Ayatollah Alavi Borujerdi (may his blessings endure), in the advanced jurisprudence class session on Wednesday, 9 Mehr 1404, coinciding with the blessed birth anniversary of Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), congratulated this auspicious occasion to the presence of Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) and all followers of the Ahl al-Bayt school (peace be upon them), and elaborated on the status and special conditions of the Imamate period of Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him).

He stated: Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him), during his short life and limited period of Imamate, despite being under the strictest surveillance and restrictions from beginning to end, preserved the Shia community from division and deviation through his wise strategies.

Ayatollah Alavi Borujerdi added: None of the previous Imams were placed under such intense confinement and surveillance; to the extent that even the birth of Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance) within the Imam’s household was concealed from the closest members of the family. This reflects the severity of Abbasid pressure, and at the same time, the special foresight of Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him) in safeguarding the future of Shiism.

He emphasized: Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him), despite pressures and restrictions, established an extensive network of representatives (wukala) in various regions, even in distant lands such as Rome, in order to guide and manage the Shia community. This planning ensured that after his martyrdom, the Imamate of Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), despite his young age, was accepted without causing division among the Shia.

Referring to the current situation of the Shia world, he stated: Today, Shia Muslims are dispersed across the world, and we are obliged, just as Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him) preserved the Shia community during difficult times, to plan for the preservation of Shia identity and rights in all countries. Religious authority and the clerical establishment cannot fulfill their responsibility merely through traditional teaching and routine affairs; rather, they must be present in global arenas with planning, rationality, and strategic foresight.

He further stated: We are responsible for all generations of Shia, even those who have been exposed to deviation or have lost their religious identity. These individuals are our responsibility because they once belonged to our schools, neighborhoods, and mosques, but due to weak upbringing and lack of planning, they drifted away. If mosques had been vibrant and religious gatherings active, such situations would not have occurred; we must acknowledge shortcomings in our planning.

He emphasized: We are even responsible toward those who have developed doctrinal or outward weaknesses, because they are our children—our sons and daughters. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) said, “I and Ali are the fathers of this الأمة,” we must also have a sense of paternal responsibility. A father never neglects his child; whether righteous or mistaken, the child remains a child, and the father cannot forget him.

He noted: Our duty in the era of occultation is to care for the orphans of the family of Muhammad (peace be upon them), meaning the responsibility entrusted to us by Imam al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), and we must not neglect any member of the Shia community anywhere in the world.

In conclusion, Ayatollah Alavi Borujerdi stated: From Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), we learn that wisdom, rationality, and planning for the future of Shiism are indispensable necessities. Today as well, we must have precise and practical plans for the future generations of Shia across the world and, through the proper presentation of the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), provide the grounds for their guidance and stability.