the life of imam muhammad al jawad

8/13/2019 The Life of Imam Muhammad Al Jawad

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

TheLifeofImamMuhammadAlJawad

Author

:

Baqir

Al

Qurashi

Introduction

Dedication

Hisbirthandupbringing

Underthe

wing

of

his

father

ThetreacheryofalMa'moonagainstImamarRedhar

Fromhishighidealsr

Hisknowledgeandsciences

TheZakat

Nobilitiesof

character

Hiscompanionsandthenarratorsofhistraditions

26.AbuAlialHasanbinRashidalBaghdadi

78.AlibinMahziyar

TheageofImamalJawad(a.s)

Atthe

age

of

al

Ma'moon

AttheageofalMa'moon

ImamalJawadaskingYahay


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Theend

Referencebooks

Introduction

OneofthemostwonderfulpicturesofintellectandknowledgeinIslamisImamAbuJafar

MuhammadalJawad(a.s),whopossessedthevirtuesandnobilitiesoftheworld,made

springsofwisdomandknowledgeflowintheearthandwastheteacherandpioneerofthe

scientificandculturalrevivalofhisage.Scholars,jurisprudents,narratorsoftraditionsand

learners

of

wisdom

and

sciences

came

to

him

to

drink

from

the

pure

fount

of

his

sciences

and

cultures.JurisprudentshavereportedmuchfromhimconcerningtheverdictsoftheIslamic

Sharia,worships,muamalat[1]andotherbranchesofjurisprudence,andallhavebeen

recordedintheencyclopediasofjurisprudenceandHadith.

ThisgreatImamwasoneofthefoundersofthejurisprudenceoftheAhlulBayt[2](a.s)that

representedcreation,originalityandprogressofintellect.

[1]Ritualobservances,socialcustomsandethicalrules.

[2]AhlulBaytisatermreferringtothehonoredfamilyoftheProphet(s),namelyhisdaughter

Fatima,ImamAli,ImamHasan,ImamHusaynandtheothernineinfallibleimamsdescending

fromImam

Husayn

(peace

be

upon

them

all).

Scholarshavereportedfromhimwonderfulvarietiesofwisdomandliteraturesregarding

nobledeedsandconductsthatareamongthemostpreciousmaximsdealingwithdifferent

educationalandmoralissues.

ImamAbuJafaralJawad(a.s),withhistalents,geniusesandgreat,endlessscientificability,

hasproventheluminousrealityadoptedbytheShiathatanimammustbethemostaware

andvirtuousoneofthepeopleofhistimeandtheonewhohasmoreknowledgethananyone

else,regardlessofwhetherheisyoungorold.Allahhasprovidedtheinfallibleimamsofthe

AhlulBayt

(a.s)

with

knowledge,

wisdom

and

sound

judgment

similar

to

how

He

provided

the

ArchProphetswiththesequalities.Thisconceptisoneofthemainelementsinthedoctrine

oftheShia.

ImamAbuJafar(a.s)hasproventhatclearly.Heundertooktheimamateandthereligious

leadershipafterhisfathersdeathwhilehewas,ashistorianshaveunanimouslyagreed,not

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morethansevenyearsold.Thisgreatrolewouldnotallowitskeeper,accordingtothe

mentalityofachild,toplungeintoanyfieldofknowledgeortoenterintoanyfieldofdebates

andcontroversieswithgreatscholarsandspecialistsbecausethisisnotpossibleforalittle

child,butImamalJawad(a.s),thoughhewasstillalittlechild,brokethatnotion.

Themost

famous

scholars

of

his

time

asked

him

some

of

the

most

complicated

philosophical,

theologicalandjurisprudentialquestions,andheansweredthemall.Amongthosescholars

wasYahyabinAktham,thechiefofthejudgesofBaghdadwhomtheAbbasidshadchosento

testImamalJawad(a.s).HeaskedImamalJawad(a.s)aboutajurisprudentialquestion,and

ImamalJawad(a.s)ramifiedthequestionintoseveralbranchesandaskedYahyawhich

branchhemeant.Yahyadidnotknowwhattosayandcouldnotsavehimselffromthat

embarrassingsituation,andthenheconfessedthathecouldnotkeeppacewithImamal

Jawad(a.s).[1]

[1]Weshalldiscussthisquestionandothersinthecomingchapters.

TheargumentsofImamalJawad(a.s)withYahyaandwithotherscholarsofthattime

occupiedthepublicopinioninBaghdadandinothertowns.Theywerethemaintopicstalked

ofinmeetingsthen,andthecaravanstransportedthemeverywhere.Theywereandstillarea

sourceofadmirationthroughouthistory.

WhatprovesthegreattreasureofhisknowledgewhilehewasstillyoungisthattheShia

jurisprudents,afterthedeathofImamarRedha(a.s),hastenedtowardsYathrib(Medina)to

knowthenextinfallibleimam.ThereliablepeopleguidedthemtoImamalJawad(a.s).They

wenttohimandaskedhimthemostambiguousandcomplicatedquestions,andheanswered

themall.Narratorssaythat,onanotheroccasion,hewasaskedthirtythousandquestions,

andheansweredthemall.Itisnaturalthatthereisnojustificationtothisconfusingand

amazingmatterexceptthatwhichtheShiabelieve:Allahhasendowedtheinfallibleimamsof

AhlulBayt(a.s)withknowledge,wisdomandvirtue,withthelikesofwhichnooneamongst

peoplehaseverbeenendowed.

SomehistorianssaythatthetalentsandgeniusesofImamalJawad(a.s)affectedal

Mamoon,theAbbasidcaliph,andconsequentlyhelovedImamalJawad(a.s)sincerelyand

preferredhimtoevenhisownchildrenandfamily.HemarriedhimtohisdaughterUmmal

Fadhl,giftedhimabundantlyandorderedhisgovernmentbodiesandtherestoftheofficial

departmentstorespectandglorifyhim.However,thisisnottrue,asweshalldetailinthis

booklateron.

ImamalJawad(a.s)didnotfaceanyeconomicalpressuresthroughouthislife.Helivedat

ease.AlMamoongavehimayearlysalaryofonemilliondirhams,whichwasaconsiderable


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amountatthattimewhenonedirhamequaledthepriceofonesheep.

ThiswasbesidestheabundantamountsofthelegaldueshereceivedwhichtheShiabelieved

mustbepaidtoImamalJawad(a.s),likefor

example,the

half

of

the

khums,

which

the

Shia

jurisprudents

call

as

the

right

of

the

imam,

the

monieswhoseownerswereunknownandotherlegalduesbesidestheincomesoftheentails

thatsomebenevolentpeopleoftheShiahadentailedonAhlulBayt(a.s)inQom[1]andother

places.ImamalJawad(a.s)economizedinspendingonhimself.Hespentthoseabundant

moniesonthepoorandneedypeopleamongsttheMuslims.Itisbecauseofthisunequalled

generositythathehasbeencalledalJawad(thegenerous,theliberal).Thissurnamewasthe

mostparticularandfamoussurnameofhis,totheextentthathewasknownamongstthe

peoplebyit.

ImamalJawad(a.s)wassurroundedbyahaloofvenerationandglorificationandrespected

highlybyallclassesofsociety.Peoplesawinhispersonalitythescopeofhisgreatfatherswho

hadcarriedthetorchofguidanceandgoodnesstomankind.However,hedidnotpayany

attentiontothemanifestationsofvenerationsandglorificationswithwhichhewas

surrounded.Instead,hepreferredasceticismandavoidedallthepleasuresofthisworld.

Once,alHusaynsawhiminBaghdadwhilethemasseshadcrowdedaroundhim.Hesaidto

himselfthatImamalJawad(a.s)wouldnotreturntohisasceticismandsinceritytoAllah.

