Parents, Birth & Childhood
Holy Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.)'s mother was a very pious lady who spent her whole life fasting. The 10th Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) has said that his mother was one of the ladies of paradise and one of those from 'Ahlul Haqq' (people of truth).
Holy Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.) became an Imam at the age of 8 years. The khalifa wrote to the governor of Madina asking him to send the young Imam to a person called Junaydi for tutorage (the governor of Madina was threatened that if he did not do this than the people of Madina would be annihilated). Junaydi was a well-known poet of that time and 'anti - Ahlulbayt' and was 80 years old. The Khalifa felt that if this was done than anything that the Holy Imam(a.s) did or said could be attributed to Junaydi i.e. it was taught to Holy Imam (a.s) by Junaydi. When Junaydi was once asked about the progress of his student he said :
"I am the student and he is the teacher. I now know what knowledge is. What I say is because of what I have been taught by Imam Maqi (a.s)". The Khalifa's plan had failed yet again.
For a while the Khalifa left Holy Imam (a.s) in peace and freedom as they were engrossed in sorting out their own affairs (Removing the Iranians from power; adding the Turks and establishing power in Samarra). Holy Imam used the time to open Madrasas and the atmosphere in the mosque of the Holy Prophet was once again like in the time of the 6th Holy Imam Ja'far As-Sadiq (a.s.)
Imamate - His Life and Works
Holy Imam Ali Naqi (as) served the longest period of Imamate (besides the 12th Imam) - 34 years which can be divided into two parts - 17 years of freedom and 17 years under arrest.
In 234 A.H. came one of the most tyrannical rulers of the Abbasid Khilafate - Mutawakkil. He ruled with tyranny, killing, looting and terrorising especially those who were the followers of Ahlulbayt. Mutawakkil is also the one who ordered the desecration of the grave of Holy Imam Hussain (a.s.) wanting to remove Holy Imam's body and burn it (He did not succeed). He tried running water over the grave so no traces of the grave would remain but was unsuccessful. He ordered that all those wanting to visit Kerbala would have their fingers cut off, then hand and feet cut then only be able to go if one other from the family was killed. Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) still asked Shias to visit Kerbala. When Mutawakkil saw that all had failed and it did not discourage the visits than he banned all visits to Kerbala completely.
Mutawakkil called Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) to Samarra. Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) was called under the pretext of respect and love towards him. Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) was aware of Mutawakkil's intentions but went knowing that this would be an opportunity to show the Turks too what true Islam was. On arriving in Samarra the Turkish spies sent with Holy Imam (a.s) were amazed at Holy Imam's knowledge of the Turkish language when he had never visited the Turks before.
It was an opportunity for Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) to prepare the Mu'mineen in Samarra for ghaibat. Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) was put up in an Inn which was meant for beggars, destitute and criminals. From this Inn the Holy Imam was removed and put into the custody of an evil man called Zarraqui (who changed to be an avid supporter of Holy Imam (a.s) ) and then a man called Seyyid.
Mutawakkil knew of the progress Imam had made in Madina in 14 years of spreading knowledge. In fact he himself had to ask Holy Imam (a.s) when the Caesar of Rome wrote to him (Mutawakkil) to ask him:
"I have heard that there is a chapter of a divinely revealed book which does not contain the letters ( t d k S X ) and if this chapter is recited it grants the reciter paradise! I would like to know which chapter and in which book and why these letters are not present".
Mutawakkil's 'Ulema' were confused and eventually Mutawakkil turned to HolyImam Naqi (a.s). Imam told him that the chapter was Suratul Fatiha in the Qur'an and the above letters were not present because it was a chapter of mercy and each of the above letters represented words of Adhab (punishment) or Ghadhab (anger of Allah).
e.g.*- jaheem (hell), *- khusr (loss), *- zaqqum (fruit of Jahannam)
Mutawakkil seeing that he could not humiliate Holy Imam Naqi )a.s) in any way, he announced his arrival in Samarra as Ibnur Ridha (son of 8th Imam) and subjected him to things such as handing him a glass of wine in his hands in his court, asking him to sing, making him run in front of his (Mutawakkil's) carriage..etc. Holy Imam Hasan Al-Askery (a.s.) was placed under separate house arrest than his father at the young age of 5 years as Mutawakkil did not want the birth of the 12th Imam.
Whilst under house arrest Holy Imam Ali An-Naqi (a.s.) arranged for the coming of Bibi Nargis to Samarra and for her to be well versed in Fiqh by his learned sister Bibi Hakima.
