Muhammad al-Jawad
Muhammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Mūsā at-Taqī al-Jawād ( Arabic محمد بن علي بن موسى التقي الجواد; * April 12, 811 ; † November 27, 835 ) was the ninth imam according to the belief of the Twelve Shiites ( Imamites ) and thus a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed . His birth name was Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa .
Muhammad al-Taqi was born in Medina to the Imam Ali ar-Rida and a Nubian slave. Despite his age of only 9 years, he succeeded his father as imam after his father's death. For many years he lived in Baghdad under the protection of his future father-in-law, the caliph al-Ma'mun . He came into conflict with his successor al-Mutasim and was allegedly murdered.
He is buried with his grandfather Imam Mūsā al-Kāzim in al-Kazimiyya , a modern suburb of Baghdad.
His names and surnames
Ali al-Ridha gave his son Muhammad al-Jawad the nickname " Abu Dscha'far ", just like the nickname of his grandfather Imam Muhammad al-Baqir. A distinction is often made between the two by using Abu Dscha'far al-Awwal (Arabic: the first ) for Muhammad al-Baqir and Abu Dscha'far al-Thani (Arabic: the second ) for Muhammad al-Jawad.
| His surname | meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| al-Jawad (الجواد) | The generous one | |
| al-Taqi (التقي) | The pious one; The godly one | |
| al-Qani '(القانع) | The satisfied one | |
| al-Murtadha (المرتضى) | The one you are happy with | |
| al-Radhy (الرضي) | The satisfied one | |
| al-Muchtar (المختار) | The chosen one | |
| al-Mutawakkil (المتوكل) | The one who trusts (on God) | |
| al-Zakiy (الزكي) | The pure one | |
| Bab al-Murad (باب المراد) | Gate of wishes and hopes |
About his birth
Born in Medina in AD 195 (811 AD) as the son of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Rida and his mother, the former slave (Umm Walad), Muhammad at-Taqi (Arabic: "The God-fearing") was already very early on a notable person in the Islamic world. Several names are known about his mother: 1. Al-Khayzuran (Chayzuran), so called by Imam Ali al-Ridha . Her real name is said to be Durrah. 2. Sukaynah al-Nawbiyyah or al-Murayssiyyah as it is reported by historians. It is claimed that her bloodline extends as far as Maria al-Qibtiyya , the wife of the Prophet Mohammed . 3. Her name was Rayhanah. 4. Her name was Sabikah. Due to the discrepancies about her name, some historians leave her name unmentioned and simply refer to her as Umm ul-Walad (Arabic: "mother of the boy").
Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha asked his sister Hakimah bint Imam Musa bin Ja'afar al-Kadhim to stay with his pregnant wife until the birth of Muhammad al-Taqi occurred. Hakimah followed her brother's every request. When the birth was imminent, Imam Ali al-Ridha asked his sister to appear with a midwife. He turned on a lamp in the house and was looking forward to the great newborn. It was not long before the former slave "Umm ul-Walad" gave birth to an important personality with a great intellect and special character traits.
Great joy and happiness came over the father at the birth of his newborn son. It is reported that he said: "The parable of Moses , son of Imran , the cleaver of the sea, and the parable of Jesus , son of Mariah , blessed be the mother who gave birth to him ... was also born to me." To his companions he said: "Allah enriched me with someone who will inherit me and the children of Davud ...". With this and many other statements, Ali al-Ridha made it clear to society that Muhammad al-Taqi will be the imam who will succeed him.
His childhood and his life
Muhammad al-Taqi lived under his father's wings for only a short period of seven years. At this young age, however, he already showed signs of high intelligence and special talents and thus amazed the minds of the people who surrounded and experienced him. Just like his father, he internalized special virtues and high morals, as well as his diverse values as a torch of leadership and the awakening of Islamic society. Muhammad al-Jawad shared in the joys and sorrows of his fellow human beings, comforted them in their hardships and disasters and helped the weak and the poor. It was through this charity and through his favors Muhammad al-Jawad won the hearts and affection of the people.
The young Muhammad learned the religion of Islam from his father , inherited all his knowledge and was responsible for his father's affairs and tasks from a very young age, especially those in Medina .
Historians report that Muhammad al-Jawad issued orders and prohibitions to the servants and not a single one ever opposed or criticized him. His father was pleased with everything little Muhammad al-Jawad did.
