Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Imam al-Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī's Response to Prevailing Intellectual and Theoretical Challenges in Samarra

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 Leve-3 graduate, Jamiʿa al-Zahra Seminary, Islamic History; Member of the Academic Research Society of History, Jamiʿa al-Zahra, Qom, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History, Bagheral Uloom University, Qom, Iran
Abstract
Like other Shiite Imams, the eleventh Imam, al-Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī, not only focused on the survival of human material and spiritual life but also remained vigilant to contemporary opportunities and threats. He implemented various measures and solutions to address these. Drawing on historical and hadith sources and employing a descriptive-analytic method, this research provides a brief account of the intellectual and theoretical challenges prevailing in Samarra at the time. It seeks to answer the following question: Despite pervasive limitations, what measures, positions, and solutions did Imam al-Ḥasan al-ʿAskarī adopt to address these challenges? Research findings indicate that by relying on doctrinal principles such as monotheism, avoiding extremism and exaggeration, promoting tolerance and lenience, raising awareness about the tricks of deviant groups, dispatching religious scholars to vulnerable societies, and responding to religious queries, the Imam successfully protected religious and doctrinal teachings.
Keywords
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