ImamalJawad(a.s)feltthatinhim.Hecametohimandkindlyandlenientlysaid,OHusayn,

thebreadofbarleyandthegroundsaltinthesanctumofmygrandfather,themessengerof

Allah(a.s),aremorebelovedtomethanwhatyouseemein[2].

ThisphenomenonwasoneoftheprominentaspectsintheconductsofImamalJawad(a.s)as

itwastheprominentaspectintheconductsofalloftheinfallibleimamsoftheAhlulBayt

(a.s).Ithasneverbeenmentionedthatanyofthemtriedthisworldlylifeoritspleasures.All

ofthempreferredtheobedienceofAllahinsteadand

[1]AholycityinIranwhereFatima(s),thedaughterofImamarRedha(s)andtheauntof

ImamalJawad(s),wasburied.

[2]IthbatalHudat,vol.6p.185.

lookedforwardtotheafterlifeanddideverythingthatmighttakethemclosertoAllah.

ImamalJawad(a.s)livedthatshortperiodofhisholylifetendingtowardsknowledge.He

establishedthebasesandprinciplesofknowledgeandmadeuseoftheperiodofhisstayin

Baghdadinspreadingknowledge,teachingdifferentsciencesandmergingtheintellectwith

theIslamicsciencesandliteratures.[1]Agreatnumberofscholarsandnarratorsjoinedhimto


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learnfromhimthedifferentIslamicsciences,suchastheology,philosophy,jurisprudenceand

interpretation(tafsir).Thisbookrelatesthebiographiesofthosescholarsandnarrators

accordingtothesourcesofbiographiesandhistory.Talkingaboutthesemencompletesour

researchonthepersonalityofImamalJawad(a.s).

Theage

in

which

Imam

al

Jawad

(a.s)

lived

was

one

of

the

best

Islamic

ages

throughout

historybecausecivilizationspreadwidelyinthatage.Fromamongthewonderfulscenesof

thatcivilizationwasthedevelopmentofsciences,theestablishmentofinstitutesandlibraries

andthetranslationofmedicalandphilosophicalbooksfromGreekandotherlanguagesinto

Arabic.Baghdadbecamethecapitalofthegreatestcivilizationofsciencesandintellectinthe

historyofIslam.Baghdadwasfullofscholarsandspecialistsinmedicine,linguistics,

jurisprudenceandotherbranchesofknowledge.TheeconomicallifeinBaghdaddevelopedto

averyfarextent,butunfortunatelygreatwealthaccumulatedinthehandsofcertainclasses,

especiallytheclassthatservedtheAbbasidruleandworkedintheinterestoftheAbbasids.

Thisclassofpeoplebecameterriblyrichtoadegreethattheydidnotknowhowtospend

theirmonies.Theymadethedoorsoftheirhousesoutofgoldandwallowedinluxuriesand

pleasureswhilethemassesoftheMuslimpeople

[1]AqeedatashShia,p.200.

sufferedfrompoverty,deprivationandbitterliving.

WeshouldstudytheageofImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s)andsearchforitscivilizational,

economical,politicalandsocialfeaturesforstudyingtheageinamethodicalwayisnecessary

forresearchers.ThisbookisnotaspecialstudyonthebiographyofImamMuhammadal

Jawad(a.s)only,butitisacomprehensivestudyoftheIslamicageinwhichImamalJawad

(a.s)lived.(8)

StudyingthebiographiesofthekingswhoruledduringtheageofImamalJawad(a.s)is

relevanttohislifebecauseitshowsthedifficultiesandmisfortunesfromwhichheandthe

Islamicnationhadtosufferduringthereignsofthosekings,whotriedtheirbesttowrongthe

peopleandforcethemtodowhattheydisliked.

ImamAbuJafarMuhammadalJawad(a.s)spentmostofhislifeduringthereignofal

Mamoon,whowasoneofthemostprominentAbbasidcaliphsbasedonhisintellect,

intelligentpoliciesandinfluentialpowerincontrollingevents.Wediscusshisbiography

objectivelyanddiscussthepoliticaleventsthathadtakenplaceduringhisreign,suchashis

appointingImamalJawad(a.s)ashisheirapparent,thebloodywarsbetweenhimandhis

brotheralAmeen,thebattleofAbuasSarayaandothers.Wementionthereasonsthatled

alMamoontomarryhisdaughterUmmalFadhltoImamalJawad(a.s).Wealsomentionthe


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biographyofalMutasim,theAbbasidcaliph,duringwhosereignImamalJawad(a.s)

sufferedthebitterestkindsofpersecution.HeforcedImamalJawad(a.s)toleaveYathrib

(Medina)andliveunwillinglyinBaghdadunderhousearrest.Hesetdetectorstospyonhim

andwatchhissayingsanddoingsandallthosewhovisitedhimandhadrelationswithhim.

WhenhesawthehighpersonalityofImamalJawad(a.s)andfoundthathedidnotsupport

himor

acknowledge

his

policies

which

tended

to

spread

injustice

and

corruption

everywhere

intheearth,hehadpoisoninjectedinhimbytheImamswife,UmmalFadhl(alMa'moons

daughter).Sheassassinatedhimwhilehewasstillyoung.

Wehavedetailedthatinoneoftheforthcomingchaptersofthisbook.

Ithinkthatthereisnobenefittothenationbetterthanpublishingthebiographiesofthe

infallibleimamsofAhlulBayt(a.s)andmakingtheirvirtuesandexploitsknowntopeople

becausetheywerethegenuinesourceofmansdignityandhonor,andtheywerethe

overflowingspringsofintellectandknowledgenotonlytothisumma,butalsotoallpeople

despitetheirdifferentraces,religionsandinclinations.Theinfallibleimamsraisedhighthe

banneroftruthtoguidethedeviant,conducttheconfused,showtherightpathandleadto

thefaithinAllah,whichisthebasisofgoodnessandpeaceintheearth.

ResearchingtheconductsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)leadstoshiningtreasuresofknowledgeand

wisdomandunveilsthesoulsthathavebeenloyaltothetruth,thathavebeencreatedfor

faith,thathavegonetowardsAllahtheAlmighty,thathaveadoptedthemissiontoinviteto

Himandthathavesuffered,forthesakeofthat,fromthePharaohsoftheirages,fromthe

likesofwhichnoreformerintheearthhaseversuffered.

ImamalJawad(a.s)wasoneofthatpureprogenywhoraisedthewordsofAllah.Hewastried

assevereatrialaswaspossibleand,therefore,facedfromthetyrantsofhisagedifferent

kindsofpersecutionandoppression.Thisbookwillshowalltheseaspectsclearly.

TheArabiclibraryhasnostudyonthelifeofImamAbuJafaralJawad(a.s)whoisoneofthe

flowingspringsofintellectandknowledgeinIslamandoneofthepridesofthisnationand

oneofitspioneeringleaders.NoonehaswrittenonhislifeexceptMuhammadbinWahban

whocalledhisbookAkhbarAbiJafarathThani:the

newsofAbuJafartheSecond[1],but,unfortunately,itisnotavailableinourlibraries.Itmay

beoneofthemanuscriptsthattheummahaslostormaybeinoneofthewardrobesofthe

manuscriptsoftheinternationallibraries.

IhavebeensuccessfulthankstoAllahinresearchingthebiographyofthisgreatImamwho

hasfilledtheworldwithhisvirtues,knowledge,asceticismandpiety.IdonotclaimthatI


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havecoveredallthesidesofhisshininglife,forthisissomethingfarfromthereality,butI

haveshedfaintlightsonsomeaspectsofhispersonality,thatwasthescopeofthelivesofhis

purefatherswhohadlitthetorchofintellectualandsociallifeinIslam.

