Virtue and Knowledge in Imam Mohammad Taqi

Zahra Motaqi

ImamJavad (A.S) was the only son of Imam Reza (A.S). The Ninth Imam, HazratJavad (A.S) undertook the responsibility of Imamate at the age of nine. One of the friends of Imam says, "Ali ibnJaffar, the uncle of Imam, enjoyed a great respect among the people and whenever he went to the mosque, people would surround him and ask questions about their problems. Imam was a child when his father passed away, but he never happened to commit the childish acts and even one day when one of his friends purchased some toys and took it to his house, Imam was extremely annoyed with him and said, "What do I have to do with these? We are a family of Knowledge and Virtue."

Once Ma’mun was passing a street in Baghdad with his soldiers, when the other children saw the caliph, they ran away but Imam Javad did not. Noting this, Mamun al-Rashid stopped his carriage and asked, "Young man, why you did not run away like other children?"

Imam Javad replied calmly, “Neither had I committed a crime, nor was I blocking the way. Why should I have run away or be afraid of? And I also know that you will not cause any unnecessary trouble when your way is not blocked, and your horses can go around me."

Ma’mun al-Rashid was surprised with this mature reply and asked, "What is your name?"

"Muhammad," he replied. "Whose son are you?" asked Mamun al-Rashid. "Son of Ali."

"Ali son of who?" said M’amun, "Son of Musa, son of Ja’far, son of Mohammad, son of Ali, son of Hossein, brother of Hassan, son of Ali the cousin and successor to Mohammad the Messenger of God."

Ma’mun al-Rashid became even more surprised at the latter answer and rode on. During his hunt the hawk returned to him with a small fish in its beak. He returned back toward the city. Once again, he found this young man who said he was Mohammad son of Imam Ali Reza who remained where he was left.

Ma’mun stopped his carriage near Imam Javad and said, "What does this hawk do for me?", then he changed his mind and hid the fish in his fist and said "No, instead tell me, what is there in my fist?"

Imam Javad replied, "Allah has created tiny fish in the river. The hawks of kings sometimes catch fish from there and bring it to the Kings. These kings hide it in their fists and ask a member of the Ahlul-Bayt of the Prophet, "Tell me what is there in my fist."

Ma’mun al-Rashid praised and applauded him and said, "Truly, you are the worthy son of Imam Ali Reza. Ma’mun al-Rashid took the young Imam Javad with him, and let him live in a nearby house next to the Royal Palace.

Martyrdom of Imam

lbn-e-SheherAshoob, a great historian writes: Because of the extreme anger and grudge that Mu’tasim nursed in his heart against Imam, he provoked and encouraged UmulFazal the wife of Imam to murder him. The womanly passions made her accept the killing and martyring Imam so she poisoned and martyred him. The martyrdom of Imam took place on 29^th of ZilQada, 220 Hijrah, at the age of 25.

Sayings by Imam

* A man came to Imam and said, "Admonish me." He replied, "Oppose (disobey) the wishes of your heart because you are continuously under the observation of God."

* The sinner who does not stop committing sin and repent is proud. The one who shows greatness to God is perished.

* The best faithful is the one whose morality is best of all.

* Man's perfection is in intelligence (wistfulness).

* Whosoever depends on God, God saves him from every evil.