Name -
Ja'far
Name -
Mohammad
Title -
At-Taqi and Al-Jawad
Kunyat -
Abu Ja'far
Born -
Friday 10th of Rajab 195 A.H. , at Medina
Father's Name -
Ali ibn Musa
Mother's Name -
Khaizuran
Died -
At the age of 25 years, at Kazmain , on Wednesday, 29th Zilqad 220
AH. Poisoned by Mu'tasin the Abbaside Caliph
Buried -
in Kazmain, Bagdad.
Hazrat Imam
Muhammad At-Taqi (a.s)
His Parents & Birth
He was the only son of Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.)
The Prophet (S.A.W.) had said:
"My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who will
be a pure and pious Nubian."
Imam Musa Kadhim (A.S.) had told one of his companions that his
daughter-in-law (Sabika) would be one of the most pious of women
and to give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the
Prophet's wife - Mary Copt who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim
(who died in infancy).
Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.) was born when his father was 45 years
old. Till then Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) had constantly been taunted
that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of
Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.) was angry because he would lose out in inheriting
the Imam's property and in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam
Ali Ridha (a.s.) was not the father. He was eventually proved wrong
by a person who could tell parentage.
Childhood
The 9th Imam was 5 years old when his father was called to Baghdad
by Mamun Rashid to be his 'heir apparent'. When Imam Ali Ridha (a.s.)
was leaving he saw his son putting sand in his hair. He asked why
and the young Imam replied that this was what an orphan did.
His titles, life & works
He became an Imam at the age of 9. Mamun Rashid thought that as
all the rulers before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes
had backfired that he would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to
make the 8th Imam his heir apparent and give him power and wealth
but that also backfired.
He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but
from a much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence
him. His main purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom
he knew would bring justice to the world) would be from his progeny
and therefore intended to give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam
for a wife. Mamun still continued oppressing the family and followers
of the Ahlul-bayt (a.s.).
Mamun called the young Imam (a.s.) to Baghdad from Madina and offered
his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove
to them the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a
meeting between Imam and the most learned of men at that time -
Yahya bin Athkam.
It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam
(a.s.) was first asked by Yahya:
What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam who hunted
and killed his prey?"
Imam replied that there were many more details required before he
could answer the question:
Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside?
Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not?
Did he hunt intentionally or not?
Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times?
Was he free or a slave?
Was his prey a bird or an animal?
Was it big or small?
Had he hunted by day or by night?
Was he baligh or not?
Was he repentant or not?
Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra?
Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating.
Mamun asked the young Imam to answer the question, which he did,
and then Imam asked Yayha a question which he could not answer.
The Banu Abbas admitted defeat and Mamun took the opportunity to
offer his daughter in marraige to Imam. Imam (a.s.) read his own
Nika (the khutba of which is used today) with the Mehr of 500 dirhams.
Imam wrote a letter to Mamun that he would also give Ummul Fadhl
Mehr from the wealth of Aakhira. This was in the form of 10 duas
which were for fulfilling any hajaat (desires) [Chain of narrators
upto Prophet - Jibrail - Allah]* . Thus his title Al-Jawad (the
generous one).
* These duas are found in Mafatihul Jinaan
(pg 447 - In margin)
Imam lived for a year in Baghdad with Ummul Fadhl. She was very
disobedient to Imam. When she found out that Imam had another wife
(from the progeny of Ammar-e-Yasir) and that there were also children,
she was jealous and angry realizing that her father's plan had failed.
She complained to her father who also realized that his plan, to
keep the 12th Imam in his progeny, had failed. He was enraged and
in his rage he drank heavily and went to the 9th Imam's house and
attacked Imam with a sword. Both Ummul Fadhl and a servant saw the
attack and believed Imam was dead. Mamun on waking next morning
realized the consequences of his attack and was thinking of arranging
the disposal of Imam's body when he saw Imam well without a scratch
on him. He was confused and asked Imam who showed him an amulet
which is called Hirze Jawad. Imam told him it was from his grand
mother Bibi Fatima Zahra (a.s.) and kept the wearer safe from all
except the angel of death. Mamun asked Imam for it and Imam gave
him one.
Now Mamun was scared and tried a new tactic. He tried to deviate
Imam by sending him beautiful girls and musicians. When he realised
nothing was working he let Imam return to Madina.
Imam used this time to prepare the masails of Taqleed and Ijtihaad
in preparation for the 12th Imam knowing that both the 10th and
the 11th Imam would spend most of their lives in prison. He also
prepared the people of Madina teaching true Islam knowing that this
would be the last time they would be able to receive guidance directly
from an Imam for a long time.
Ummul Fadhl continuously complained of Imam to her father who sent
her letters back.
Mamun died in 218 a.h. and was succeeded by his brother Mo'tasam
Billah. He openly announced that all Shias were not Muslims. He
said it was required for people to kill and prosecute Shias, and
to destroy property belonging to Shias.
Ummul Fadhl now started complaining to her uncle who was sympathetic
to her. Mo'tasam called Imam to Baghdad. He asked Imam to pass judgement
of how to punish a thief. Imam said only fingers could be cut as
the palms were for Allah (as in Qur'an - it is one of the wajib
parts to touch the ground during sajda). As this decision was contrary
to the decision of the other 'Ulema' it strengthened the position
of the Shias. The other 'Ulema' complained to Mo'tasam.
Death & Burial
With instigation from both the 'Ulema' and Ummul Fadhl, Mo'tasam
sent poison which Ummul Fadhl put in Imam's drink and gave it to
him. Imam died on 29th Dhulqa'ada at the age of 25 years and is
buried near his grandfather in Kadhmain. His son the 10th Imam,
Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.) gave him ghusl and kafan.
Summary of Imam's Work
It is he who prepared and wrote books for the masails of Ijtihaad
and Taqleed which were essential to prepare believers for the ghaibat
of the 12th Imam.
Additional Notes
Once when the young Imam was on his way to Baghdad he came across
Mamun's party returning from a hunting trip. All the other children
on the street ran but the Imam did not.
Mamun asked the young Imam, "Why did you not run away?"
Imam said the road was wide enough for all of them and neither had
he committed a sin. Mamun then asked him his identity.
After finding out, he asked Imam what he (Mamun) had in his hands.
Imam replied "Allah has created tiny fish in the river. These fish
are hunted by the Hawks of the kings and the descendants of the
Prophets reveal the secrets".
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