Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him) was born in the year 232 AH in Medina. Like other Imams (peace be upon them), he suffered under the tyranny and oppression of the rulers of his time, enduring the harshest days under the supervision of several usurper Abbasid caliphs. After assuming the caliphate, Al-Mu’tazz al-Abbasi placed the Imam under strict surveillance, imprisoning him multiple times and entrusting him to the custody of Salih ibn Wasif, the jailer. Salih, who was an enemy of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them), took advantage of the situation and assigned vile individuals to torment the Imam in prison.
Shaykh Mufid has narrated: “When Abu Muhammad, Imam Hasan al-Askari (peace be upon him), was imprisoned, a few of the Abbasids came to Salih ibn Wasif and said: ‘Make his life difficult, and press him as much as you can!’
Salih replied, ‘I have assigned two of the most corrupt men I know to him, but even they have now become devoted to prayer and fasting and have attained great positions in worship.’
The Abbasids asked Salih to bring these two men. When they appeared, they threatened and scolded them, saying: ‘Why are you not being harsh with the Imam?’
The two men replied: ‘What should we say about a man who fasts during the day and spends the entire night in worship? He does not speak to anyone and is only concerned with worship. Whenever we look at him, our bodies tremble, and we feel as though we are no longer masters of ourselves.’
When the Abbasids heard this, they returned in complete humiliation and disgrace.”
Taken from the book “Irshad” by Shaykh Mufid (may Allah have mercy on him), Volume 2, page 334.