Imam Ali al-Hadi عليه السلام
عَلِيّ الهَادِي
The tenth Imam, the guide, who lived under house arrest in Samarra and still guided a generation.
Imam Ali al-Hadi عليه السلام
Moved by the Abbasids to a garrison city to be watched, he turned watchful eyes into witnesses of his worship. From him comes the great Ziyarat al-Jamiʿah al-Kabirah, a treasury of belief about the Imams (ع).
Humility in success
Name a recent small win. Thank Allah for it out loud. Lower your gaze before someone today and let them speak first.
Family connections
Son of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (ع). Father of Imam al-Hasan al-ʿAskari (ع).
Major life events
- 212 AHBorn near Madinah
- 220 AHAssumed the Imamate
- 233 AHForcibly moved to Samarra under surveillance
- 254 AHMartyred by poison; buried in Samarra
Important narrations
“The one who is content with himself, those displeased with him become many.”
“Anger toward the one you cannot punish is humiliation; toward the one you can — is power.”
Duas connected to them
Peace be upon you, O People of the House of prophethood, the place of the Message, the descent-place of the angels…
Mafatih al-Jinan
Their light in the Book of Allah
Ziyarat al-Jamiʿah al-Kabirah is itself an immersion in Qur'anic descriptions of those whom Allah has chosen.
قُل لَّا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ
“Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it except love of those near of kin.”
The Prophet ﷺ asks for no payment for his message — only that the Ummah love his near family. Love for the Ahlulbayt (ع) is the reward of prophethood.
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيرًا
“Allah only wishes to remove all impurity from you, O People of the House, and to purify you with a thorough purification.”
Allah testifies to the purity of the Ahlulbayt (ع). The grammar shifts in the middle of the verse — singling them out — and the Prophet ﷺ gathered Ali, Fatima, Hasan, and Husayn (peace be upon them) under his cloak when this was revealed.
Important places
- Madinah · birthplace
- Samarra · his shrine
A lesson for children
Imam al-Hadi taught that being humble is being strong. The tallest trees bend with the wind; the small grasses snap.
With gratitude
- al-Kafi
- Tuhaf al-ʿUqul
- Bihar al-Anwar
- Mafatih al-Jinan
Continue Your Journey
Continue Your Journey
Soft suggestions to keep walking quietly, at your own pace.