Imam Muhammad b. Ali al-Jawad (a): Difference between revisions

'''Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. Mūsā''' (Arabic:{{iarabic|محمد بن علي بن موسی}}) known as '''ʾImām al-Jawād (a)''' ({{iarabic|امام الجواد}}) was the ninth Imam of Shia. He (a) was born on [[10 Rajab|Rajab 10]], [[195]]/April 12, 811 in [[Medina]] and was [[Imam]] for 17 years. He was martyred when he (a) was 25 years old and was buried in [[Kadhimiya]] beside the grave of his grandfather [[Musa b. Ja'far (a)]].

After [[Imam al-Rida (a)]] was martyred, some followers of his brother,[['Abd Allah b. Musa]], called him as Imam. Some others followed [[Waqifids]], but most Shi'a accepted the Imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a) even though he (a) was a 8 year old child. At that time, due to restrictions made for Imam (a), his connections with Shi'a were mostly made through agents.

His father Imam al-Rida (a) was the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia. His mother was [[Sabika]] from the family of [[Mariya al-Qibtiyya]], the wife of [[the Prophet (s)]]. In some sources, the name of his mother is mentioned as Khayzaran and Rayhana.

Imam al-Jawad (a) was martyred in [[Baghdad]] by Mu'tasim, the Abbasid caliph, at the age of 25 and was buried beside his grandfather [[Imam al-Kazim (a)]] in [[Kadhimiya]].

Imam al-Jawad (a) married the daughter of [[Ma'mun al-Abbasi]], called Umm Fadal in 215/830 (or 214/831). This marriage took place following the request of Ma'mun and Imam (a) expressed his consent with this marriage after specifying the dowry similar to that of [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]] which was 500 Dirhams. Imam (a) did not have any children from this wife and all his children are from his other wife [[Samana al-Maghribiyya]].

According to [[Ibn Kathir]], the marriage contract of Imam al-Jawad (a) and Ma'mun's daughter was made at the time of Imam al-Rida (a) but the marriage ceremony was held by the permission of Ma'mun in 215/830 in Tikrit, [[Iraq]]. According to this report, there is no conflict between the report that some have said that the marriage happened in 202/817 and that some reported in 215/830, but it is not in complete agreement with the famous story of debate between Yahya b. Aktham and Imam al-Jawad (a) in Baghdad.

According to [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]], Imam al-Jawad (a) had four children with the names, 'Ali ([[Imam al-Hadi (a)]]), Musa, Fatima and Amama. However some sources regarded Imam's (a) daughter three with the names of Hakima, Khadija and Umm Kulthum.

In another report, Abu l-Hasan b. Muhammad (among the companions of Imam al-Rida (a)) said that, "I heard Imam al-Rida (a) said, 'Abu Ja'far is my caliph among my people.'"

Imam al-Jawad (a) was born in last years of Imam al-Rida's (a) life. They have said that before his birth, Imam al-Rida (a) had no children and some enemies spread this rumor that Imam al-Rida (a) is not going to leave any lineage after himself and the chain of imamate will be broken. According to narrative sources, when Imam al-Jawad (a) was born and they brought him to his father; Imam al-Rida (a) said, "This is a child, more blessed than him is not born for our followers." Also, a report narrated by Ibn Asbat and 'Ubbad b. Isma'il said, "We were at the presence of Imam al-Rida (a) that they brought Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Jawad (a)). We asked, 'Is this that blessed child?' Imam al-Rida (a) said, 'This is the child, no more blessed than him is ever born."

Imam al-Jawad (a) became Imam in childhood when he (a) was 8 years old and thus many Shi'as did not accept his imamate and turned to other people. Another group were wandering in his childhood until the issue of imamate becomes clear, however they gradually followed his imamate. This is one of the issues which was risen by some people at the time of Imam al-Rida (a) and Imam al-Jawad (a) and these two Imams (a) gave answers to them from the [[Qur'an]]. One of these answers is about the prophethood of [[Prophet Yahya(a)]] (John), where the Qur'an says: "And We gave him judgment while still a child" (19:12)

Another answer was speaking of [[the Prophet 'Isa (a)]] (Jesus) in the first days after birth. [[Verses]] 30 to 32 of [[Sura Maryam]] narrates this issue from Jesus (a), "'Indeed I am a servant of Allah! He has given me the Book and made me a prophet. (30) He has made me blessed, wherever I may be, and He has enjoined me to [maintain] the prayer and to [pay] the Zakat as long as I live, (31) and to be good to my mother, and He has not made me self-willed and wretched." (19:30-32)

Imam al-Rida (a) was martyred in [[203]]/818 when his son, Imam al-Jawad (a) was only 8 years old and became Imam and this caused disagreement among Shi'a so that some of them followed [['Abd Allah b. Musa b. Ja'far]], brother of Imam al-Rida (a); but since they did not want to accept imamate of a person without any reason, some of them asked some questions from 'Abd Allah and after they found him unable to answer, they abandoned him. Some other Shi'a joined [[Waqifids]]. According to al-Nubakhti, the reason of such a division was that they considered maturity of age one of the requirements of imamate.

According to some [[hadiths]], when Imam al-Jawad (a) became Imam in a young age, some people from Baghdad and other cities went to see him in Medina during [[Hajj]]. In a meeting they had with 'Abd Allah b. Musa (Imam al-Jawad's (a) uncle), they asked him some questions, but his answers did not seem right and they became disappointed and sad. Then they went to Imam al-Jawad (a) and asked him the same questions and he (a) gave them answers which made them happy, praised Imam (a) and prayed for him.

Imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a) was contemporary with two [[Abbasid]] caliphs: the first was [[Ma'mun]] (193/809 to 218/833) and Imam (a) spent 23 years of his life at the time of his [[caliphate]]. The second was al-Mu'tasim al-Abbasi (218/833 to 227/842) two years of his caliphate were contemporary with imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a). Imam al-Jawad (a) went to Baghdad twice following the request of these two caliphs. His first trip at the time of Ma'mun was not long. In the second trip, Imam al-Jawad (a) stayed longer in Baghdad and was martyred there.

Imam al-Jawad's (a) debate with Yahya b. Aktham was among important debates of Imam (a) which took place at the time of Ma'mun al-'Abbasi in Baghdad. According to some Shi'a sources, the cause for happening this debate was Ma'mun's proposal for the marriage of Imam (a) with Umm Fadl. After Abbasid noblemen were informed of that, objected to Ma'mun. To justify his decision, Ma'mun suggested to them to test Imam al-Jawad (a) and they accepted and arranged a debate to test Imam (a).

In the debate, first Yahya mentioned a question about a [[Muhrim]] (one who perform rituals of hajj) who hunts an animal. Then, Imam (a) explained different aspects of the issue and asked Yahya to define the criteria he meant. Yahya could not answer and the people there were surprised. Then, Imam (a) himself answered to the question regarding different criteria. After hearing Imam's (a) complete answer, Abbasid scholars and courtiers admitted to his competence in [[Fiqh]].<ref>[http://www.islamicthought.co.uk/imamjawad.html To study the whole story see here] </ref> It is said that upon seeing this, Ma'mun said, "I praise to God that what I had thought happened."

According to Shi'a [[hadith]] sources, in a session where Ma'mun and many [[jurists]] and courtiers were present, Imam al-Jawad (a) had a debate with Yahya b. Aktham about the merits of caliphs ([[Abu Bakr]] and [['Umar]]). Yahya turned to Imam (a) and said, [[Gabriel]] conveyed the message of God to the Prophet (s): "Ask Abu bakr if he is pleased with me? I am pleased with him." Imam (a) answered, I do not reject merits of Abu bakr but anyone who has narrated this hadith needs to pay attention to other hadiths of the Prophet (s) and that he (s) said, "when you receive a hadith from me, present it to the [[Book of God]] and my sunna; if it is in agreement with them, accept it and if it is not, do not accept it because liars and forgers of hadiths will increase." Then, Imam (a) continued that this hadith is not in agreement with the Qur'an because the Qur'an says, 'We are nearer to him than his jugular vein.' (50:16) Then, was not God aware of Abu bakr's satisfaction that had to ask him?"

When Imam (a) was living in Baghdad, events happened which promoted the position of Imam (a) among people such as his ruling about thieves. Once there was a disagreement over the question that from where the hand of a thief have to be cut; some said that it needs to be cut from wrist and some said that it needs to be cut from elbow. Mu'tasim, the Abbasid caliph asked Imam al-Jawad (a) to give his opinion in this regard. After caliph insisted, Imam (a) said, "only the fingers of a thief have to be cut and the rest of his hand needs to remain. He referred to the following verse of the Qur'an as his reason, "The places of sajda belong to Allah, so do not invoke anyone along with Allah." (72:18) Mu'tasim liked Imam's (a) answer and ordered to follow his ruling.

Like the time of other Imams (a), at the time of Imam al-Jawad (a), there were sects which were active in different fields and tried to promote their thoughts and beliefs in the society and draw away Shi'a from their authentic beliefs. People of hadith were among such sects who believed in the incarnation of God. To guard authentic Shi'a beliefs, Imam al-Jawad (a) rejected connection with them and ordered Shi'a not to pray behind them and do not pay [[Zakat]] to them.

Imam al-Jawad (a) had agents in in Islamic lands including Baghdad, Kufa, Ahvaz, Basra, Hamedan, [[Qom]], [[Rey]], Sistan and Bost.

Also, the connection of Shi'a with Imam (a) was through sending letters (See: [[Tawqi']]). Much of the teachings of remained from Imam al-Jawad (a) are mentioned in his letters to Shi'as. In their letters, Shi'as mentioned their questions which were mostly jurisprudential issues and Imam (a) answered them. In most cases, the name of the one who has written letter to Imam (a) is mentioned and few cases, the name of the author is not mentioned.

Imam al-Jawad (a) also wrote some letters to his agents in different cities such as Hamedan and Bost and also some Shi'as of Iran went to visit him in Medina. These visits are in addition to visits which took place during the days of Hajj between Imam (a) and Shi'as.

Upon the return of Imam al-Jawad (a) from Baghdad to Medina, a group of people accompanied Imam (a) out of Medina to see him off. By the time of Maghrib prayer, they arrived a place where an old mosque was located. Imam (a) went to that mosque to do his prayer. There was a cedar tree in the yard of that mosque which had not borne any fruits until that time. Imam (a) asked for some water and made [[Wudu]] beside that tree and then led a [[congregational prayer]] there and after the prayer made a Sajda of gratitude. He (a) then said goodbye to people and went away. The next day, the tree borne so much fruit and people became so surprised of that. It is narrated from [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] that he saw this tree many years later and ate from its fruits.

Mu'tasim, the Abbasid caliph summoned Imam al-Jawad (a) from [[Medina]] to [[Baghdad]]. On [[Muharram 28]], [[220]]/February 5, 835, Imam (a) entered Baghdad and passed away in [[Dhu l-Qa'da]]/November of the same year.

The day and month of his demise have been mentioned in some sources as Dhu l-Hijja/December 5 or 6 and in some other sources as the end of Dhu l-Qa'da.