Also known as al-Naqi; tenth Twelver Imam
Family
Ali al-Hadi was the son of Muhammad al-Jawad. He was still a child when his father died in 835 CE and is recognized as the tenth Imam in Twelver Shi‘i Islam.
From Madinah to Samarra
During al-Mutawakkil’s reign he was summoned from the region of Madinah to the Abbasid court’s residence. His later life in Samarra unfolded under close governmental oversight.
Legacy
He died in 254 AH / 868 CE. His son Hasan al-Askari succeeded him in Twelver tradition. Studying his life requires attention to the relationship between Abbasid rulers, the Alid family and networks of followers, while distinguishing documented events from later devotional elaboration.
Sources and further study
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Ali al-Hadi
An introductory, source-attributed profile. Dates and disputed reports are qualified where necessary. The linked works represent their authors’ historical or religious approaches; linking a source does not endorse every interpretation it contains.