Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Hasan al-Askari, the eschatological savior in Twelver Islam, is known … See more

Until their deaths, the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams (Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-Askari, respectively) were held under close surveillance in the garrison town of Samarra by the Abbasids, who are often responsible in Shia sou… See more

Hasan al-Askari died in 260 (873–874) without an obvious heir. The death of the eleventh Imam divided his followers into several sects and created widespread confusion (hayra), particularly in Iraq. Immediatel… See more

When al-Askari died without leaving an obvious heir, the traditions and predictions attributed to earlier Imams were largely the basis for the existence of the son of al-Askari as the twelfth Imam; see Twelver doctrine of … See more