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

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 three daughters for Imam (a) with the names of Hakima, Khadija and Umm Kulthum.

Imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a) lasted 17 years from [[203]]/818 until [[220]]/835. There are many reports and proofs for Imamate of Imam al-Jawad (a) including the report that one of the [[:Category:Companions of Imam al-Rida (a)|companions]] of Imam al-Rida (a) asked about his successor, and Imam al-Rida (a) pointed with his hand towards his son Abu Ja'far (Imam al-Jawad (a)) who was standing in front of him.

In another narration, Imam al-Rida (a) said, "This is Abu Ja'far I have seated in my place and I have left my position to him. We are the family, the children of whom inherit like their old ones." (which means that the same way our old ones inherit and receive knowledge, our children inherit knowledge from the old ones.)

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 successor 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 a number of Shi'as did not accept his imamate and turned to other people. Another group were wandering in his childhood until the issue of imamate would become 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 'Abd Allah some questions and after they found him unable to answer, they abandoned him. Some other Shi'a joined [[Waqifids]]. According to al-Nawbakhti, the reason of such a division was that they considered the age of puberty as one of the requirements of imamate.

However, even though most Shi'as mentioned the young age of Imam al-Jawad (a), but they followed him while Imam (a) answered to this question by mentioning the successorship of [[Prophet Sulayman (a)]] (Solomon) after [[Prophet Dawud (a)]] (David) and said, "When Prophet Solomon (a) was still a little child and took the sheep out for grazing, Prophet David (a) made him his successor."

According to some [[hadiths]], when Imam al-Jawad (a) became Imam at 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.

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 which aspect he meant. Yahya could not answer and the people there were surprised. Then, Imam (a) himself answered the question regarding different aspects. 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, "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?"

Then, Yahya asked about this hadith which said, "Abu bakr and 'Umar on the earth are like Gabriel and [[Michael]] in the skies." Imam (a) answered, "this hadith is not true because Gabriel and Michael have always served God and have not committed a sin while Abu bakr and 'Umar have long been polytheist before they become Muslims."

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 has 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  not pay [[Zakat]] to them.