His father sent a letter to his son from Khorasan (former province in Iran ) with the following content: “Oh Abu Ja'far (nickname of Muhammad al-Jawad)! I was informed that if you want to go horse riding with your horse, the (freed) slaves will let you leave the house through the little gate of the garden. They do this because of their stinginess, as they fear that someone will receive a benefit (alms) from you! With my rights, I ask you not to enter or leave the house, except through the main entrance. Whenever you want to go outside, carry some gold and silver with you. Nobody should ask you for anything without letting you give it to them. If some of your uncles ask you to be generous to them, give them no less than fifty dinars , and you can give them even more if you want. If some of your aunts ask you (for money), give them no less than fifty dinars, and you can give them more if you want. I want Allah to exalt you, so give (alms) and do not fear the stinginess of the Lord of the Throne … ” Generosity and benevolence towards the weak and poor was part of the nature of Ali al-Ridha and Muhammad al-Jawad. This quality was an impulsive element in the customs of the Ahlulbayt imams .
The appointment as imam
Shortly before his death, Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha named his son Imam and thus the leader of the Muslims after him. He declared his son's imamate and made him his successor (arab. Khalifah) and executor. Many narrators have reported the appointment of al-Jawad as imam after his father. One of these innumerable reports comes from Muhammad al-Mahmuri, who reports the following about his father: “I was once standing with Imam al-Ridha, may the peace of Allah be upon him, in Tūs (in Khorasan ), when one of his companions asked him: 'If something happens to you, who should we turn to (in our affairs)?' He asked the imam who they should obey and support. Imam al-Ridha said, 'My son Abu Ja'far (Muhammad al-Taqi).' Since Imam al-Jawad was still a child, the man asked, 'I think he's too young for that at the moment.' Imam al-Ridha replied: ' Allah sent Jesus , the son of Mary , (as a prophet) although he was even younger than Abu Ja'far it will be when he becomes the Imam after me.' "
Martyrdom of Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha
When the painful news of the martyrdom of Imam Ali ibn Musa al-Ridha reached the people of Yathrib ( Medina ), they hurried to offer consolation to al-Javad. According to Shiite belief, at the age of seven, he has now become the imam and thus the leader of the Muslims in all matters of life. The people shared with him the suffering and pain of his father's death. Many delegations from other countries came to offer him their consolation as well.
Imam al-Jawad in the time of al-Ma'mun
Imam al-Javad lived under the rule of Caliph al-Ma'mun for most of his lifetime, and he did not live after him very long. Historians report that Al-Ma'mun had a great and sincere love for Muhammad al-Jawad. Therefore, he married him to his daughter, gave him generous gifts, cared for him very much and defended him. On the other hand, it is believed that this love and honor was not because of the sincerity towards al-Jawad, but because of political reasons.
First meeting between al-Ma'mun and al-Jawad
The first meeting between al-Ma'mun and Abu Ja'far al-Jawad was in Baghdad when one day al-Ma'mun went out to practice hunting. On his way he passed a few children, among whom was Muhammad al-Jawad. When the children saw al-Ma'mun with his move, they ran away in fear of him. Only Imam al-Javad remained. When al-Ma'mun saw him, he stopped and asked him why he wasn't running away too. Imam al-Jawad answered wisely: “The way is not narrow so that I should clear it for you and I am not to blame that I should fear you. I think you wouldn't harm anyone who was not to blame. "
Al-Ma'mun was enthusiastic about this answer and asked him: “What is your name?” Al-Jawad replied: “Muhammad.” Al-Ma'mun asked: “Son of whom?” “Son of Ali al-Ridha , ”Replied Imam al-Jawad.
Al-Ma'mun did not find this extraordinary intelligence strange, since Muhammad (al-Jawad) came from the house of the Prophet, the source of the message (Islam) and the center of knowledge and meaning on earth. Al-Ma'mun asked Allah to have mercy on Imam al-Ridha and continued his journey towards the desert. When he got to the place of the hunt, he released a falcon that he had with him. The hawk disappeared and after a while the hawk came back with a live fish in its beak. Al-Ma'mun was amazed and went back to his palace. He met Muhammad al-Jawad again and asked him, "Oh Muhammad, what's this in my hand?" Muhammad al-Jawad replied, " Allah , the Exalted and Almighty, created in the sea with His power small fish from the Falcons of kings and rulers are fished in order to test (question) the progeny of the prophet al-Mustafa ( prophet Mohammed ) with them . "
Al-Ma'mun could no longer hold back his admiration and said: “Truly, you are the son of al-Ridha!” He took Imam al-Jawad with him, did him good and exaggerated in honoring al-Jawad. Al-Javad quickly found a special place next to the caliph's throne.