Imam spent his life making the imminent ghaibat of the 12th Imam easier. Soon after, Mutawakkil was killed by his own son who could not withstand the behaviour of his father.
After Mutawakkil's death his son Muntasir was the successor and he lifted the restrictions of visiting Kerbala. His rule was unlike his father's tyranny but remained in power for only 6 months and died at the age of 25 years. Then came Mustan Billah (Ahmed bin Mo'tasam) followed by Mo'taz Billah who continued his tyranny on Holy Imam (a.s) and his followers.
Rulers of the Time
The thirty three years of imamate of Holy Imam 'Ali an-Naqi (a.s) coincided with the caliphate of the following six caliphs Mu'tasim bin Hârun, Wâthiq bin Mu'tasim, Mutawakkil bin Mu'tasim, Muntasir bin Mutawakkil, Musta'in, and Mu'tazz bin Mutawakkil.
Wâthiq bin Mu'tasim had a very promiscuous lifestyle, and had no time to harass the Shi'as and the Imams of the Ahlul Bayt. During his caliphate, a large number of the descendants of Holy Imam 'Ali (a.s.) had settled in Samarra, the 'Abbasid capital. But the peaceful days for the 'Alids and the Imam did not last long. After Wâthiq, his brother Mutawakkil, came to power. Mutawakkil was the most cruel of all the 'Abbasid caliphs; he is comparable to Yazîd bin Mu'âwiyah of the Umayyads.
Mutawakkil, on the one hand, started promoting the Shâfi'i madhhab in order to distract the masses away from the Ahlul Bayt. And, on the other hand, he intensified harassment of the Shi'as. He had such hatred for the Ahlul Bayt that in 236 A.H. he ordered the grave of Holy Imam Hussain (a.s.) be leveled to the ground, and that the surrounding area be transformed into farmlands so that no trace of the grave
This all was done to stop the Shi'as from visiting (ziyârat) the graves of Holy Imam Hussain (a.s.) and the other martyrs of Karbala. But when Allâh wishes to protect His “light” no human can do anything about it!
The attempt to erase all traces of Holy Imam Hussain`s (a.s) grave angered many Muslims; people starting writing anti-'Abbâsid slogans on the walls. Opposition poets also expressed their feelings on this issue. A famous poem against Mutawakkil is given below: By Allâh, if the Umayyids unjustly killed Hussain, son of the Holy Prophet`s (pbuh) daughter, his cousins have committed a similar crime for I swear that Hussain`s grave has been erased.
It seems that they regret for not participating in the massacre, so they now go after the grave!
Mutawakkil enjoyed torturing the followers of the Ahlul Bayt; even the persons appointed by him as governor in Madina and Mecca were instructed to prevent people from being kind and courteous towards the Ahlul Bayt. In 234 A.H., Mutawakkil ordered Holy Imam 'Ali an-Naqi (a.s.) to be brought from Medina to Samarra where he was placed in a house next to the caliph`s garrison. The holly Imam lived under constant surveillance until Mutawakkil was murdered by his own troops at the instigation of his own son, Muntasir.
Muntasir bin Mutawakkil reversed the policies of his father towards the Ahlul Bayt (a.s.); he was kind and generous to them; he returned the property of Fadak to the descendants of Holly Imams Hasan and Hussain (a.s.). Unfortunately his caliphate did not last for more than six months when he died in 248 A.H.
Musta'in came to power after Muntasir and continued the oppressive policies of his ancestors. But soon his own Turkish troops rebelled against him and pledged allegiance to Mu'tazz bin Mutawakkil whom they rescued from prison. Finally, Musta'in was killed and Mu'tazz become the caliph.
Martydom
It was during the reign of Mu'tazz bin Mutawakkil that Holy Imam 'Ali an-Naqi (a.s) was martyred by poisoning.
Mo'taz arranged for the poisoning of Holy Imam through an ambassador and Holy Imam Naqi (a.s) was martyred on Monday 3rd Rajab 254 A.H, nobody except HolyImam Hasan Askery (a.s.) was present at the time of his death. he gave his father ghusl and kafan and wept bitterly.
Children of Imam Ali Naqi (a.s.)
It is reported that Imam had 5 children
Imam Hasan Al-Askery (a.s.) the Eleventh Imam.
Husayn Muhammad (known as Syed Muhammad - Tomb near tomb of Balad).