Ithinkitismyduty,attheendofthisintroduction,tooffermyappreciation,gratitudeand

loyaltyto

the

great

scholar

Sheikh

Hadi

al

Qurashi

for

his

efforts

in

reviewing

many

encyclopediassuchasWassa'ilashShiaandothersourceswhichprovideduswithalotof

informationaboutthelifeofImamAbuJa'faralJawad(a.s),besideshisvaluablenotesinthis

book.AlsoIfeelitismydutytothankthenoblemanSayyidAbdurrasool,thesonofSayyid

RedhaalHusayniasSa'igh,forhiscontributioninspendingtowardsthepublicationofthe

bookinitsfirstedition.IpraytoAllahtomakehimsuccessfulineverynobledeed.

[1]AthThareea,vol.1p.315,alAlaam,vol.7p.155.

Dedication

Totheinspiringmindthathasencouragedscientificandintellectuallifeontheearth,Tothe

creativeintellectthathasinitiatedrevivalandcreationforMuslims,TothegreatImam,Jafaras

Sadiq,peacebeuponhim,Ioffer,withhumblenessandreverence,thiswork,inwhichIhave

receivedthehonorofresearchingthebiographyofhisgrandsonImamMuhammadalJawad,the

miracle

of

intellect

and

knowledge

in

Islam,

hoping

it

will

be

accepted

Hisbirthandupbringing

BeforeindulginginresearchontheaspectsofImamalJawad'spersonalityandtalkingabouthis

lifeandotherrelatedconcerns,Iwouldliketorefertohisnoblelineageandthatwhichis

associatedwith

it,

concerning

his

birth,

his

qualities

and

other

things

which

might

be

considered

ascluestotalkabouthispersonality.

HisnoblelineageIntheworldoflineages,thereisnolineagenoblerormoreexaltedthanthelineageofImamAbu


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JafaralJawad(a.s).HewasfromtheheartoftheProphetsfamily,whichwastheholiest,most

honorablefamilythathumanityhaseverknownthroughouttheages,thefamilythathasprovided

theworldwiththeelementsofvirtueandperfectionandilluminatedallthecornersoflifewith

knowledgeandfaith.Thehonoredoriginsandpurewombshecamefromareasfollows:

Hisfather

HisfatherwasImamAliarRedhabin[1]ImamMusabinJafaralKadhimbinImamMuhammadal

BaqirbinImamAliZaynolAabideenbinImamalHusaynbinImamAlibinAbuTalib(peacebe

uponthem).Thisisthegoldenchainwhichifreadonthedeafand

[1]Binmeansthesonofandbintmeansthedaughterof.

thedumbtheywillrecoverbythewillofAllah,asalMamoon,theAbbasidcaliph,hassaid.[1]

AhmedbinHanbalsays,Ifthischainoflineageisrecitedonamadperson,hewillrecoverfrom

hismadness.[2]

AbulAlaalMaarri,[3]whomistrustedmostpeople,saidregardingthisnoblefamily,

Theoneswhosebrilliancewasshown

beforethecreationofMarsandLibra,

beforetheHeavenshadbeencreated,

andtheirorbitshadbeenorderedtocircuit.

Fromthisgoodandnobletree,closetoAllahanddeartoeveryMuslim,ImamMuhammadal

Jawad(a.s)branchedout.Hismother

HismotherwasoneofthepurestandmostabstinentandvirtuousofMuslimwomen.Itwas

sufficienttoherthatshehadgivenbirthtooneofthebestfiguresofIslamandoneofthebest

imamsoftheMuslims.Itdidnotdegradeherpositionnorharmherdignitythatshewasa

bondmaid.Islamhasdeclaredawaragainstthisphenomenonandconsidersitasanaspectofthe

preIslamiclife,whichIslamhasdoneawaywith.IntheIslamicpointofview,pietyandobedience

toAllaharethebasesofpreferenceamongstpeopleandnothingelse.

Islamproudlyannulledallkindsofracialsegregationandconsideredthemasfactorsof

backwardnessanddeclinationinsocietybecausetheydividedthenationintofightingsectsand

parties.Therefore,theimamsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s)marriedbondmaidsinordertodoawaywith

maliciousfeudsandremovethecausesofseparationamongstMuslims.ImamAlibinalHusayn

ZaynolAabideen(asSajjad)(a.s)marriedabondmaidwhogavebirthtothegreat

[1]UyunAkhbararRedha,vol.2p.147.


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[2]AsSawaiqalMuhriqa,p.207.

[3]HewasafamousArabpoet.

revolutionarymartyr,Zayd.ImamarRedha(a.s)marriedabondmaidwhogavebirthtoImamal

Jawad(a.s).Thesituationoftheinfallibleimamsintheirmarriageswithbondmaidswasadecisive

refutationtowards

the

enemies

of

Islam

who

tried

their

best

to

keep

Muslims

divided.

AsforthenameofthemotherofImamalJawad(a.s),historiansdisagree,andeachgroupsays

somethingdifferent.Herearesomeofthehistoriansaccounts:

1.HernamewasalKhayzuran.ImamarRedha(a.s)namedhersowhenheractualnamewas

Durrah.[1]

2.HernamewasSukaynahalNawbiyyah,oralMuraysiyyah[2],aswassaidbyhistorians.Itwas

saidthatherlineagebelongedtoMariaalQubtiyyahthewifeofProphetMuhammad(a.s).[3]

3.HernamewasRayhanah.[4]

4.HernamewasSabeekah.[5]

SomesourcesofhistoryneglectmentioninghernameandjustcallherUmmWalad.[6]Anyhow,

itisnotofgreatimportancetoknowwhatheractualnamewas.Ofgreaterinterestisherlife

history;however,unfortunately,thesourcesathandhavenotmentionedanythingaboutherlife.

[1]BahralAnsab,vol2p.19,amanuscriptinAmeerulMomineenLibrary,DalailalImamah,p.29,

DhiyaulAalameen,vol.2,amanuscriptinalHusayniyyaashShushtariyyaLibrary.

[2]AlFusulalMuhimmah,p.252,TathkiratulKhawassbyibnalJawzi,p.321.

[3]AlMiqnaah,p.482.

[4]DalailalImama,p.209

[5]AlIrshad,p.356.

[6]UmdatalTalib,p.188.UmmWaladisametonymyusedtorefertoabondmaid.

Thegreatnewborn

ImamarRedha(a.s)tookmuchcareofhis(wife)bondmaidbecausehehadperceivedthroughthe

unseenthatshewouldgivebirthtoaboythatAllahhadchosenfortheimamateandthegeneral

guardianshipoftheHolyProphet(a.s).HewouldbeoneoftheProphetstwelvesuccessors.Imam

arRedha(a.s)hadinformedhisclosecompanionsofthat.

ImamarRedha(a.s)entrustedhishonoredsisterHakeemahbintImamMusabinJafaralKadhim


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(a.s)toremainwithhiswifeuntilshegavebirthtoherchild.[1]LadyHakeemahcarriedout

everythingherbrotherhadaskedhertodo.Whenthebondmaidfeltshewasabouttogivebirth,

ImamarRedha(a.s)askedhissistertocomewithamidwife.ImamarRedha(a.s)litalampinthe

house[2]andremainedinexpectationofthegreatnewborn.Itwasnotlonguntilhisbondmaid

gavebirthtoagreatfigureofintellectandjihadinIslam.

ThedelightofImamarRedha(a.s)

WavesofdelightandjoyovercameImamarRedha(a.s)afterthebirthofhisblessednewborn

son.Hebegansaying,

ThelikeofMosessonofImran,thesplitteroftheseas,andthelikeofJesussonofMary,blessed

bethemotherthatborehimhasbeenbornetome.[3]

ImamarRedha(a.s)turnedtohiscompanionsandtoldthemthegoodnewsofhisnewbornson.

