A Comment on the History and Geography of Samarra'

Samarra’ is a calm word whereas Mu`tasim Abbasi built this city and chose it as the capital of Abbasid Caliphate. The tenth and eleventh leaders of Shias (a.s) lived many years in Samarra’ under intense security and espionage measures and finally got martyred in the same city and got entombed in their own house, the place where their holy shrine exists now.
This city has passed through the times of glory and splendor after its foundation till the fourth century afterwards it got the way of decline; but in the era of Aal-e-Buya, it gained its prosperity again. Although that Samarra’ was housed immense Shias in it, but due to the austerity of Abbasid Caliphate, communication of these two Imams (a.s) with Shias was at its minimal level. This city was always the hub of political and social activities especially after the migration of Mirza Sherazi to this city where Shia Howza trained great scholars in the fields of Ijtehad and politics.
This article has its approach on the history and geography of Samarra’ emphasizing on the role of Imam Hadi (a.s) and Imam Hasan Askari (a.s), their holy shrine and the role of Marje`iyyah in this city.