The 8th day of the lunar Hijri month of Rabi al-Awwal, which falls on October 5 this year, marks the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hassan Askari (AS).

The Imam was born in Medina on the 10th of Rabiul Thani 232 Hijri (846 AD).

He was martyred in Samarra, in 260 Hijri (874) aged 28 years. The period of his Imamate was 6 years.

Samarra (Surre Mun Ra’) was a garrison town about 60 miles north of Baghdad. River Euphrates flows in the middle of the town, and because of the surrounding hills a cool breeze keeps the area cooler in comparison to Baghdad. The word ‘Asker’ in Arabic is used for army. The 11th Imam’s title became known as Askari, the one who lived all his life in a garrison town.

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