Hesaid,AllahhasgrantedmeonewhowillinheritmeandinheritthechildrenofDawood.[4]

Hetoldthemthatthatnewbornchildwouldbetheimamafterhim.

[1]Dala'ilalImama,209.

[2]MukhtasaralBiharfeeAhwalalAimmabyNooruddeen,amanuscriptinthelibraryofKashiful

Ghita.

[3]BiharalAnwar,vol.12p.103.

[4]Ibid.,104.

Hereceivedthatgreatnewbornwithtremendousjoyanddelightbecausethatchildwasthe

awaitedspiritualleaderoftheummaforthatperiod.Amongsthiscompanions,therewasDibilal

Khuzaiy,[1]apoetoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).HeparticipatedwiththeAhlulBayt(a.s)intheirjoysand

delightsoverthebirthofImamalJawad(a.s).

Ceremoniesofthebirth

ImamarRedha(a.s)tookhisnewbornsonandcarriedouttheritualceremoniesforhim.He

recitedtheadhaninhisrightearandtheiqama[2]inhisleftearandthenplacedhimbackinhis

cradle.[3]

Hissurname

ImamarRedha(a.s)gavehissonImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s)thesurnameofAbuJafar,like

thesurnameofhisgrandfatherImamMuhammadalBaqir(a.s).Itisdifferentiatedbetweenthem

bysayingAbuJafarthefirstforImamalBaqir(a.s)andAbuJafarthesecondforImamalJawad


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(a.s).

Hisepithets

Asregardshisnobleepithets,theyshowhisgreatpersonalityandexaltedself.Themostcommon

areas

follows:

1.AlJawad(thegenerous):hewasthuscalledbecauseofhisabundantactsofgood,beneficence

andcharitytowardsthepeople.

2.AlTaqiy(thepious):hewasthuscalledbecausehefearedAllahandturnedandresortedto

Him.Heneverrespondedtoanyincitementofdesireorfancy.AlMamoon,theAbbasidcaliph,

hadtriedhimwithdifferenttypesofprovocations,buthewasnotdeceived.HeturnedtoAllah

andpreferredHisobedienceto

[1]JamiarRiwat,vol.2p.311.

[2]Adhanandiqamaarecallstoprayerthatarerecitedbeforetheprayerbegins.

[3]MukhtasaralBiharfeeAhwalalAimma.

3.AlQani(thesatisfied).

4.AlMurtadha(beingsatisfiedwith).[1]

5.AlRadhiy(thesatisfied).

6.AlMukhtar(theelect).

7.AlMutawakkil(thereliant(onAllah)).

8.AlZakiy(thepure).[2]

9.BabalMurad(thegateofdesiresandhopes).Hewasknownbythisepithetamongstthe

MuslimswhobelievedthathewasagatefromthegatesoftheDivineMercy,towhichafflicted

andneedypeopleresortedinordertoridthemselvesoftheirmisfortunesandafflictions.

Thesearehisepithetsofwhicheachandeveryonereferstooneofhisexaltedqualitiesandnoble

tendenciesthatareasourceofpridetothisumma.

Hisfeatures

Hisfeatureswerelikethoseofhisfathers,whichinturnwerelikethefeaturesoftheprophets.

Thelineamentsofpietywereapparentonhisholyface.Somesourcesofhistorydescribehimas

whitefacedwithamoderatestature.[3]Otherhistoriansmentionthathewasverybrown

basedononlyoneoddnarration,[4]whichImamalKhooiyprovedtobeafabricated

narration.[5]Wehavethereforebrushedthisnarrationawayforitisoddanduntrue.


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[1]AnNujoomazZahirah,vol.2p.231,alFusulalMuhimmah,p.252.

[2]Dala'ilalImama,p.209.

[3]NooralAbsaar,p.146,alFusulalMuhimmahbyibnalSabbagh,p.252.

[4]AlMakassib,chap.OfalQiyafa.

[5]Misbah

al

Faqaha,

p.384.

Hisbirthday

HistorianswidelyconcurthatImamalJawad(a.s)wasbornonthenineteenthofRamadan,195

AH.[1]IthasalsobeenmentionedthathewasbornonthefifthofRamadan,175AH,butthisis

totallyuntrueforitisdefinitethathewasnotbeenborninthatyearbutintheyear195instead,

asnarratorsandhistorianshaveunanimouslyagreed.

Thefigureonhisring(seal)ThefigureonhisringshowedthathehaddevotedhimselftoAllah.He

hadwrittenonhisring(ashisownseal)gloryis(only)toAllah.[2]Hebelievedthatglorywasto

Allahalone,theCreatoroftheuniverseandtheGiveroflife.

Hisupbringing

ImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s)wasbroughtupinthehouseofprophethoodandimamate,that

housebywhichAllahhadhonoredtheMuslims.Hegrewupintheshadeofthathonoredhouse

whilereceivinghighidealsfromhisfather,whoshedraysoflightfromhisgreatsoulontohim.His

fatherhimselfhadundertakenhisupbringing.Hetookhimwithhimwhereverhewentandfed

himwithhisownhands.YahyaasSananisaid,Once,IwenttoAbulHasanarRedha(a.s)(Imam

alJawadsfather)inMeccawhilehewaspeelingabananaandfeedingAbuJafar(Imamal

Jawad).Isaidtohim,MayIdieforyou!Isthistheblessednewborn?Hesaid,

[1]AnNujoomazZahirah,vol.2p.231,alFusulalMuhimmah,p.252,alIrshad,p.356.

[2]Dala'ilalImama,p.209.IthasbeenmentionedinMakarimalAkhlaq,p.92thatMuhammad

binEesasaid,IheardalMuwaffaqsaying:onceIwasbeforeAbuJafarthesecond(Imamal

Jawad),andheshowedmearingonhisfinger.Heaskedme,Doyouknowthisring?Isaid,Yes,I

knowitsfigurebutnotitspicture.Itwasasilverringwitharoundstone.Onitwaswritten,

SufficientuntomeisAllah.Aboveandunderthewritingtherewasaflower.Iaskedhim,Whose

ringisthis?Hesaid,ItisAbulHasans.Iasked,Then,howdiditcometobeinyourhand?He

said,Whenhewasabouttodie,hegaveittomeandsaid,Donottakeitoffyourhand(finger)

exceptto(giveto)mysonAli!

Yes,OYahya!ThisisthenewbornthatnooneinIslamhasbeenbornforourShiamoreblessed

thanhim.[1]


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Thiskindofeducationcoupledwithloveandrespecthasagreatinfluenceonthepsychological

structureandsuccessofaperson,accordingtopsychologistsandeducationists.

Hisintelligenceandgenius

ImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s)displayedsignsofintelligenceandgeniusinhisearlyyearsthat

astonishedpeopleandfilledthemwithadmirationandhighregard.Historianshavementioned

manysignsofhisintelligence.Herearesomeofthem:

1.UmayyabinAlinarrated,IwaswithAbul[2]HasanarRedhainMeccaintheyearthathewent

onpilgrimagetobidfarewelltotheSacredHouse(theKaaba)whenheintendedtotravelto

Khurasan(inIran).HissonAbuJafaralJawadwaswithhim.AbulHasanbidhisfarewelltothe

HouseandwenttotheSanctum(ofAbraham)andofferedprayerthere.AbuJafarwascarriedby

oneofImamarRedhasservantstocircumambulatetheKaaba.Whenhe(withtheservant)

reachedtheRockofAbraham,hesatthereandremainedforsometime.Muwaffaq,theservant,

askedhimtogetupsotheycouldleave,butherefusedandwasverysadanddepressed.

