[January 1] Hasan al-‘Askarī, 11th imām of Islam

al-‘Askarī Mosque, in which the imām is buried. Samarra, Iraq.

True Name: Hasan ibn ‘Alī ibn Muhammad al-‘Askarī (الإمام الحسن بن علي العسكري)
Parents: ‘Alī al-Hādī and Saleel

Date of Birth: 1 December 874

Royal House: Quraish, Hashim branch

Spouse: Narjis

Reign: 868 – 874
Predecessor: ‘Alī al-Hādī, 10th imām of Islam

Summary: As the leader of the largest non-Sunni Islam sect in the world, Hasan al-‘Askarī did very little ruling. During the majority of his life, he lived under house arrest under the supervision of Abbasid guards. The Abbasid Empire of the Sunni caliphs was falling and under the increasing control of Turkish soldiers. Nonetheless, al-‘Askarīi learned much during his captivity and it is likely that he snuck off a long commentary on the Qur-an that he wrote, that was later used by many scholars.

As imām, though, al-‘Askarī was at a constant disadvantage. He was the younger son of his father for most of his youth, and only became imām because his elder brother died prematurely. Since the Shi'a under the Twelvers were seen as the strongest resistance to the Abbasid Caliphate, it was assumed that the leader of that movement should also be strong, and al-‘Askarī was not. His criticism were generally overlooked by the populace, largely because the Abbasids had bigger problems with the Turkish invaders. Religious doubt was also creeping into the Middle East and a philosopher and religious leader like al-‘Askarī was unable to counter criticism since he was under house arrest. al-‘Askarī died in 874, probably from poison administered by the caliph. The remnants of Shi'a Islam shattered after his death, with some proclaiming him the Māhdī while his brother attempted to make himself a twelfth imām. al-‘Askarī ended up being the last historical imām, though it is said his son Muhammad lived on and, indeed, became the Twelfth Imām of which legend told would return at the End Times to bring peace and justice to a world unified under Islam.

Date of Death: 1 January 874

Successor: Muhammad al-Māhdī, 12th imām of Islam


Other Monarchs Who Died Today:

• Eudes, king of West Francia (898)
• Baldwin III, count of Flanders (962)
• Håkon III, king of Norway (1204)
• Charles II, king of Navarre (1387)
• Louis XII, king of France (1515)
• Christian III, king of Denmark (1559)
• James III, Jacobite pretender to England & Scotland (1766)