It is reported that Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) wrote a precious letter to Ibn Babawayh (may Allah have mercy on him), who was one of the renowned scholars of his time. In this letter, the Imam said:
“To proceed, I advise you, O esteemed and trusted scholar, Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Husayn al-Qummi, may Allah grant you success in earning His pleasure and bestow upon you righteous children through His mercy, to be mindful of Allah, establish prayer, and pay zakat, as prayer will not be accepted from those who withhold zakat.
I also advise you to seek forgiveness for sins, suppress anger, maintain family ties, show compassion to your brothers, work to fulfill their needs in both hardship and ease, exercise patience with the ignorant, support the religion, nurture in all matters, uphold the Qur’an, be of good character, and enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, as Allah, the Exalted, says:
‘There is no good in much of their whispering, except for those who command charity, kindness, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does so seeking the pleasure of Allah, We will give him a great reward.’ [1]
… So, act upon my advice and tell my Shia to follow it. And you must await the reappearance (of my son), for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘The best deeds of my Ummah are awaiting the relief.’ My Shia will always be in sorrow until my son appears—the one whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) foretold would fill the earth with justice and equity after it has been filled with tyranny and oppression. So, O my follower and Shia, be patient, and command all my Shia to be patient, for Allah has said: ‘The earth belongs to Allah; He gives it as inheritance to whomever He wills of His servants, and the final outcome is for the righteous.’ [2]
May peace be upon you, and upon all my Shia, and may Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon them.”
(Adapted from the book “Guides to the Path of Light: The Life of Imam Hasan al-Askari” by Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi al-Modarresi, with slight modifications)
Footnotes:
[1] (Surah An-Nisa, verse 114)
[2] (Surah Al-A’raf, verse 128)2