MuwaffaqwenttoImamarRedha(a.s)andtoldhimaboutthestateofhisson.ImamarRedha

(a.s)cameandaskedhimtogetup.Herespondedtohisfatherwithsighsandtearssaying,How

canIgetupOfather,whileyouhavebidfarewelltotheHouseinsuchawayasifyoushallnever

comebacktoit?

AwaveofpainoccupiedImamarRedha(a.s).Hebeggedhissontocomewithhimandtheson

respondedtohisfather.[3]

ThiseventshowstheintelligenceofImamalJawad(a.s)becauseheunderstoodfromthefarewell

ofhisfathertotheSacredHousethatit

[1]TanqeehalMaqal,vol.3p.317,BiharalAnwar,vol.12p.117.

[2]AbuliscombinedofAbu(thefatherof)andal(the).

[3]KashfalGhumma,vol.3p.152.

washislastfarewell.Hesawthefearandgriefinhisfathersexpressionsthatmadehimperceive

itwastheendofhisfatherslife.Indeeditwasso,becauseImamarRedha(a.s),afterhistravelto

Khurasan,didnotcomebacktothesacredlands(MeccaandMedina).Hewasmartyredatthe

handsofalMamoon,theAbbasidcaliph,withpoison.

2.Once,alMamoonwithhisofficialprocessionpassedbysomechildrenplayinginastreetin

Baghdad,amongstwhomwasImamalJawad(a.s).Whenthechildrensawtheprocessionofal

Mamoon,theyranawayexceptImamalJawad(a.s)whoremainedstandinginhisplace.Al


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Mamoon,whodidnotknowthischild,becameastonishedandaskedhim,Whydidyounotrun

awaywiththosechildren?

ImamalJawad(a.s)answeredwithawonderfulreasonthataffectedalMamoon.Hesaid,O

AmeerulMomineen,[1]thestreetisnotsonarrowthatIshouldclearitforyouandneitherhaveI

anyguilt

that

Ishould

fear

you.

Itrust

that

you

do

not

harm

aguiltless

one.

AlMamoonwasastoundedandaskedthechildabouthislineage,towhichImamalJawad(a.s)

respondedaccordingly.AlMa'moonprayedtoAllahtohavemercyonImamalJawadsfather.[2]

Weshalldiscussthispointlateron.

3.Oneofthesignsofhisincredibleintelligenceisthatwhenhewasinhisearlychildhood,

scholarsandjurisprudentsaskedhimthirtythousandquestionsandheansweredthemall.There

isnowaytojustifythisphenomenonexcepttosaythatAllahtheAlmightyhasendowedtheAhlul

Bayt(a.s)withgreatpowersofknowledgethatHehasendowedtonooneexceptHisArch

prophets.

[1]Peoplehadgrownaccustomedtoaddressingrulerswiththistitleeventhoughtheydidnot

deserveitbecauseitwastheattributeofImamAli(s)alone.

[2]AkhbaradDuwal,p.115.

ImamarRedhapraisesImamalJawad

ImamarRedha(a.s)alwayspraisedImamalJawad(a.s)andpointedouthisvirtuesandtalents.

Once,alFadhlbinSahlsenttoMuhammadbinAbuAbbad,theclerkofImamarRedha(a.s),

askinghimaboutthekindofrelationofImamarRedha(a.s)withhissonImamMuhammadal

Jawad(a.s),andtheclerkreplied,ArRedhadoesnotmention(hisson)Muhammadexceptbyhis

surname.Heoftensays:AbuJafar(MuhammadalJawad)wrotetome,orIwrotetoAbu

JafarandeventhoughheisyetachildinMedina,thelettersthatcometohisfatherareso

eloquentandfluent.[1]

NarratorshavenarratedoftheextentthatImamarRedha(a.s)wouldglorifyhissonMuhammad

alJawad.TheysaidthatonceAbbadbinIsmaeelandibnAsbaatwerewithImamarRedha(a.s)in

Mina[2]whenAbuJafarwasbroughttohisfatherarRedha(a.s).Theyaskedhim,Isthisthe

blessednewborn?

ImamarRedha(a.s)becamedelightedandsaid,Yes,thisisthenewbornthatnooneinIslamhas

beenbornmoreblessedthanhim.[3]


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TherearemanyothernarrationsrelatedfromImamarRedha(a.s)showingthatheoftenpraised

ImamalJawad(a.s)andpointedouthisgreattalentsandvirtues.

Glorification

Imamal

Jawad

(a.s)

was

surrounded,

since

his

early

days,

with

ahalo

of

glorification

and

exaltationbythereligiouspeoplewhobelievedthathewasoneoftheProphetssuccessors,the

loveofwhomAllahhadimposedonallMuslims.

HistoriansmentionthatAlibinJafar,thegreatjurisprudentandthebrotherofImamMusabin

Jafar(alKadhim)(a.s)andoneofthe

[1]BiharalAnwar,vol.12p.104,IthbatalHudat,vol.6p.161.

[2]AplacenearMeccaintheArabia.


famouspersonalitiesoftheAlawid[1]Familyatthattime,wasoneofthosewhosanctifiedImam

alJawad(a.s)andacknowledgedhisvirtueandimamate.

MuhammadbinalHasanbinImarasaid,Once,IwaswithAlibinJafarinMedina,whereIstayed

withhimfortwoyearstowritedownwhathehadheardfromhisbrother(ImamMusaal

Kadhim),whenonedayAbuJafarMuhammadbinAli(alJawad)(a.s)cameintothemosqueof

themessengerofAllah(a.s).AlibinJafarsuddenlyjumpedwithoutshoesorgarmentandkissed

hishandandglorifiedhim.ImamalJawad(a.s)lookedathimandsaid,Ouncle,sitdownplease!

MayAllahhavemercyonyou.

AlibinJafarbowedrespectfullyandsaid,Omymaster,howcanIsitwhileyouarestanding?

ImamalJawad(a.s)wentawayandthenAlibinJafarreturnedtohiscompanions.Theybegan

scoldinghimforglorifyingImamalJawad(a.s)whowasveryyoungyet.Theysaidtohim,Youare

theuncleofhisfather,sowhydidyouactinthatwaywithhim?

HeansweredthemwiththeanswerofonewhobelievedinhisLordandreligionandwho

recognizedtheactualpositionoftheimamate.Hesaidtothem,Keepsilent!ItisAllahWhohas

notqualifiedthisbeard(hecaughthisbeardwithhishand)fortheimamateandhasqualifiedthis

youngmanandplacedhiminthatpositionaccordingtoHiswill.WeseektheprotectionofAllah

fromwhatyousay.Iamjustaslavetohim(toImamalJawad).[2]

AlibinJafarprovedthattheimamatedidnotsubmittothewishofmanorhiswillbutwas

insteadinthehandofAllah,WhochoseforitwhomHewilledfromamongstHispeople,


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regardlessofwhethertheimamwasyoungorold.

[1]BelongingtotheAlawi(ImamAlisprogeny)branchofthegreatfamilyofHashim,the

Prophetsgrandfather.

[2]Bihar

al

Anwar,

vol.

12

p.117,

Usool

al

Kafi,

vol.

1p.380.

