Father of the Mahdi: Imam al-Askari (as) is remembered in history as the father of Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf). That is his greatest legacy: from him came the twelfth Imam, whom Shia Muslims await.
A community made ready: But his legacy is more than that. He also left behind a community that was ready for a new time — a community with scholars, representatives, books, and a habit of writing questions and receiving answers. Without that preparation, the long occultation would have been much harder to bear.
The Askariyain: His shrine in Samarra stands beside the shrine of his father Imam al-Hadi (as). The two shrines together are called the Askariyain (the two Askaris), and Shia Muslims visit them with love, remembering both father and son.
Example
A bridge to the other side: A bridge is not the destination, but without the bridge you cannot reach the other side. Imam al-Askari (as) was like that bridge — connecting the time of the openly present Imams (as) to the time of the occultation.
Key Terms
- Askariyain (عسکریین) — "the two Askaris": the shrines of Imam al-Hadi (as) and Imam al-Askari (as) in Samarra
- Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) (الامام المہدی) — the twelfth Imam, son of Imam al-Askari (as)
- Ghayba / Occultation (غیبت) — the hiddenness of Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf) from public view
Quran or Hadith
No specific Quran verse or Hadith is quoted in this topic. — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Family tree — Imam al-Hadi (as) to Imam al-Askari (as) to Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf), showing the bridge from the present Imams to the occultation.
- Imam al-Askari (as) is the father of Imam al-Mahdi (ajtf).
- He left a community ready for the occultation: scholars, representatives, and books.
- His shrine in Samarra stands beside his father's shrine; together they are the Askariyain.