Imam Muhammad bin Ali, al-Taqi-al-Jawad was born on 10th Rajab
195 A.H. in Madinah. His parents were the Infallible Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.)
and Bibi Khaizarun. He became the Imam at the age of 8 years.
The caliph Mamun invited the young Imam to Baghdad to get him
married to his daughter to fulfill his political aims. This infuriated his
Abbasid clan. To substantiate his choice, Mamun arranged a meeting
between the Imam and the leading scholars headed by Yahya
bin Aktham, the Chief Justice of the kingdom. It was a grand occasion with 900
scholars present. Yahya asked:
“What is the compensation (kaffarah) for a person in Ihram who hunted and
killed his prey?” The Imam replied that there were more details required,
and asked:
1. Did the Muhrim (one in Ihram) hunt inside the Haram or outside?
2. Did the Muhrim know the Sharia or not?
3. Did he hunt intentionally or not?
4. Did he hunt the first time or hunted many times?
5. Was he free man or a slave?
6. Was his prey a bird or an animal?
7. Was it big or small?
8. Did he hunt by day or night time?
9. Was he an adult (baligh) or not?
10. Was he repentant or
not?
11. Was his Ihram for Hajj
or Umrah?
Yahya was stunned and looked down and started sweating. Mamun requested the Imam to answer the question himself. The
Imam replied: “If he had killed the animal outside the sacred ground and it was
winged and large, an atonement of a sheep would have been necessary for him. If
he had struck it down in the sanctuary, the penalty would have been doubled. If
he killed a young bird outside the sacred ground, then the atonement of a lamb
which has been weaned off milk would have been required of him. If he had
killed it in the sanctuary, then he would be required to sacrifice a lamb and
the value of the young bird. As for wild animals, if it was a wild donkey, he would
be required to sacrifice a cow. If it was an ostrich, the sacrifice of a camel
would be necessary. If it had been a deer, then a sheep would be necessary. If
he had killed any of those in the sanctuary, the penalty would have
been doubled. Maamoun said to
the Imam: “You have done excellent O Abu Jaffer and God has rightly adorned you”
Maamoun asked the Imam to ask any question from Yahya
bin Akhtam.
The Imam asked the
Chief Justice:
“Can you describe the situation
when a man looked at a woman at dawn when it was forbidden (haram) to do so;
but then at sunrise it was permissible (halal) ? Then at
noon hour, it became haram ; but in the afternoon,
it became permissible ? Then at sunset it became haram ; but at night, it became halal ? Then at midnight, it became haram ; but at dawn, it
became halal for him to look at her”
Yahya bin Akhtam said: “By Allah! I do not know the
answer to this question. We would benefit from your answer”
The Imam explained the
answer as follows:
“At dawn, the woman
was a slave of someone else; however, by sunrise, the man had already bought
her for himself, so it became halal for him to look at her. “At noon, he made
her free, so she became haram for him; but by afternoon, he had married her, so
she became halal for him” “At sunset, he did zihar by which one’s wife becomes
haram for a person; but by night time, he paid the penalty for Zihar, and so
she became halal for him again. “At midnight, he divorced her; but by next
morning he revoked his divorce, so she became halal for him”
To uphold the
imperialistic and luxurious ways of life, these monarchs wanted to do away with
these Godly Imams who were the symbols of righteousness, compassion, faith,
piety, fraternity, and justice which are the main teachings of Islam. Similarly,
Yazid’s demand of allegiance from Imam Husyain (a.s.), or Maamoun’s appointment
of Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) as heir apparent were two distinct aspects of the
same wicked desire.
Contentment: The Imam used to live a simple and austere life wearing ordinary
clothes. One day someone told him that since he sat next to the king, it did
not befit him to wear such simple clothes. The Imam said: “If my value had been
due to my clothes, it would have befitted me to wear expensive clothes, when it
is not so, why should I give up simplicity. My present dress is concealing my
body and it is comfortable, then why should I give up for costly ones. We
Ahlul Bayt are content on whatever we get, and we do not allow greed to
approach us.”
Hospitality: Like other imams, he was also very hospitable. Once, a guest arrived at his
place in the middle of the night. The Imam asked him if he would like to have
dinner. The man replied that although he was hungry but would not bother the
Imam at such odd hour and that he would sleep hungry. The Imam said: “Guests do not sleep hungry at our place”
The Imam went inside
and with the help of a servant, prepared the food and personally brought to the
guest. Seeing this man started crying and on inquiry from the Imam, said: “I am
crying at the thought that why the world did not recognize such Godly person”
Patience: The Abbasid clan did not approve of the marriage of Umme Fadhl
with the Imam hence they continued to poison her ears. And Umme Fadhl herself
was of a haughty nature and these instigations increased the gulf between them.
She made the Imam’s life miserable, but the Imam exercised utmost patience.
Forgiveness: The relatives of the Imam were against him because of inheritance.
Some of the allegations were that the Imam’s complexion differed from Imam Reza
(a.s.) and they refused to accept that he was Imam Reza’s son. The Imam heard
such taunting remarks but said nothing. One day, some money of Khums arrived
and he distributed it to everyone including the one who was most inimical to the
Imam. When people pointed out, the Imam said that he has left the affair to
Allah. On hearing this, the person felt ashamed and fell on Imam’s feet and
asked for forgiveness. The Imam had forgiven him.
Sources:
Fourteen Masoomeen
by Muhammadi Trust, London
Akhlaq-e-A’imma
by Sayyid Zafar Hasan Amrohvi
The
Infallibles
by workshop@dir.com.Co.UK
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