Impressionsofhispersonality

ThetalentsofImamMuhammadalJawad(a.s)occupiedthepassionsofscholars,andthey

thereforerecordedtheiradmirationsandglorificationsofhimintheirbooks.Hereissomeofwhat

theyhavesaidabouthim:

1.AthThahabi

AthThahabihassaid,Muhammad(alJawad)wassurnamedalJawad(thegenerous),alQani

(thesatisfied)andalMurtadha(beensatisfiedwith)andhewasoneofthechiefsoftheProphets

familyhewasdescribedasbeinggenerous;therefore,hewassurnamedalJawad.[1]

2.IbnTaymiya

Hehassaid,MuhammadbinAlialJawadwasoneofthenotablesoftheHashemites.Hewas

famousofhisgenerosity,and,therefore,hewascalledalJawad.[2]

3.AsSafadi

AsSafadihassaid,Muhammad(alJawad)wassurnamedalJawad,alQaniandalMurtadha.He

wasoneofthechiefsoftheProphetsfamilyhewasdescribedasbeinggenerous;therefore,he

wassurnamedalJawad.[3]

4.IbnalJawzi

AsSibtbinalJawzihassaid,MuhammadalJawadfollowedthefootstepsofhisfatherin

knowledge,pietyandgenerosity.[4]

5.MahmoodbinWuhayb

SheikhMahmoodbinWuhaybhassaid,MuhammadalJawadinheritedtheknowledgeandvirtue

ofhisfather,andhewastheloftiestamongsthisbrothersinpositionandperfection.[5]


18/175


[1]TareekhalIslam,8p.158.

[2]MinhajasSunna,vol.2p.127.

[3]AlWafibilWafiyyat,vol.4p.105.

[4]TathkiratalKhawass,p.321.

[5]JawharatalKalamfeeMadhasSadahalAlaam,p.149.

6.AzZarkali

KhayruddeenazZarkalihassaid,MuhammadbinarRedhabinMusaalKadhim,atTalibi,al

Hashimi,alQurashi,AbuJafar,surnamedalJawad,theninthofthetwelveimamsoftheShia,

wasexaltedlikehisancestors,intelligent,eloquent,quickwitted.[1]

7.Kamaludden

SheikhKamaluddeenMuhammadbinTalhahassaid,AsforthevirtuesofAbuJafaralJawad,

theydidnotlastlongfortheDivineFatehaddeterminedthathewouldstayinthisworldfora

littlewhileandleaveforhisLordsoon;sohisstaywasbriefandhisdayswereshort.[2]

8.AlibinEesaalArbali

Hehassaid,AlJawadwasinallcasesgenerous(jawad)heexceededallpeopleinthepurityof

hislineageandbirthandsatonthetopofglory.Noonehadeverapproachedhisrankorhisglory.

Hewasexaltedinposition.Hishighpositionwasabovestarsandhisrankwasaboveallranks.

Whenadelegationsawafire,theysaid:itmustbehisfire.[3]Nofirewaspredominantoverhis

fire.Exaltedwashetowardshighness.Gloryandhonorfeltproudofhim.Mastershipfoundits

meaninginhim.Hewasfarfromeveryviceandclosetoeveryvirtue.Nobilitiesdiffusedfromhis

sidesandglorydrippedfromhim.Newsofgenerositywerenarratedabouthim,hisprogenyand

hisfathers.Blessedishewhostrivestobeloyaltohim,andwoeuntohimwhotriestobehis

opponent.Whenthelootsofgloryandloftinessaredivided,thepurestofthemwillbehis,and

whenthebacksofhonoraremounted,thehighestofthemwillbehis.Hematchestherainin

generosityandthelionincourageandzealanddefeatsconductswithhisgoodconduct.[4]

[1]AlAlaam,vol.7p.155.

[2]MatalibasSaoolfeeManaqibAalarRasool,vol.2p.74.

[3]TheArabs,inthepast,usedtolettheirfiresflame,outofgenerosity,sothattravelersand

wayfarerscouldresorttothem.

[4]KashalGhummah,vol.3p.160.


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Underthewingofhisfather

ImamMuhammad

al

Jawad

(a.s)

lived

under

the

wing

of

his

father

for

ashort

period

that

was

not

morethansevenyears.However,atthisyoungage,hedisplayedintelligenceandtalentsthat

astonishedtheminds.Likehisfather,virtuesandhighmoralshadbeenimpressedinsidehim,and

hiseternalvalueswereastorchesofguidanceandawakeningintheIslamicsociety.Hereweshall

discusssomeconcernsofImamarRedha(a.s)andhisloveforImamalJawad(a.s)andother

thingsthathavearelationtothesubjectofthisbook.

Hismorals

ThemoralsofImamarRedha(a.s)weregiftsfromthemercyofAllahandtheywerelikethe

moralsof

his

grandfather

Prophet

Muhammad

(a.s)

who

had

been

deputed

by

Allah

to

perfect

the

nobilitiesofcharacter.

IbrahimbinalAbbastalkedaboutthehighmoralsofImamarRedha(a.s)saying,Ihavenever

seenorheardofanyonewhowasbetterthanAbulHasanarRedha(a.s).Hewasneverharshto

anyoneatall.Heneverinterruptedanyonewhenspeaking,nordidherejecttheneedofanyone,

nordidhestretchouthislegsorleanbackinthepresenceofacompanion,nordidheabuseany

ofhisservants,nordidheeverguffaw.Heseatedhisservantswithhimathistable.Hesleptlittle

atnightandpassedmostofhisnightsawake,worshipping

Allahfrom

the

beginning

of

the

night

till

its

end.

He

did

many

favors

and

paid

great

charities

secretly,andmostofthatwasdoneinthedarkofthenight.

ThesemoralswerelikethemoralsofhisgrandfatherthemessengerofAllah(a.s)whohad

developedthelifeofmanandsavednationsandpeoplesfromalifeofdeviationand

backwardnessandledthemtoalifefullofhonoranddignity.

Historianshavementionedwonderfulpicturesofhisnobilities.Theyhavementionedthatwhen

hewasinKhurasan,afterhavingbeenappointedastheheirapparent,whichwasthehighest

positionintheIslamicstateafterthecaliphate,hedidnotorderhisservantstocarryoutmanyof

hisaffairs

but

rather

he

himself

carried

them

out.

Once,

he

wanted

to

take

abath

but

disliked

orderingsomeonetopreparethebathforhim.Sohewenttothepublicbathinthemarket.The

bathhousekeeperdidnotknowImamarRedha(a.s).Therewasasoldierinthebathhousewho

alsowantedtotakeabath.ThesoldierremovedImamarRedha(a.s)fromhisplaceandordered

himtopourwateroverhishead.Anotherman,whoknewImamarRedha(a.s),enteredthebath


20/175


andcriedouttothesoldier,Youwillperish!Doyouusethesonofthedaughterofthe

messengerofAllahtoserveyou?Thesoldierbecamesoastonishedandbentdownkissingthe

feetofImamarRedha(a.s)whilesayingtohim,WhydidyounotdisobeymewhenIhadordered

you?!

Imamar

Redha

(a.s)

smiled

at

him

and

said

leniently

and

kindly,

There

is

areward

in

doing

that,

andIdidnotwanttodisobeyyouinwhatIshallberewardedfor.[1]

Amonghishighmoralswasthatwheneverhesatdowntoameal,hewouldseathisservants,

eventhestablemanandthedoorkeeper,toeatwithhim.Hewantedbythattoremove

discriminationamongpeopleandtomakeallthemembersofsocietyunderstandthattheywere

equaltoeachother.Thenobilitiesofcharacterwhichhehadwerethecontinuityofthemoralsof

hisfatherswhohadestablished

[1]NooralAbsar,p.138.

virtuesandnoblecharactersintheworldoftheArabsandtheworldofIslam.

Hisasceticism

ImamarRedha(a.s)wasasceticregardingallthepleasuresofthislifeandthejoysoftheworld.

