Al Imam Al Askari (pbuh) in the Abbasid Prisons

Al Imam Al Askari (pbuh) was prisoned many times in the caliphate of Al Mo’taz, Al Mohtadi, and Al Mo’tamad. They used to entrusted him to people who were stodgy with Ali Bin Abi Taleb (pbuh) and hostile with the family of prophet Mohammad (pbuh) like: Ali bin Autamsh, Aktamsh, Nahrir, and Ali bin Jarin. Al Mo’tamad used to ask Ali bin Jarin about Al Imam Al Askari news in every place and time. Bin Jarin told him that Al Imam used to fast during the day and pray during the night. In addition, Al Abbasids used to recommend some of the prison’s authorities, like Saleh bin Wasif, to narrow his prison and torture him.

They never used to leave him, even while he was prisoned. They used to follow him and his companions with secret oversight through planting spies between his friends in the prison. One of them claimed that he was an Alawite but he was Jomhi. He prepared a book that he holded in his clothes to take it for the Sultan to tell him what they do.

Abo Jacob Isaac bin Aban described their strict oversight for Al Imam’s prison “those who were entrusted to oversee him don’t leave the door of his prison all day all night. After they leave, others are entrusted after they are recommended to protect him and never leave him”.

On the other hand, regarding Al Imam’s position towards the prison and the jailors, he used to behave through his Islamic evidence through his behaviors, asceticism, worship, and righteousness. He was able through these behaviors to dominate his authority on most of them to the extent that some of them used to tremble with fear when he looked at them. Some of the turkish who were entrusted to oversee him when he was in Saleh bin Wasif prison said “what can we say about a man who fasts the day, prays all night and doesn’t engage with anything other than worship. If he looks at us, we shudder from inside unwillingly”.

When Al Imam (pbuh) was prisoned in the prison of Ali bin Autamsh, who was severely hostile with the family of the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and stodgy with Ali bin Abi Taleb (pbuh), plus being entrusted to behave with Al Imam as we mentioned before, Ali bin Autamsh was influenced by Al Imam (pbuh) and his good morals. He put his cheek on the ground as an act of humbleness, and never looked up at him unless with honor and glorification. He left the prison with the most insight, and the best in talking about the Imam (pbuh).

When Al Abbasids recommended Saleh bin Wasif, when Abo Mohammad Al Hasan Al Askari (pbuh) was prisoned, to torture him, Saleh told him while announcing his apologies and disability to do that “what can I do after I entrusted two of the most devil men I know, then they reach a high rank of worship, prayers, and fasting”.

Al Imam Al Hasan Al Askari (pbuh), Biography and History