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 Sayyida Khaizarun (s.a.). He became the Imam at the age of 8 years on martyrdom of his father (a.s.).
The caliph Mamun invited the young Imam to Baghdad to get him married to his daughter Ummul Fadhal, to fulfill his political plans. This infuriated his Abbasid clan. To substantiate his choice, Mamun arranged a meeting between the young 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 before?
5. Was he a
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 nighttime?
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 due to
surprise and shame. 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 were a wild donkey, he
would be required to sacrifice a cow. If it were 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 been 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 nighttime, 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, after usurping the rights
of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.), these monarchs wanted to do away with these Infallible
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 planning.
Contentment: The
Imam used to lead 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 with 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 persons”
Patience: The
Abbasid clan did not approve of the marriage of Umm-ul- Fadhl with the Imam hence
they continued to poison her ears. And Umm-ul-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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