Imam Jawad - Symbol of Prophet's Affability

The life span of Imam Muhammad Taqi Al-Jawad, peace be on him, was shorter than that of his predecessors as well as his successors. He became imam when he was eight years old and was poisoned at the age of 25.

Imam Al-Jawad, peace be on him, the ninth infallible Imam, was born on 10th Rajab 195 A.H. in the holy city of Medina. His agnomen was Abu’ Jafar and his famous titles were At-Taqi and Al-Jawad. Since the fifth Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir, peace be on him, was called Abu’ Jafar, historians have mentioned this Imam as Abu’ Jafar the Second.

Imam Musa Kadhim, peace be on him, had told one of his companions that his daughter-in-law (Sabikah) would be one of the most pious of women and to give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the wife of Prophet, peace be on him and his progeny, Maria Kubtiya who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy).

A few days after Imam Al-Jawad, peace be on him, was commissioned by Allah to hold the responsibility of Imamate at the age of eight, he is known not only to have debated with his contemporary scholars on subjects pertaining to fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), hadith (traditions), tafseer (Koranic exegesis), etc and outwitted them, but also to exhort their admiration and acknowledgement of his learning and superiority. Right from then the world realized that he possessed Divine knowledge and that the knowledge commanded by the Imam was not acquired, but granted by Allah.

Imam Muhammad Taqi, peace be on him, occupied the highest position in human virtues and moral attainments as this was the marked feature of the Prophet’s family. The Holy Imam Al-Jawad, peace be on him, was the symbol of Prophet Muhammad’s, peace be on him and his progeny, affability and Commander of Faithful Imam Ali’s, peace be on him, attainments.

His hereditary qualities comprised of gallantry, boldness, charity, learning, forgiveness and tolerance.

It was customary for the Imam to meet everyone humbly, show courtesy to all without discrimination, fulfill the needs of the poor, maintain Islamic requisites of equality and simplicity, help the poor secretly, treat even foes fairly, extend hospitality, impart true Islamic knowledge to all and specially to the scholars of religion and the like and to those interested in the acquisition of knowledge, marked his saintly life-in full conformity with other members of this sacred series of infallible Imams.

Imam Taqi’s speech was very charming and effective. Once during the Hajj season he addressed a gathering of the pilgrims and stated commandments of the Divine Law of Sharia’a. The audience included learned scholars who admitted that they had never heard such an eloquent and comprehensive speech.

A collection of golden sayings is also left by the Imam, resembling the wisdom of his ancestor Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib, peace be on him. Some profound discourses on theology and monotheism are also to his credit.

Some of his quotes are as under:

* The trust in Allah is the price of everything that is precious and the ladder to every goal which is high and sublime.
* Do not be an apparent friend of Allah in open and a secret enemy of His in private.
* One who follows his desires, concedes to the wishes of his enemy.