Today marks the martyrdom of the tenth Imam, Imam ‘Alī ibn Muḥammad known as al-Hādī (the guide) and an-Naqī (the pure). The common opinion regarding his birth is that he was born on the 15th of Dhul-Hijjah in the year 212 AH. He was born close to the city of Madinah, in an area called Ṣaryā.
After the death of his father in the year 220 AH, Imam al-Hādī (a) became the Imam of the Muslims at the age of only eight years. The 33-year period of his Imamah saw the ruling of six caliphs of the Banul ‘Abbas, including the infamous Mutawakkil. Mutawakkil had an extreme hatred towards Imam ‘Ali (a) and his family.
Despite difficult political circumstances, Imam al-Hādī (a) was able to successfully continue the struggle of his forefathers. The Imam tirelessly worked to organize the Shīʻah community and spread the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt far and wide. For 20 years Imam al-Hādī (a) lived in the city of Samarra, in circumstances similar to that of a prisoner; he was constantly under the watch of the government.
Despite this, a number of his close companions also gathered themselves in the city of Samarra. Through these companions the Imam would send messages, coordinate the collection of money, answer questions and spread Islamic teachings. This network of representatives spread far and wide across the Muslim world, in areas such as Qom, Khurāsān, Rayy, Madinah, and Yemen.
Since the growth and increasing strength of the Shi’ah community threatened the government, al-Mu’tazz – he caliph of the time – eventually decided to poison the Imam (a). He was martyred on the 3rd of Rajab in the year 254 AH.