Expectations of Imam Hassan Al-Askari (AS) from his followers

Dear Readers,

In the upcoming week, we commemorate the martyrdom of our 11th beloved Imam, Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS). As the last Imam who was physically present among his community, his expectations from us, his followers, carry profound significance, especially as we reflect on the beginning of the Minor and Major Occultation of his son, the Promised Mahdi (AS). This period marks a prolonged absence of our Imam, intensifying the value of his teachings during the times of isolation felt within Shi’ism and the profound sorrow from our separation from our revered Imam.

Here, we highlight five key aspects of his expectations:

1- Thought and Reflection: Thought has been the cornerstone of human advancement, both materially and spiritually. The Holy Quran places high value on thought and reflection, enriching us with commands to ponder its verses deeply.  In the holy Quran, the word “knowledge” and its derivatives, which signify the fertility of thought, are repeated over a thousand times, and more than 17 verses explicitly invite humans to think, over 10 verses start with the word “Look; pay attention.” More than fifty instances of the word intellect and its derivatives are used, and in four verses, there is a definitive command to ponder over the Quran.

Imam Hassan Al-Askari (AS) expects his followers to be people of thought and reflection. Therefore, he stated: عَلیكُم بِالفِكرِ فَاِنَّهُ حَیاة قَلب البَصیر وَ مَفاتیحُ اَبوابِ الحِكمَةِ “Upon you is to think, for indeed, thinking is the life of the discerning heart and the keys to the doors of wisdom.” (Bihar ul Anwar, V-8, P-115)

People who do not think with reason and do not carefully observe the truths with the eyes of their soul will be gathered blind on the Day of Judgment.

This is the statement of God in His precise book, where it speaks from the perspective of a sinful man:

‘Lord, why have You raised me blind while I had sight?’ (God) says: ‘Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus today, you will be forgotten.'”

(Qur’an, Chapter-20, Verse-125-126)

2- Faith and Beneficence: True reflection leads to profound faith and action. His Holiness emphasized that Followers should pay attention to two qualities: خِصلَتانِ لَیس فَوقَهُما شَى‏ءٌ الایمانُ بِاللّه، وَ نَفعُ الاِخوان “There are two qualities above which there is nothing: faith in Allah and benefitting the brethren.”

(Tohof ul Uqool, Hadith-14, Page-518)

3- Piety, True Purity, and Trustworthiness: These traits form the bedrock of a harmonious society and personal integrity. Our Imam advised us: «اُوصیكُم بِتَقوىَ اللّهِ وَ الوَرَعِ فى دِینِكم والاِجتهاد لِلّه و صِدقِ الحَدیثِ وَ اَداءِ الاَمانَةِ اِلى مَن اِئتَمَنَكُم مِن بِرِّ اَوفاجِرٍ وَ طُولِ السُّجُودِ وَ حُسنِ الجَوار فَبِهذا جاءَ مُحَمَّد (صلی الله علیه و آله و سلم) صَلّوا فى عَشايِرِهِم وَ اَشهِدُوا جَنائِزَهُم وعُودُوا مرضاهُم، وَ اَدّوا حُقُوقَهُم، فَاِنَّ الرَّجُل مِنكم اِذا وَرِعَ فى دِینِهِ وَ صَدَقَ فى حَدیثِهِ وَ اَدّى الاَمانَةَ و حَسُنَ خُلقُه مَعَ النّاس قیلَ هذا شیعى فَیسرّنى ذلك؛ “I advise you to piety of Allah, to be wary in your religion, to strive for Allah, to speak the truth, to deliver the trust to whoever entrusts you, good or evil, to prolong prostration and to be good neighbours; for this is what Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) came for. Pray in their groups, attend their funerals, visit their sick, and fulfil their rights, for if a man among you is pious in his religion, truthful in his speech, delivers the trust, and has good manners with people, it is said, ‘This is a Shiite.’ And this pleases me.” (Tohof ul Uqool, Hadith-12, Page-518)

4- – Steadfastness in Religion and Allegiance during the Occultation:

The Major Occultation is a testing period, demanding unwavering patience and steadfastness in our faith. His Holiness expects that believers during the Occultation endure it and show patience and perseverance, and remain steadfast in the divine religion, Imamate, and allegiance, and constantly pray for the appearance of Mahdi the Promised (may Allah hasten his noble relief): وَ اللّهِ لَيَغیبَنَّ غَیبَةً لايَنجُوا فیها مِن الهَلَكَةِ اِلّا مَن ثَبّته اللّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِاِمامَتِهِ وَ وَفّقَهُ لِلدّعاء بتَعجیل فَرَجِه؛ “By Allah, he will indeed have a long occultation, and no one will be saved during that time except those whom Allah, the Almighty and Glorious, keeps firm in their belief in his Imamate and grants them the success to pray for the hastening of his relief.”(Kamal al-Deen, Sadoq, V-2, Page-384)

5 – Be Our Pride, Not Our Shame: As followers of Imam Ali (AS) and the Ahlul Bayt, we are urged to conduct ourselves in ways that honour their teachings, making us exemplary figures within both the Muslim community and broader society.

For this reason, His Holiness Imam Askari (AS) advised us: اِتَّقُوا اللّهَ وَ كُونُوا زَیناً وَلا تَكُونُو شَیناً، جَرّوا اِلَینا كُلَّ مَوَدَّةٍ، وَ ادفَعُوا عَنّا كُلَّ قَبِیحٍ، فَاِنَّهُ ما قیلَ فِینا مِن حَسَنٍ فَنَحنُ اَهلُهُ و ما قیل فینا مِن سوءٍ فَما نَحن كذلك “Fear Allah and be an adornment and not a shame, attract all affection towards us, and repel all ugliness from us; for whatever good is said about us, we are worthy of it, and whatever evil is spoken of us, we are not like that… (Because) God has considered us pure and no one other than us can claim such a status unless he is a liar.” (Tohof ul Uqool, Hadith-115, Page-520)

As we remember Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS) this week, let us reflect on these principles and strive to live by the high standards he set, ensuring that our actions contribute positively to our faith and community.