Morality of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A.S.)

Compiled by: Allama Husayn Ansariyan
From among the letters sent by Imam Askari to Ali ibn Husayn ibn Babawayh of Qum, there is a letter in part of which special attention has been paid to him and to all Shiites, indicating that a true Shiite enjoys a high value for the infallible Imam. Parts of the letter read: You have the duty to be patient and await the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi, for Allah’s Messenger has said: The best deed of my ummah is to await the reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi. Our followers are eagerly waiting for the reappearance of my son the news of whose coming the Holy Prophet has given in order to fill the world, which has been replete with injustice, with justice. O Dear Sheikh Abul-Hasan Ali, be patient and invite all Shiites to patience. Beyond doubt the earth belongs to Allah and He will give it as legacy to anyone of His servants that He wishes to and the good end belongs to those who guard against evil. Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be on you and on all Shiites and peace of Allah be on Muhammad and his progeny.151

Enjoining Good and Forbidding Evil
Hasan ibn Muhammad of Qum has reported: The great persons of Qum told me that Husayn ibn Hasan ibn Jafar ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Jafar al-Sadiq openly drank wine in the city of Qum. One day I went to the door of Ahmad ibn Ishaq Ashari who was the head of charitable bequests in Qum, for a need. But he did not give him entry permission. So Husayn ibn Hasan sorrowfully returned home!
A few days later, Ahmad ibn Hasan set off for Mecca on Hajj. When he reached Samarra, he was denied permission to see Imam Hasan Askari! He cried for a long time until the Imam gave him permission to see him. After being received by the Imam, Ahmad said, “O son of Allah's Messenger! Why did you deny me permission to see you; while I am Shiite and your follower?” The Imam said, “Because you sent away our cousin from your house!” Ahmad started crying and took an oath that he had done so in order to forbid him from drinking wine. The Imam said, “You are right but you should have honored them because of his relation to us.”
When Ahmad returned from Mecca, the dignitaries of Qum came to see him and Husayn too was with them. When Ahmad saw Husayn, he rose up, welcomed and honored him and made him sit in a high place. Husayn ibn Hasan was surprised by this behavior; so, he asked Ahmad the reason for it. Ahmad ibn Ishaq told him what had happened between Imam Hasan Askari and him. Hearing this, Husayn ibn Hasan repented his evil deed, returned home, broke all the bottles of wine, became a pious man, and retired to mosque until death took his life and he was buried near the shrine of Fatimah Masumah.152

Charity
Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Ibrahim has reported: Earning a livelihood had become hard for us and indigence had overwhelmed us. My father told me to take him to the presence of Imam Hasan Askari for he had been described as a generous man. I said to my father, “Do you know him personally?” He said, “I do not know him nor have I seen him.”
On the way, my father said, “How good it will be if he orders five hundred dirhams to be given to us, two hundred for clothes, two hundred for flour and one hundred for living expenditures.” I said to myself, “I wish he would give me three hundred dirhams so that I would buy a horse for one hundred dirhams, I would spend one hundred for living costs and I would buy clothes for one hundred and then I would go to the region of Jabal.” When we reached the door of the house of Imam, his slave came towards us saying, “Ali ibn Ibrahim and his son Muhammad may enter.” When we entered the room and saluted him, the Imam said to my father, “What kept you from coming to visit us?” My father said, “My master! I was ashamed of seeing you in this position.”
When we came out of the house, the Imam’s servant gave him a purse saying, “This is five hundred dirhams, two hundred dirhams for clothes, two hundred dirhams for flour and one hundred dirhams for living expenditures.” He gave me a purse to me too, saying, “This is three hundred Dirhams, one hundred Dirhams for buying a horse, one hundred Dirhams for clothes, and one hundred for living costs. Don't go to Jabal rather go to Surrah in Iraq.”153
Notes:
151. Al-Manaqib: 425/4
152. Bihar al-Anwar, 323/50, Chapter: 4, H. 17
153. Al-Kafi: 506/1, H. 3