HeturnedtowardsAllahtheAlmighty.Whenhewasappointedastheheirapparent,henever

paidanyattentiontothepleasuresofauthorityandrulenordidheattachanyimportanceto

them.Heconsideredthewalkingofmenbehindamanseductionforthefollowersand

degradationforthefollowedone.Therefore,heneverwantedanofficialprocession,anditwas

mosthatedtohimtobemetwithshowsofpompandglorification,asthekingsandcaliphswould

oftentimesbemetwith.

MuhammadbinAbbadtalksabouttheasceticismofImamarRedha(a.s)bysaying,Imamar

Redha(a.s)usedtositonamat(ofplantsleaves)inthesummerandonaruginthewinter.He

wouldwearcoarseclothes,andwhenhemetpeoplehewouldputonsomesofterclothes.[1]

HistoriansmentionedthatonceSufyanathThawrimethimwhilehewasputtingonadressofsilk.

Sufyanrejectedthatandsaidtohim,Wouldthatyouhadputonadressmoremodestthanthis!

ImamarRedha(a.s)tookSufyanshandkindlyandinserteditinhissleevewheretherewasa

coarsedressunderthatofsilkandsaidtohim,OSufyan,thesilkisforthepeopleandthecoarse

clothisforthetruth.

AsceticisminlifewasoneofthemostprominentqualitiesinthemoralsofAhlulBayt(a.s).They

devotedthemselvestoAllahtotallyandsawthatdevotiontootherthanHimwouldnotleadto


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thetruth.

[1]UyunAkhbararRedha,vol.2p.178,alManaqib,vol.4p.360.

Hisgenerosity

TherewasnothingintheworldmorebelovedtoImamarRedha(a.s)thandoinggooddeedsand

beingcharitableandbenevolenttopeople.Generositywasapartofhim.Historianshave

mentionedmanysignsofhisgenerosity.Hereareafew:

1.HehadspentallhiswealthonthepoorwhenhewasinKhurasanandtheDayofArafacame.

AlFadhlbinSahlrepudiatedthatfromImamarRedha(a.s)andtoldhim,Thisisaloss.

ImamarRedha(a.s)saidtohim,No,ratheritisagain.Noharmisdoneaslongasyouintend

generosityandreward.

HelpingthepoorandbeingcharitabletotheweakforthesakeofAllahcannotbeconsideredasa

lossatall.Thereallossiswhenonespendshismoniesinunlawfulways,especiallyspendingon

thatwhichdoesnotbenefitsociety.

2.Once,amancame,greetedhimandsaid,Iamoneofthosewholoveyouandyourfathers.I

havecomefromperforminghajj,andallmymoneyhasrunout.Ihavenothinglefttohelpmeget

anywhere.Ifyoucould,pleasegivemeenoughtohelptakemebacktomyhome,andwhenI

arrivethere,Iwillpaybackwhatyougivemeascharitytothepooronbehalfofyou.Imamar

Redha(a.s)gotupandwentintoaroominhishouse.Afteramomenthestuckhishandout(of

theroom)andsaidtotheman,Takethesetwohundreddinarstocarryoutyouraffairsanddo

notrepaythemascharityonbehalfofme!Themanleftwhilebeingsodelightedwiththegiftof

theImam.SomeoftheattendantsaskedImamarRedha(a.s),Whydidyouhideyourselffrom

themanandgivehimthemoneywithoutlookingathim?ImamarRedha(a.s)said,Ididsoin

ordertonotseetheshameofrequestonhisface.Haveyounotheardthetraditionofthe

messengerofAllah(a.s),Hewhohideswhendoinggood,itisasifheoffersthehajjseventy

times,andhewhodeclareshisbadactswillbedefeated.Haveyounotheardthelinesofthe

poet:

WheneverIcometohimrequestingsomething,

Igobacktomyfamilywithoutlosingmyface.[1]

3.Onedayhepassedbyapoormanwhosaidtohim,Givemetotheextentofyour

magnanimity.ImamarRedha(a.s)saidtohim,Icannotdothat.Thepoormanunderstoodthat


22/175


hehadmadeamistakeinthewordingofhisquestionandagainasked,Givemetotheextentof

mymagnanimity.ImamarRedha(a.s)smiledathimandsaid,Yes,nowIcan,andhegavehim

twohundreddinars.[2]

ThemagnanimityofImamarRedha(a.s)cannotbemeasured.Evenifhegavethepoormanall

thatwas

in

the

earth,

it

would

still

not

be

to

the

extent

of

his

magnanimity

and

mercy,

which

was

thecontinuityofthemagnanimityandmercyoftheHolyProphet(a.s).

Theseweresomesignsofhisgenerositybywhichheintendedtodelightthesadheartsthathad

beenburdenedwiththebitternessandwretchednessoflife.

Hisknowledge

ImamarRedha(a.s)wasthemostknowledgeable,mostvirtuousandmostawareoftheverdicts

ofreligionandShariainhistime.AbdussalamalHarawi,whohadaccompaniedImamarRedha

(a.s),talkedabouthisabundantknowledgesaying,

IhavenotseenanyonemoreknowledgeablethanAlibinMusaarRedha.Noscholarmethim

withoutafterwardsdeclaringwhatIdeclare.AlMamoongatheredanumberoftheologiansand

jurisprudentstohaveadebatewithImamarRedha(a.s),butImamarRedha(a.s)defeatedthem

alluntilnooneofthemremainedwhodidnotconfessthatImamarRedha(a.s)wasthebestof

all.Once,Iheardhimsaying,IsatinarRawdha[3]andthereweresomanyscholarsinMedina.

Whenanyoneofthemwasaskedaquestion,


[2]AlManaqib,vol.4p.361362.

[3]AplaceinthemosqueoftheProphet(s).

theyallpointedtomeandsentthequestiontometoanswerit.[1]

IbrahimbinalAbbassaid,IhaveneverseenarRedhabeingaskedsomethingwithouthis

knowingtheanswer.Ihaveneverseenanyonemoreknowledgeablethanhimfromthefirstage

(ofIslam)untilhisage.AlMamoontestedhimbyaskinghimabouteverything,andheanswered

himcorrectlyeverytime.Hisspeech,hisanswersandhisexampleswereallderivedfromthe

Quran.EverythreedayshecompletedrecitingtheentireHolyQuran.Hesaid,IfIwantedto

recitethewholeQuraninlessthanthreedays,Iwould,buteveryverseIrecite,Iponderoverit

aboutwhatwasitrevealedandatwhattimewasitrevealed.Therefore,Ifinishrecitingthe

Quranwithinthreedays.[2]

ImamarRedha(a.s)wasoneofthemastersofknowledgeandintellectinIslam.Hewasoneof


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thosewhoestablishedforMuslimstheirscientificandculturallife.Talkingabouthisscientific

talentsrequiresaspecial,longstudy.MayAllahmakeussuccessfultoaccomplishthatInshallah.

Hisworshipping

ImamarRedha(a.s)wasoneofthesincerestworshippersanddevoteesofAllah.Henever

neglectedany

of

the

supererogatory

prayers

nor

any

of

the

recommended

performances.

He

did

everythingthatmighttakehimclosertoAllah.IbnAbudDhahaak,whohadaccompaniedImam

arRedha(a.s)inhistravelfromYathrib(Medina)toKhurasan,mentionedhisworshippingsaying,

ByAllah,Ihaveneverseenanyonemorepiousthanhim,ormoreintentinmentioningAllahall

thetimethanhimormorefearingofAllahthanhim.[3]

ImamarRedha(a.s)wassosinceretoAllahinhisworshipandobediencethatitseemedhehad

beencreatedjustforworshipping

[1]KashfalGhumma,vol.3p.107.


[3]Ibid.,p.179.

andobedience.HehadgivenupallthepleasuresofthislifeandturnedwithdevotiontoAllahthe

Almighty.