Marrying al-Ma'mun's daughter
Despite the fact that he was still a child, the young Muhammad al-Jawad was able to win the sympathy of the then ruling Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun , son of Hārūn ar-Rashīd . Al-Ma'mun was especially enthusiastic about the great virtue that young Muhammad possessed. Muhammad al-Taqi was able to shine with incredible scientific and religious knowledge as well as wisdom and a mature mind and made the scholars of his time look old in the truest sense of the word. Al-Ma'mun, despite criticism from the Abbasid tribe, had Muhammad al-Taqi married off to his daughter Umm al-Fadhl because of his affection for him. The reason for their criticism was the concern that Muhammad ibn Ali al-Ridha, because of the affection he enjoyed from the caliph and his marriage to the caliph's daughter, might become the successor and rule of the caliph. A loss of power was of course not in their interest.
His career
Imam al-Jawad won the hearts of the people and was a master in subjects of the Qur'an, its interpretation, in all kinds of religious matters, but also in scientific areas such as chemistry, astronomy, medicine, grammar and language including the Eloquence etc.
After al-Jawad married Umm ul-Fadhl at the age of fifteen, he left Baghdad with his family and relatives and set off for Mecca to practice Hajj. The Abbassids were delighted that Imam al-Jawad was leaving Baghdad because of their great dislike for him because of his high level of knowledge and virtues, which were known among all the people of Baghdad. They feared that al-Ma'mun might hand over the caliphate to him. Imam al-Jawad left Baghdad to live in Yahthrib and to be removed from the Abbasid conspiracies.
When the Caliph al-Ma'mun died, Imam al-Jawad was just 22 years old. He knew full well that this love on the part of al-Ma'mun was not sincere, but only served political purposes, just as al-Ma'mun Ali al-Ridha showed affection, but then, according to some historical reports, let him be poisoned. The followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib went through a difficult time under the rule of al-Ma'mun and were persecuted.
His death
When al-Mu'tassim , brother of the caliph al-Ma'mun, succeeded his brother, he met al-Jawad with great dislike. Al-Mu'tassim was not a friend of knowledge, nor was al-Jawad Muhammad. He ordered the imam to come to Baghdad. Muhammad al-Jawad reached Baghdad in the month of Muharram , in the year 220 AH
As soon as he arrived in Baghdad, al-Mu'tassim put him under house arrest in order to find out about all his activities and affairs. He ordered his people to monitor him and he prevented him from communicating with his followers and those who believed in his imamate.
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad died a martyr's death in 835 AD. He was reportedly poisoned. He is buried with his grandfather Imam Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kadhim in al-Kazimiyya , a suburb of today's Baghdad.
Individual evidence
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir by Sharif Baqir Qurashi, page 32, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See "The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad" by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, p. 24
- ↑ See An-Nujoom az-Zahirah, vol. 2 p. 231; al-Fusul al-Muhimmah, p. 252.
- ↑ Cf. Dala'il al-Imama, p.209
- ↑ See Bahr ul-Ansab, Volume 2, page 19
- ↑ Cf. Al-Fusul al-Muhimmah, page 252; Tathiratul Khawas by Ibn al-Jawzi , page 321
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 30, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ Cf. Dala'il al-Imama by Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari, p. 209
- ↑ See Kitab al-Irshad by Sheikh al Mufid, Volume 2, page 356, English version
- ↑ See Umdat al-Talib, p.188.
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, p. 30, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ Cf. “Bihar ul-Anwar” by Muhammad al-Majlissi, Volume 12, page 103
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 30, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See Dhiya 'al-Aalameen, vol. 2 a manuscript in al-Husayniyya al-Shushtariyya Library.
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 52, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See "Uyun Akhbar-Al-Ridha" by Sheikh Sadooq, vol. 2, p.8, ISBN 964-438-791-0 (2 VOL.SET)
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 52, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See Ad-Durr an-Nadheem, p.218, a manuscript in Ameerul Mo'mineen Library.
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad by Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 173, Publisher: Ansariyan Publications - Qum, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ See The Life of Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad, Baqir Shareef al-Qurashi, page 222, ISBN 964-438-653-1
- ↑ al-Mu'tasim bi-'llāh
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Jawad, Muhammad al- |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Jawād, Muhammad ibn ʿAlī ibn Mūsā at-Taqī al- (full name); Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Musa |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | ninth imam according to the belief of the Twelve Shiites (Imamites) |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 12, 811 |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 27, 835 |