Caliph Al-Mu’tasim constructed Samarra in 836 A.D.
- Samarra supplanted Baghdad as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate from 836 to 892 A.D.
- Samarra is situated on the Tigris’ eastern bank.
- The population of Samarra is approximately two hundred thousand.
MARTYRDOM OF IMAM HASSAN ASGARI DATES
| YEAR | DATE | DAY |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | October 4 | Tuesday |
| 2023 | September 24 | Sunday |
| 2024 | September 12 | Thursday |
| 2025 | September 1 | Monday |
| 2026 | August 22 | Saturday |
