Our tenth Imam is al-'Imam Ali al-Hadi (AS) who is also called al-'Imam Ali al-Naqi.
He was born to al-'Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (AS) on 15th Dhu al-Hijjah, in one of the villages around Madinah.
According to the Divine decree and the command of the Prophet (SA), al-Imam Muhammad al-Jawad designated Ali al-Hadi (AS) as his successor, the Imam and leader of the people after himself.
Like his father, al-'Imam Ali al-Hadi (AS) attained the position of Imamate at a very tender age, and in this position he guided and led the people.
From his early childhood al-'Imam al-Hadi (AS) was a perfect model of Islam.
He was free of all faults and defects, and was adorned with all good qualities and virtues.
It was for this reason that the people called him al-"Naq"' which means pure and holy, and al-Hadi" which means guide.
With great determination and effort al-'Imam al-Hadi (AS) worked hard to guide the people, and he taught them the correct manner of living.
The people were extremely fond of him, and they benefited greatly from his guidance, his knowledge and his awareness.
Through him they found the right path in life.
Al-Mutawakkil, the bloodthirsty Abbasid tyrant, was envious towards al-'Imam al-Hadi (AS) and fearful of the lmam's powerful influence.
For this reason he summoned the Imam from al-Madinah to Samarra, in present day Iraq and placed him under surveillance in an army camp.
Al-Imam al-Hadi (AS) lived in this world for forty years.
He was always opposed to the oppression of the ruling Abbasids.
and used to condemn their tyranny and oppression.
The result was that on 3rd Rajab, 254 AH he was martyred in Samarra' through poison.
His sacred body was buried in Samarra'.
May eternal peace be upon him.
AI-Mutawakkil, the tyrant, was also a drunkard.
He did not follow the laws of religion and the Qur'an, and he committed hideous crimes just to preserve his throne.
He was pained by the people's affection for al-'Imam al-Hadi.
and afraid of the Imam's powerful influence.
Late one night al-Mutawakkil was sitting on a beautiful couch in his palace, feasting, drinking and carousing with his guests.
His poets were reciting verses for him and his minstrels were singing songs for him.
The doors and walls of the palace were decorated with gold, and outside the palace, the guards stood on watch.
Amidst his drunkenness al-Mutawakkil suddenly began to wonder whether anyone could take all his power and luxury away from him.
After thinking about it for a moment he answered his own question: "Yes, Ali the son of Muhammad, called al-Hadi and al-Naqi, could do that, for the people love him affectionately".
At this al-Mutawakkil became very agitated and disturbed.
He angrily called his guards: "Arrest Ali ibn Muhammad, and bring him to me" His guards and attendants, that is, the people who had sold him their freedom and humanity along with their honor rushed to the house of the Imam.
They found him sitting while facing towards the Ka'bah and reciting the Qur'an.
The voice of his recitation was heavenly.
The guards immediately arrested him and took him off to the palace.
AI-'Imam al-Hadi (AS) entered the palace.
His face was radiant and calm.
He was murmuring: "In the name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate".
Al-Mutawakkil looked at the Imam.
His eyes were dull and bloodshot as he looked into the shining eyes of the Imam.
As he stared fiercely at the Imam, those same thoughts came back to his mind.
It was as if he wanted to have the Imam killed that very night.
However, instead of having the Imam killed he decided to belittle him in front of all the gathering.
Rudely, he shouted to him, "O Ali ibn Muhammad, amuse our party and recite for us some rhyme!" AI-Imam al-Hadi (AS) was silent and said nothing.
Again, this time in an even more harsh tone, al-Mutawakkil repeated his demand: "O Ali ibn Muhammad, I am commanding you to entertain our gathering with some rhyme."
Ali Imam al-Hadi (AS) remained silent and refused to meet the shameless gaze of the Abbasid tyrant.
AI-Mutawakkil was now angry as well as drunk.
Once more he repeated his demand, and this time added: "You have no choice but to recite for us" The Imam raised his gaze and looked sternly at al Mutawakkil's bloated face, and said: "Since I am obliged, so listen" Then the Imam recited a poem in Arabic the sense of which is something like this: Among those in power they are without measure, Who not from Allah but from His signs take pleasure.
To building palaces of stone they are dedicated, And these they have finely decorated.
Around each palace for fear of their lives, Are watchmen, armed with swords and knives.
* * But all this power, finery and land, Reject these men with death's sure hand Death arrived suddenly and captured, By the neck those men, in evil enraptured.
Took by the collar those filled with malice, Towards pain and miseries, far form the palace.
Along with the outcome of every' deed, In the Hereafter are they received.
While the bodies of these foul creatures lie, In the heart of the earth, hidden from the eye.
The souls of these felons taken at a time, When they were engaged in the vilest crime.
* * Of these evil ones, depressed and remanded, A host of questions will be demanded.
Where Is now your arrogance and pride, That your body in the earth you did hide? Where is your self-worship and vanity, That you return with the worst of humanity? Where all that luxury with no mitigation? Where all your drunken profligation? Where are your looks on which you enslaved, Your hands and face on which lavish attention you paid? * * There is no couch, no bed, no rest, No perfume, jewelry and no fine dress.
In place of the praise of those you were choosing, In and out of your body worms are oozing.
You left behind the wealth you had saved You couldn't take it with you past the grave.
On hearing the poem from the Imam (AS), the entire gathering was disrupted and everyone was shaking.
Al-Mutawakkil too, despite all his hard-heartedness and cruelty, was standing shaking like a madman.