Martyrdom of Imam Ali Naqi -Rajab 3rd

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi 

Imam Ali Naqi who was martyred on Rajab 3^{rd has the distinction of serving the longest period of Imamate besides the awaited 12th Imam. He was poisoned at the behest of most cruel Abbasid Caliph in 254 AH. His imamate lasted for 34 years that can be divided into two parts-17 years of freedom and 17 years under house arrest.}

Born in Madina on 15th Zilhij 214 Hijri, the period of Imamate of   Imam coincided with the decline of the power of the Abbasid Empire.. He was only 6 years old when his father Imam Muhammad Taqi (as) was martyred in Baghdad when poisoned by Mutasim Billah Abbasi. His mother Janabe Samana al-Maghribiya was a very pious lady who spent her whole life fasting. The 10th Imam has said about her that she was one of the ladies of paradise and one of those from 'Ahlul Haqq' (people of truth).

Like his illustrious father, Imam Naqi, also famous as Imam Al Hadi,  suffered persecution from the Abbasid tyrants. They spared no effort in oppressing and harming him. Al-Mutwakkil surpassed all the Abbasid Caliphs in harassing and torturing Imam. He moved the Imam from Yathrib to Samarra' and put him under house arrest and deployed security men who watched even Imam’s breathes. The caliph also  prevented ulema', jurisprudents, and narrators from  taking  fatwas and opinions.  He also  imposed economical blockade against Imam Ali Naqi by prevented people not to offer him  dues obligatory to him. Al Mutwakkil also  ordered his men to search the house of  Imam at regular intervals, hoping that his soldiers might stumble upon any material against him so as to enable him order the execution of Imam but nothing objectionable was ever found.

Sometimes, Mutwakkil ordered his men to bring him the Imam in whatever state he was. Once, the Imam was brought while al-Mutwakkil was drunk and before him there were vessels and cups of wine and he was surrounded by groups of male and female singers, but the Imam was sharp with him and began advising him, reminding him of the afterlife, and scolding him for the corruption he was in. When al-Mutwakkil saw the Imam insist on keeping away from him, he ordered his men to arrest and put Imam behind the bars.
It is narrated that some man heard Imam  saying from inside the prison, 'I am more exalted near Allah than the she-camel of (Prophet) Saleh.' Then he recited this Quaranic verse, (Enjoy yourselves in your abode for three days, that is a promise not to be belied).After three days, the tyrant was killed by his son al-Muntasir.
The death of al-Mutwakkil provide some respite for Imam as the new emperor Muntasir bin Mutwakkil reversed the policies of his father towards the Ahle-Bait.He even returned the property of Fadak to the descendants of Bibi Fatima . Unfortunately he ruled only for more than six months and died in 248 A.H. Imam once again found him in much trouble when Mustain succeeded Muntasir and restarted  the oppressive policies of his ancestors. The Abbasid government longed for his elimination because of his knowledge and popularity enjoyed by him among the people. The caliph bore malice towards Imam because he was respected more as compared to the ruler. Moreover, majority of the people considered him   worthier of the Islamic caliphate than the Abbasids who indulged in pleasures and lusts and governed the nation, like the Umayyads, with violence, oppression, and haughtiness. Fortunately, Mustain’s  own Turkish troops rebelled against him and pledged allegiance to Mo‘taz whom they rescued from prison. Finally, Mo’taz killed Mustain to become the new caliph.

It was during the reign of Mo’taz that Imam  was martyred by poisoning. The caliph arranged for the poisoning of Imam through an ambassador on Monday 3rd Rajab. The poison reacted sharply and Imam suffered violent pains. When he felt the inevitable death, he turned towards the qibla and began reciting some suras of the Qur'an. He breathed his last while the mention of Allah was still on his lips. His son and 11^th Imam Abu Muhammad al-Hasan al-Askari  washed the  pure body of his father, enshrouded it, and offered the prayer of the dead on it while his heart was full of pain and sorrow. Samarra' was shocked by his death. People from all walks of life hurried to get the honor of escorting the pure body of the great Imam. State offices and shops were closed. Viziers, Ulema, judges, prominent leaders of the army, and the eminent members of the Abbasid family walked before the bier, mentioning the virtues and favors of the Imam. People felt in his death the loss of a great leader, guide, and defender of the rights of the weak and the oppressed.

In the last abode, his pure body was carried to his house that he had assigned to be a site of his burial. Imam al-Hasan al-Askari put the body of 10^th Imam in the grave with tears rolling down over his cheeks. He buried his father and buried with him also the values of knowledge, patience, and  piety.(References available on request.Photo Courtesy Google Images.The article has been posted to mark the martyrdom of Imam Ali Naqi)