Imam Ali warned of a time when believers would wander in uncertainty, like a headless herd, searching for safety, guidance, and direction, but unable to find it.
He said it would be a time when hearts would grow hard and faith would become difficult to hold onto. People would listen to the words of admonishment, but would remain unmoved. It would be a time of confusion, deception, and spiritual weariness because direct access to the Imam would cease.
We are living through that period. Everything the Imam described is visible today.
The question now is, how can one remain steadfast during this period of Imam Mahdi’s occultation (ghayba) that has been described as the hardest test of faith.
In this guide, we explore three solutions provided by Imam al-Mahdi’s father, Imam Hasan al-Askari.
The Importance of Imam Hasan al-Askari’s Advice
The Ahl al-Bayt had long prepared the Shia community for the challenges of ghayba. But Imam Hasan al-Askari’s teachings hold a unique place in this preparation.
He was the last Imam the Shia had direct access to, but his Imamate was brief and marked by heavy restrictions. Constant surveillance and imprisonment by the Abbasid regime had severely limited his contact with the community.
Within the narrow opportunities he got, Imam al-Askari had to deliver the final instructions the believers would need to withstand the coming storm of ghayba.
Like a compassionate father preparing his child to face the world alone after him, Imam Hasan al-Askari offered essential guidance for the Shia to hold onto when direct access to the Imam of their time would no longer be possible.
3 Practical Tips from Imam Hasan al-Askari to Survive Ghayba
Here are three key pieces of advice from Imam Hasan al-Askari for believers to navigate the period of occultation without losing direction:
1. Hold Firm to the Belief in Imamate
Imam Hasan al-Askari said:
والله ليغيبنّ غيبة لا ينجو فيها من الهلكة إلا من ثبّته الله عزّ وجلّ على القول بإمامته ووفّقه في الدعاء بتعجيل فرجه
“By Allah, He (Imam al Mahdi) will go into an occultation, during which no one will be saved from destruction except the one whom Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, makes firm in belief in his imamate and give the divine opportunity (tawfiq) to supplicate for the hastening of his reappearance.”
[Kamal al-Din wa Tamam al-Ni’ma, vol. 1, pg. 412]
All followers of Ahl al-Bayt believe in the Imamate of Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance).
Then what does Imam al-Askari mean by being firm in the belief of his Imamate?
‘Firm belief in the Imamate,’ or Ma’rifat al-Imamah, as mentioned in several narrations, goes beyond merely knowing about the Imam or verbally attesting belief in him. It means understanding what it truly means to have an Imam – and accepting the divine position, authority, knowledge, and role Allah has granted him.
All the Imams helped the Shia understand this concept in their own ways. Imam al-Askari worked through miracles – particularly by displaying knowledge of the unseen – to strengthen the understanding of the divine appointment of the Imam.
On numerous occasions, he exhibited knowledge that no one could possess except the one appointed by the Almighty. The purpose was to give believers a framework for testing any future claimant to the Imamate and avoiding deception.
2. Holding Back Amid Uncertainty
The era of occultation is marked by confusion and contradiction. New debates emerge each day, and many feel compelled to react, argue, or declare positions. For such times, Imam al-Askari offered the following remedy:
أورع الناس من وقف عند الشبهة
“The most cautious of the people concerning God (Wara’) is the one who pauses when facing a doubtful situation.”
[Al-Khisal – vol. 1, pg. 16]
The word shubha refers to a situation where something false resembles the truth so closely that it becomes difficult to tell the difference. In such moments, the Imam teaches that one must not rush to judgment.
Not every matter demands an immediate stance. Sometimes, it is wiser to wait, learn more, and acquire a deeper understanding before drawing conclusions. Acting on limited knowledge can easily lead one away from the truth.
Throughout history, many who lost their faith during times of confusion did so because they were hasty in their judgments.
Even today, many people form opinions or take positions in matters of faith based on limited knowledge. Others feel compelled to take a stance due to peer pressure or societal influence. Both these are practices that the Imams of Ahl al-Bayt repeatedly warned against.
When Imam al-Sadiq was asked what one practice in such confusing times, he replied:
فتمسكوا بما في أيديكم حتى يصح لكم الأمر
“Then hold fast to what is already in your hands until the matter becomes clear and established for you.”
[Ghayba al-Nu’mani, pg. 159]
A believer who does that will, in time, be guided by Allah toward clarity.
3. Stay Connected to True Scholars
During the occultation, the Shia are deprived of direct access to their Imam. Imam Hasan al-Askari described the severity of this situation in the following words:
وأشدّ من يتم هذا اليتيم، يتيم ينقطع عن إمامه لا يقدر على الوصول إليه، ولا يدري كيف حكمه
“More severe than the orphanhood of an orphan is the orphanhood of a person disconnected from his Imam — unable to reach him and unaware of the rulings of his religion.”
He then continued:
ألا فمن كان من شيعتنا عالما بعلومنا، وهذا الجاهل بشريعتنا المنقطع عن مشاهدتنا يتيم في حجره، ألا فمن هداه وأرشده وعلمه شريعتنا كان معنا في الرفيق الأعلى
“Indeed, whoever among our Shia is learned in our knowledge, while this person — ignorant of our law and deprived of seeing us — is an orphan under his care, then whoever guides, directs, and teaches such a person our Sharia will be with us in the most exalted places.”
[Al-Ehtijaj, vol. 1, pg. 7]
This means that while the Shia must seek guidance from scholars during the occultation, not every scholar qualifies for this trust. They must turn to true scholars – who’re learned, invite people towards Allah and the Ahl al-Bayt – not towards themselves, and faithfully transmit the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt.
The Imam advised to find such scholars, for they are the caretakers of the community during the occultation. Remaining attached to them ensures access to correct knowledge, preservation of faith, and protection against deviation.
Survive the Occultation with Imam al-Askari’s Guidance
During occultation, the Shias are deprived of direct access to their Imam, leaving them in a state of spiritual orphanhood. The Imams of Ahlulbayt knew that occultation would be a long and tiring period where many would question, ‘why is Imam Mahdi not appearing?’.
Despite the hardships and restrictions he faced, Imam Hasan al-Askari prepared believers for the period of ghayba.
His every advice, if correctly followed, strengthens faith, guards against confusion, and ensures that believers remain on the path of truth. However, these three teachings offer core practical tips for surviving the occultation with clarity and steadfastness.
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