Abdul Azim al Hassani (A.S)’s Biography

His prosperous birth was in 173(Lunar Hegira) in the sacred city of Medina and his 79 fruitful years of life was simultaneous with the periods of four immaculate Imams i.e. Imam Mussa Kazem(A.S),Imam Reza(A.S),Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Javad (A.S) and Imam Ali un-Naqi al-Hadi(A.S).He enjoyed the holy presence of these Imams and narrated a lot of Hadiths from them.

He was the great grandson of Imam Hassan al-Mujtaba(A.S),the second holy Imam of the Shi’ites. He possessed complete knowledge of the religious sciences and the Holy Qur’an. He is considered as one of the leading Shi'ite theologians and the narrator of the traditions of the Infallible Imams (A.S).

The Infallible Imams (A.S) has complemented and appreciated the scientific and trustworthy character of Hazrat Abdul Azim Hassani(A.S).

The tenth holy Imam Hazrat Imam al-Hadi(A.S) sometimes referred those who had questions and problems to Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S.) who was known and introduced as a real friend and follower by His Holiness.

In a tradition from Imam Ali un-Naqi al-Hadi(A.S) it is stated by the Holy Imam(A.S) that pilgrimage(Ziyarat) to the grave of Hazrat Abdul Azim Hasani(A.S) in Ray has the heavenly reward as much as the Ziyarat of the holy grave of Hazrat Sayyid al-Shuhada Imam Hussein(A.S).

The grounds for which Hazrat Abdul Azim (A.S) had to take a flight from Medina to Ray is to be figured out in political and social conditions of that era. The Abbasid caliphs were excessively cruel to the Holy Ahl-ul- Bayt(A.S) and the Shi'ites of the Holy Imams(A.S). Mutawakkel, the cruel Abbasid caliph had an intense enimity and hostility towards the Holy Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S) and during his period the holy shrine of Imam Hussein(A.S) was entirely demolished and the pilgrimage to his holy shrine was completely banned.

The Sadaat[the descendants of the Holy Prophet of Islam(PBUH) and the Shi'ites were in the worst situation during that era. Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S) was not safe in this situation either. The Abbasids attempted to kill him several times. At this critical condition Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S) visited Hazrat Imam Hadi(A.S) and presented his beliefs and doctrines to him. His Holiness (A.S) approved his beliefs and said: “You are a friend of ours”‌.

His visit to Samarrah was reported to Abbasid caliph and he ordered to arrest Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S).He decided to remain hidden for some time. So he travelled to different cities, hiding his identity.

Both the Sunnis and the Shi'ites lived in Ray during that period. The southern and south-western parts were mainly resided by the Shi'ites. Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S) arrived in Ray as an unknown traveller and went to a Shi'ite's house in Sarebanan neighborhood. He lived in a basement for a while and rarely came out of his house. He fasted during the days and prayed at nights.

Only a few of the Shi'ites were informed of his presence in Ray and visited him secretly. They tried not to disclose this matter so that his life should not be endangered. After a while, more people came to know about him and his house became the centre of Shi'ites, who took the advantage of his knowledge and narrations and smelled the fragrance of Holy Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S) from his holiness.

Hazrat Abdul Azim was very popular among the Shi'ites in Ray and replied to their religious queries and solved their problems. This shows the outstanding role of Hazrat Abdul Azim(A.S) and his responsibility on behalf of Hazrat Imam Hadi(A.S) as the Holy Imam's representative. The Shi'ites accepted his sayings because he was the representative of the Holy Imam (A.S) and the disciples of Holy Ahl-ul-Bayt(A.S) gathered around him.

In the last days of his fruitful life he suffered a serious illness which made him so weak that he was unable to meet the public. The constant sufferings of the Shi'ites enhanced his unbearable pain.

One of the faithful Shi'ite in Ray had a dream in which he saw Holy Prophet of Islam(PBUH) revealing to him that’ ‘Tomorrow one of my sons will die in Sakeh al-Mowla [in Ray] and the Shi'ites will bury him near the apple tree in the garden". Early morning he went to the garden and bought that piece of land and that garden was endowed as a burial place for the Shi'ites.

Abdul Jabbar who has the same dream, found out the secret of the two dreams and in order to share this honor he endowed the whole garden and the apple tree as a grave-yard for Shiites and great people. His holiness died the same day and the people heard of it and wore black clothes and rushed to Hazrat-e-Abdul Azim's premise crying and moaning.

They washed his body ceremoniously; Some of the historians say that there was a piece of a paper with his name with his antecedents; They prayed on the body then lifted and escorted it to the Abdul Jabbar's garden and buried his body close to the same apple tree as the Holy Prophet (PBUH) predicted in the dream. That was how a member of Etrat(Family) of Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa(PBUH) was buried in Ray as a memorial to spread the light of the Household of the Holy Prophet(PBUH) to their lovers and followers.

Source: Ziaraat.org

Other links:‌

Sayyid Abd al-Azim al-Hasani, One of the Greatest Defenders of Ahlul Bayt (A.S.) : part 3