Imam Mohammed Taqi al-Jawaad ('a.s)

Imam Ali Ridha was poisoned on 17th Safar 203 AH and with effect from the same date, Imam Jawad was commissioned by Allah to hold the responsibility of Imamate. At the tender age of eight there was no apparent chance or means of the young Imam reaching great heights of knowledge and practical achievements. But after a few days he is known not only to have debated with his contemporary scholars on subjects pertaining to fiqh, hadith, tafsir and outwitted them, but also to exhort their admiration and acknowledgment of his learning and superiority. Right from then, the world realised that he possessed divine knowledge and that the knowledge commanded by the Holy Imam was not acquired, but granted by Allah. During that time, Mamum ibn Harun was the Abbasid Caliph of the time. When Mamum died, Mu’tasim ascended the throne. Mu’tasim, like his Abbasid ancestors, was worried about the leadership of the Ahlul bayt (as) and their political and scholarly status. Therefore, he exiled Imam Jawad (as) from Medina to Baghdad in the year 219 AH, for fear of his popularity and extending his effect.

Indeed, Imam Jawad was exiled to Baghdad from Medina, and stayed in Baghdad until the year 220 AH, when he was martyred by poisoning, by his wife Ummul Fadhl, daughter of Mamun, at the instigation of the ruling caliph Mu’tasim. He is buried beside his grandfather, Imam Musa al-Kadhim in Kadhmain, Iraq.

The span of the life of Imam Jawad was shorter than that of his predecessors as well as his successors. He become Imam at the age of eight years and was poisoned at the age of twenty five; yet his literary attainments were many and his commanded great respect and esteem. The Holy Imam was the symbol of Prophet Muhammad's affability and Imam Ali's attainments. His hereditary qualities comprised of gallantry, boldness, charity, learning, forgiveness and tolerance, The brightest and most outstanding phases of his nature and character were to show hospitality and courtesy to all without discrimination, to help the needy; to observe equality under all circumstances, to live a simple life; to help the orphans, the poor and the homeless; to impart learning to those interested in the acquisition of knowledge and guide the people to the right path.