Prominent Features of Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani

Seyed Hashem Moosavi
This week’s article, in honor of the birthday of one of the defenders of the Wilayah, Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani, is dedicated to examining the life of this prominent figure in Islamic history and his role in spreading Shia culture, especially in Iran.
He was born on the 4th of Rabi’ al-Thani, 173 AH in Medina. His lineage traces back to Imam Hasan Mujtaba (peace be upon him) through four generations, which is why he is known as Abdul Adhim Hasani.
This great Shia scholar, throughout his 79-year life, had the honor of meeting four Shia Imams – from the seventh to the tenth – and benefited greatly from their scholarly and spiritual guidance.
The distinct characteristics of Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani earned him a special place among Muslims, especially Shias.
Among the most outstanding features of his life are:
Noble Lineage and Humility Towards the Infallible Imams (peace be upon them): Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani was a descendant of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (peace be upon him), the second Shia Imam, and from the household of the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his family). This noble lineage, combined with his exceptional devotion and humility towards the Imams of his time, created a unique status for him among Shias. This status, in reality, is due to his insight, understanding of Imams, and proper introduction of his contemporary Imam.
During the time of Imam Hadi (peace be upon him), the Shia community was facing division, sectarianism, and various ideological deviations. At the same time, Imam Hadi was determined to expand the institution of representation. Some companions and representatives of the Imam had deviated, and Zaydi scholars, whose ideology was based on continuing the Imamate in the lineage of Imam Hasan (peace be upon him), sought to inflict the greatest harm on Imam Hadi and his followers. The sects of Mujassama and Mushabbaha propagated incorrect beliefs about God. In this context, Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani presented his religious beliefs to Imam Hadi, who confirmed his faith and said: «انت ولینا حقا» “You are truly our friend.”
Knowledge and Piety: Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani was one of the leading scholars of his time, a narrator of hadith, and someone who deeply understood the meanings of the sayings of the Imams. He played a significant role in transmitting the knowledge of the Ahl al-Bayt. He gained considerable spiritual and scholarly benefits from Imams, particularly from Imam Jawad and Imam Hadi (peace be upon them), and made substantial contributions to spreading their teachings and hadiths to future generations.
Esteemed scholars and historical texts recognize him as a devout and knowledgeable scholar of Islamic sciences. He was skilled in the fundamentals of beliefs and Islamic jurisprudence and was trusted by the Imams of his time for his faith, piety, and knowledge. His scholarly status is further highlighted by the fact that the Imams would refer their followers to him for answers to their religious questions, and his narrations are accepted by all Shia scholars and hadith experts.
Given that he had the privilege of meeting four infallible Imams-Imam Kadhim, Imam Redha, Imam Jawad, and Imam Hadi (peace be upon them)- and transmitted numerous narrations from them, it can be said that he created a comprehensive encyclopaedia of religious knowledge in the fields of interpretation, jurisprudence, and other Islamic sciences. According to some experts, his scholarly stature is such that he is considered the founder of a cultural and intellectual revolution in the city of Ray.
Courage in Expressing the Truth: Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani faced many challenges in his life due to his courage in speaking the truth and defending the principles of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). He lived during a time when the Abbasid rulers sought to restrict the Shia Imams and suppress their ideologies. Despite these conditions, he boldly defended the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt, becoming a steadfast defender of pure Islam. This characteristic put him under constant threat and persecution by the Abbasid government.
Numerous Travels and Migration for the Preservation of Religion: The most sensitive period of Hadhrat Abdul Adhim’s life was during Imam Hadi’s time. Despite significant restrictions imposed by the ruling government, he managed to meet the Imam several times to seek guidance for himself and the Shia community.
After his connection with Imam Hadi was discovered, the Abbasid government issued orders for his arrest. To avoid danger, he went into hiding, traveling anonymously to various cities until he finally migrated to the city of Ray-a migration driven by his commitment to preserve the faith and spread the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt under challenging conditions.
Initially, only a few Shias recognized him in Ray, and they tried to keep his presence a secret to protect him from danger. Over time, more people came to know him, visited his home, and benefited greatly from his knowledge and narrations.
Mausoleum and Shrine: After years of striving to spread religious teachings, Hadhrat Abdul Adhim passed away on the 15th of Shawwal, 252 AH, at the age of 79 and was buried in Ray, south of Tehran.
His shrine is one of the major pilgrimage sites for Shias. It serves not only as a place of pilgrimage but also as a cultural and religious centre for the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Shias from around the world visit this shrine, as it is narrated that visiting Abdul Adhim in Ray is equivalent to visiting Imam Hussain in Karbala. «من زار عبدالعظیم بری کمن زار الحسین بکربلا» The people of Tehran, especially those who miss the Arbaeen pilgrimage from Najaf to Karbala, find solace in visiting this devoted servant of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Hujjat al-Islam Ali Bahjat, son of the late Ayatollah Mohammad-Taqi Bahjat, recalling memories of his father, said: “Whenever we passed through Tehran during our travels, whether going or returning, he insisted on visiting the shrine of Hadhrat Abdul Adhim, saying, ‘If the people of Tehran do not visit him at least once a week, they have wronged him.’”
These features and his impact on the Islamic community have made Hadhrat Abdul Adhim Hasani a distinguished figure in Islamic history and recognizing him as a guiding leader and a beacon toward human prosperity is essential.