The demise of Imam Hasan al-Askari (A) on Rabi‘-al-Awwal 8, 260 A.H. brought about a difficult situation for the Imamiyah community that is known as the Minor Occultation in the Shi’ah history. Relying on the extant documents of the period, this article takes up a historical study of this era, particularly the activities of the first two envoys and a number of major difficulties faced by the Imamiyah at this time. Next, the theological opinions of two prominent theologians of the period, Ibn Ghubbah and Abu-Sahl Now-Bakhti, are dealt with.
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