AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): On Monday, September 9, 2024, the scientific session “Actions of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) to pave the way for the Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.s.)” was held by the AhlulBayt (a.s.) News Agency – ABNA, with the participation of the University of Religions and Denominations, in the meeting hall of the news agency.
In this session, Hojat al-Islam Dr. Fallahzadeh, a faculty member of the University of Religions and Denominations, and Dr. Mohammad Taqi Zakari, the director of the Islamic History Department of this university, explained the actions of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) during his Imamate to pave the way for the Imamate of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) among people and the Shiites of the time.
The Shiites of the age of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) were familiar with Imam Mahdi (a.s.)
At the beginning of this session, referring to the transformation of the concept of Mahdism in the Abbasid reign, Fallahzadeh stated, “The Imamate period of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) was from 868 to 874 AD and after about 120 years from the beginning of Abbasids. During the Abbasid era, the concept of Mahdism no longer referred to one specific person, rather the Abbasid regime considered itself the Mahdism government! In 255 AH the Abbasid government felt that Imam Mahdi (a.s.) was about to be born. Therefore, it increased the pressure on Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) until martyred him, and the imprisonment of the Imam in this period was for this reason.”
The faculty member of the University of Religions and Denominations further continued, “After the birth of Imam Mahdi (a.s.), Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) showed his son to his family and some of his close companions. On the other hand, some scholars also accepted the existence of Imam Mahdi (a.s.) by scientific methods. Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) had many correspondences with these people. Those who had seen Imam Mahdi (a.s.) in person, told the story of their meeting to others.”
Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) created a symbol for Shiites
Zakeri, another faculty member of the University of Religions and Denominations, referred to the method of familiarizing with the achievements of the Immaculate AhlulBayt (a.s.). “We should not expect that the activities and achievements of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) can be obtained and known directly from the narrative of a historical narrator, rather we should look for other mechanisms to recognize these activities and achievements. During his lifetime, Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) identified a group in the Shiite community that were scholars, and the same group caused the most problems during the period of Minor Occultation,” he said.
The director of the Department of Islamic History of the University of Religions and Denominations added, “One of Imam Hassan Askari’s (a.s.) actions was to create symbols. For example, commemorating Arbaeen of Imam Hussain (a.s.) is one of the orders of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.). On the other hand, Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) shed light on the principles of Imamate, and this, decreased the denial of Imamate of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) by some Shiites. Also, Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) used some people for the advocacy organization, who were knowledgeable and known among Shiites. After Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.), the most problems during the Minor Occultation period were caused by those who were among scholars but deviated from the right path.”
Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) shed the light on the path for the Shiites
In another part of the session, Dr. Falahzadeh mentioned the creation of Shiite symbols by Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.). “One of Imam Hassan Askari’s (a.s.) actions, was to create symbols for Shiites. On the occasion of the birth of his son Imam Mahdi (a.s.), he ordered some meat to be distributed among Sadat of Bani Hashem. Different strata of Shiites knew about the birth of Imam Mahdi (a.s.).”
“Before his martyrdom, Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) explained the situation after him to the Shiites,” he continued, “what would happen, and what measures should be taken.”
Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) appointed advocates
In the final part of the session, Zakari, the director of the Department of Islamic History of the University of Religions and Denominations, pointed out some characteristics of the advocates of Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.). “After Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.), some people who were scholars and had an ascetic image deviated from Shiism. Imam Hasan Askari (a.s.) chose his advocates from those who were not the first-level figures of the Shiite society in terms of knowledge and social status. These advocates did not deviate after Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.).”
“The appointment of advocates by Imam Hassan Askari (a.s.) prevented many challenges during the Minor Occultation,” he said in the end.
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