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Imam Muhammad At-Taqi (A.S.)
Name: Muhammad bin Ali.
Titles: At-Taqi, Al-Jawad.
Kuniyya: Abu Ja'fer.
Father: Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.)
Mother: Sabika (also known as Khaizarun).
Birth:
10th Rajab 195 a.h. Madina.
Death: 29th Dhulqa'da 220 a.h.
Baghdad. Buried in Kadhmain.
His Parents & Birth
He was the only
son of Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.) The Prophet (S.A.W.) had said:
"My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who
will be a pure and pious Nubian."
Imam Musa Kadhim (A.S.) had told one of his companions that his
daughter-in-law (Sabika) would be one of the most pious of women and to
give her his salaams. She came from the same tribe as the Prophet's wife -
Mary Copt who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy).
Imam Muhammad Taqi (A.S.) was born when his father was 45 years old.
Till then Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.) had constantly been taunted that he had no
children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.)
was angry because he would lose out in inheriting the Imam's property and
in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.) was not the
father. He was eventually proved wrong by a person who could tell
parentage.
Childhood
The 9th Imam was 5
years old when his father was called to Baghdad by Mamun Rashid to be his
'heir apparent'. When Imam Ali Ridha (A.S.) was leaving he saw his son
putting sand in his hair. He asked why and the young Imam replied that
this was what an orphan did.
His titles, life & works
He became
an Imam at the age of 9. Mamun Rashid thought that as all the rulers
before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes had backfired that he
would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to make the 8th Imam his heir
apparent and give him power and wealth but that also backfired.
He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but from a
much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence him. His main
purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom he knew would bring
justice to the world) would be from his progeny and therefore intended to
give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam for a wife. Mamun still
continued oppressing the family and followers of the Ahlul-bayt (A.S.).
Mamun called the young Imam (A.S.) to Baghdad from Madina and offered
his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove to them
the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a meeting between
Imam and the most learned of men at that time - Yahya bin Athkam.
It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam
(A.S.) was first asked by Yahya:
What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam
who hunted and killed his prey?"
Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could
answer the question:
Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside?
Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not?
Did he hunt intentionally or not?
Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times?
Was he free or a slave?
Was his prey a bird or an animal?
Was it big or small?
Had he hunted by day or by night?
Was he baligh or not?
Was he repentant or not?
Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra?
Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating.
Mamun asked the young Imam to answer the question, which he did, and
then Imam asked Yayha a question which he could not answer. The Banu Abbas
admitted defeat and Mamun took the opportunity to offer his daughter in
marraige to Imam. Imam (A.S.) read his own Nika (the khutba of which is
used today) with the Mehr of 500 dirhams. Imam wrote a letter to Mamun
that he would also give Ummul Fadhl Mehr from the wealth of Aakhira. This
was in the form of 10 duas which were for fulfilling any hajaat (desires)
[Chain of narrators upto Prophet - Jibrail - Allah]* . Thus his title
Al-Jawad (the generous one).
* These duas are found in Mafatihul Jinaan (pg 447 - In margin)
Imam lived for a year in Baghdad with Ummul Fadhl. She was very
disobedient to Imam. When she found out that Imam had another wife (from
the progeny of Ammar-e-Yasir) and that there was also children she was
jealous and angry realizing that her father's plan had failed. She
complained to her father who also realized that his plan, to keep the 12th
Imam in his progeny, had failed. He was enraged and in his rage he drank
heavily and went to the 9th Imam's house and attacked Imam with a sword.
Both Ummul Fadhl and a servant saw the attack and believed Imam was dead.
Mamun on waking next morning realized the consequences of his attack and
was thinking of arranging the disposal of Imam's body when he saw Imam
well without a scratch on him. He was confused and asked Imam who showed
him an amulet which is called Hirze Jawad Imam told him it was from his
grand mother Bibi Fatima Zahra (A.S.) and kept the wearer safe from all
except the angel of death. Mamun asked Imam for it and Imam gave him one.
Now Mamun was scared and tried a new tactic. He tried to deviate Imam
by sending him beautiful girls and musicians. When he realised nothing was
working he let Imam return to Madina.
Imam used this time to prepare the masails of Taqleed and Ijtihaad in
preparation for the 12th Imam knowing that both the 10th and the 11th Imam
would spend most of their lives in prison. He also prepared the people of
Madina teaching true Islam knowing that this would be the last time they
would be able to receive guidance directly from an Imam for a long time.
Ummul Fadhl continuously complained of Imam to her father who sent her
letters back.
Mamun died in 218 a.h. and was succeeded by his brother Mo'tasam
Billah. He openly announced that all Shias were not Muslims. He said it
was required for people to kill and prosecute Shias, and to destroy
property belonging to Shias.
Ummul Fadhl now started complaining to her uncle who was sympathetic to
her. Mo'tasam called Imam to Baghdad. He asked Imam to pass judgement of
how to punish a thief. Imam said only fingers could be cut as the palms
were for Allah (as in Qur'an - it is one of the wajib parts to touch the
ground during sajda). As this decision was contrary to the decision of the
other 'Ulema' it strengthened the position of the Shias. The other 'Ulema'
complained to Mo'tasam.
Death & Burial
With instigation from
both the 'Ulema' and Ummul Fadhl, Mo'tasam sent poison which Ummul Fadhl
put in Imam's drink and gave it to him. Imam died on 29th Dhulqa'ada at
the age of 25 years and is buried near his grandfather in Kadhmain (the
10th Imam gave him ghusl and kafan).
Summary of Imam's Work
It is he who
prepared and wrote books for the masails of Ijtihaad and Taqleed which
were essential to prepare believers for the ghaibat of the 12th Imam.
Additional Notes
Once when the young
Imam was on his way to Baghdad he came across Mamun's party returning from
a hunting trip. All the other children on the street ran but the Imam did
not.
Mamun asked the young Imam, "Why did you not run away?"
Imam said the road was wide enough for all of them and neither had he
committed a sin. Mamun then asked him his identity.
After finding out, he asked Imam what he (Mamun) had in his hands. Imam
replied "Allah has created tiny fish in the river. These fish are hunted
by the Hawks of the kings and the descendants of the Prophets reveal the
secrets".
Contributed by workshop@dircon.co.uk
