Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri
Abū al-Ḥasan ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad al-Sammarī | |
|---|---|
أبو الحسن علي بن محمد السمري | |
| Deputy of Imam Muhammad al-Mahdi | |
| In office 937–941 | |
| Preceded by | Abu al-Qasim al-Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti |
| Succeeded by | Abolished (Major Occultation starts) |
| Personal life | |
| Died | 941 CE |
| Known for | Last of the Four Deputies |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Shia |
| Jurisprudence | Ja'fari |
| Creed | Twelver |
| Muslim leader | |
| Disciple of | Hasan al-Askari, Muhammad al-Mahdi |
Influenced
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| Part of a series on Shia Islam |
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| Shia Islam portal |
| Part of a series on Shia Islam |
| Twelver Shi'ism |
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| Shia Islam portal |
Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Muhammad al-Samarri (Arabic: أبو الحسن علي بن محمد السمري) was the last of the Four Deputies, who are believed by the Twelvers to have successively represented their Hidden Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, during his Minor Occultation (874–941 CE). Al-Samarri in this role succeeded Abu al-Qasim al-Husayn ibn Ruh al-Nawbakhti in 937.
Al-Samarri is said to have received a letter from Muhammad al-Mahdi shortly before his death in 941 CE. The letter predicted the death of al-Samarri in six days and announced the beginning of the complete occultation, later called the Major Occultation, which continues to this day. The letter, ascribed to Muhammad al-Mahdi, added that the complete occultation would continue until God granted him permission to manifest himself again in a time when the earth would be filled with tyranny.