Mu’tamid had known that killing the Imam in prison would endanger his government, as he would be blamed. Thus, he released the Imam from prison. Within a month, he ordered the Imam’s poisoning. He wanted to eliminate the Imam before the Imam could have any offspring to inherit the Imamat from him. Even though Mu’tamid had silently poisoned the Imam to eliminate him, he was afraid that his plot would be revealed. When the Imam was on his deathbed, Mu’tamid isolated him from his followers and the outside world. He also wanted to use this isolation to portray to the public that the Imam’s condition mattered to him. When the news of the Imam’s illness was brought to Mu’tamid, he ordered five of his trusted close ones to stay in the Imam’s house and continuously report the Imam’s condition. He also ordered a physician to visit the Imam twice a day and closely monitor the Imam’s condition. Two days later, the Imam’s illness worsened, and his body weakened. When Mu’tamid’s minister was informed about this, he personally visited the Imam and ordered the physicians not to leave the Imam. He also ordered ten known scholars to stay with the Imam. They all closely monitored the Imam’s condition until his martyrdom. After about eight days of illness, the Imam’s soul ascended on the 8th of Rabi’ al-Awwal, in the year 260 Hijri, in Samarra, at the age of 27. He was martyred after a short Imamat of less than six years. Thus, Imam Askari had the shortest duration of Imamat compared to the other Shia Imams. Historical records show Imam Mahdi’s presence by his father’s deathbed before his father’s martyrdom. By God’s decree, his presence was miraculously hidden from the government agents who were monitoring the Imam. When Mu’tamid was informed about the Imam’s martyrdom, he sent his agents to search the Imam’s entire house for any trace of a possible heir. He also sent female agents to inspect the women in the Imam’s house to inquire if any of them were expecting. There was suspicion about one female worker in the Imam’s house, who seemed like she might be expecting. Mu’tamid then instructed his trusted servant to keep her isolated to validate the suspicion. She was kept isolated for about two years, but did not show any sign of pregnancy. After the Imam’s close companions and family members had prepared to pray before the Imam’s body, the Imam’s brother, Ja’far, stepped forward to lead the prayer. Imam Mahdi, who was less than four years old, approached Ja’far. He pulled Ja’far’s cloak and told him, “O’ Uncle, step back, as I am more deserving than you to lead the prayer on my father.” Ja’far, who did not expect to be stopped by a child, was shocked and moved back unintentionally. Imam Mahdi then led the prayer over his father’s body and disappeared quickly after. When the news of the Imam’s martyrdom spread in the city, crowds of people came to the Imam’s funeral, including the top government officials. Mu’tamid, who wanted to portray his innocence regar