Hisdignity

Hisdignityandgravityweresoexaltedthatforeheadsbowedtohimwhereverhewent.Themien

oftheprophetsandthesplendorofthekingsappearedinhim.Itwasduetohisgreatsublimity

thatwheneverhesatamongstpeopleorascendedtheminbar,noonecouldraisehisvoicebefore

him.

Opinionsandwords

Somefamouspersonalities,scholarsandauthorshaveglorifiedandpaidrespectstoImamar

Redha(a.s)intruthfulwords.Herearesomeofthem:

1.AlMamoon

AlMamoonadmiredthepersonalityofImamarRedha(a.s)andexpressedhisadmirationforhim

onmanyoccasions.HewouldtellhiskinwhenevertheyblamedhimforhisappointingImamar

Redha(a.s)ashisheirapparent,Asforwhatyouhavementionedaboutthehomageofal

Ma'moontoAbulHasan,he(alMa'moon)hasnotpaidhomagetohim(toImamarRedha)except

afterthinkingdeeplyaboutit,knowingthatthereisnooneontheearthmorevirtuous,more


24/175


pure,morepious,moreasceticinthisworldlylife,moreeloquent,moreacceptedbytheupper

classandthepublic,ormoredevotedtoAllahthanhim.[1]

Healsosaid,ImamarRedhaisthebest,mostknowledgeableandsincerestworshipperofthe

peopleoftheearth.[2]

ItisbecauseofthesehighqualitiesofImamarRedha(a.s)thattheShiahavebelievedinhimas

theirimamandasoneofthosewhoseobedienceandloveAllahhasimposedonpeople.

[1]HayatalImamareRedha,p.143.


2.IbrahimbinalAbbas

IbrahimbinalAbbasaccompaniedImamarRedha(a.s)andtalkedmuchabouthishighcharacter.

Fromamongwhathehassaidarethesewords:

He(ImamarRedha)oftenandalwaysdidgoodandcharitysecretlyandmostofthatwasdonein

thedarkofthenight.Ifanyoneclaimsthathehasseensomeonelikehim,donotbelievehim.[1]

3.AarifTamir

AarifTamirsaid,ImamarRedha(a.s)wasoneoftheimamswhoplayedagreatroleonthestage

oftheIslamiceventsathistime.[2]

TherearemanyothernarrationslikethesethatdeclarethehighqualitiesofImamarRedha(a.s)

thatnoonehaseverhadexcepthisfathersbeforehimwhoraisedthebannerofguidanceinthe

earth.

Thepraisebythepoets

Muchpoetryhasbeencomposedbyvariouspoetsinpraiseofthehighqualitiesandnoble

characterofImamarRedha(a.s).Herearesomeofthem:

1.AsSouli

AsSouli[3]wasveryfondofImamarRedha(a.s)andhasthereforesaid,

Thebestofpeople,includinghimself,fathers,offspringandancestors,isAlithehonored.


25/175


[1]HayatalImamarRedha(thebiographyofImamarRedha),p.143.

[2]AlImamafilIslam,p.125.

[3]AsSouli:AbuIsaaqIbrahimbinalAbbasasSouliwasaneloquentauthorandskillfulpoet.

Fromamongsthisprosearethesewords:Theexampleofthecompanionsofarulerislikea

groupofpeoplewhoascendamountainandthenfalldown.Theonefromthemwhoishurtmost

isthe

one

who

was

highest

in

ascending.

He

narrated

many

traditions

from

Imam

ar

Redha

(s).

HediedinSamarra(inIraq)inShaban243AH,asmentionedinAlKunawelAlqaab,vol.2p.432

433.

Taktum[1]hasbroughthimtousforpatienceandknowledge,Astheeighthimamwhocarriesout

theauthorityofAllah.[2]

2.AbuNuass

ThefollowingwonderfulversesofpoetryhavebeenascribedtoAbuNuass,thefamouspoet.He

composedthemafterhehadbeenblamedfornotpraisingImamarRedha(a.s)inhispoems.He

said,

Itwassaidtome:youarethebestofallpeople

intheartsofeloquence(speaking).

WhyhaveyounotpraisedibnMusa[3]andthehighqualitiesgatheredinhim?

Isaid:IfailtopraisetheimamtowhosefatherevenGabrielwasaservant.[4]

3.AbdullahbinalMubarak

AbdullahbinalMubarakthepoethasrecited:

ThisisAliandguidanceleadshim,

fromthebestyouthsofQurayshlieshisorigin.[5]

Muslims,inalloftheirclasses,haveunanimouslyagreedonglorifyingandhonoringImamar

Redha(a.s)andconfessingthathewasthemostvirtuousoneofhistime.

[1]ImamarRedhasmother.

[2]ManaqibAalAbiTalib,vol.4p.332.

[3]ImamarRedha(s).


26/175


[4]UyunAkhbararRedha,p.142143.

[5]AlManaqib,vol.4p.362.

Forcinghimtoacceptthepositionofheirapparent

AlMa'moon

forced

Imam

ar

Redha

(a.s)

to

accept

the

position

of

heir

apparent.

He

threatened

to

killhimifhewouldnotacceptthisposition.ThereasonsthatledalMa'moontodothiswereas

follows:

First,thequarrelbetweenhimandhisbrotheralAmeen,whichledthewartobreakoutbetween

them,andthenmostoftheAbbasidfamilyjoinedalAmeenwhomtheylovedmorethanthey

lovedalMa'moon.Therefore,alMa'moonplannedtostabilizehispoliticalsituationandspread

hisauthoritybyentrustingthechiefandmasteroftheAlawids,ImamarRedha(a.s),whom

Muslimsregardedhighlyandobeyedsincerelyandsawinhispersonalitythecontinuityofthe

personalityofhisgrandfatherthemessengerofAllah(a.s),withthepositionofheirapparent.

Second,therevoltofAbuasSaraya.

Third,thegrowthoftheShiiteexpansionwhichspreadovermostpartsoftheIslamicstate,and

therefore,alMa'moonwanted,byappointingImamarRedha(a.s)ashisheirapparent,toberid

oftheseShiitemovements,asibnKhaldoonhassaid.[1]

ThesewerethereasonsthatledalMa'moontoappointImamarRedha(a.s)ashisheirapparent

althoughImamarRedha(a.s)knewwellthatthisposition(ofheirapparent)wasmerelyatitleof

noconsequence(alMamoonhadnointentionofallowingImamarRedhatosucceedhim).Proof

ofthisisthatImamarRedha(a.s)madeconditionsonalMa'moonthathe(ImamarRedha)

wouldnotappointanyoneinanyposition,notdeposeanyone,notannulanyverdict,notchange

anyavailablerulingandthathewouldjustbeacounselorfromafar.[2]IfImamarRedha(a.s)

hadbelievedthattheintentionsofalMa'moonweresincere,hewouldnothavetakenanegative

stancetowardshisgovernment;rather,hewouldhavecooperatedwithhiminallfields.

[1]TareekhibnKhaldoon,vol.4p.9.


ThesermonofalMa'moon

WhenpeoplehadpaidhomagetoImamarRedha(a.s)astheheirapparent,alMa'moon

ascendedtheminbar(pulpit)andgaveaspeechinfrontofthepeople.Hesaid,Opeople,the

homageofAlibinMusabinJafarbinMuhammadbinAlibinalHusaynbinAlibinAbuTalibhas

cometoyou.ByAllah,ifthesenamesweretoberecitedoverthedeafanddumb,theywould


27/175


recoverbythewillofAllah.[1]

Joyouscelebrations

AlMa'mooninstructedhisgovernorsandregentsofthedistrictsthroughouttheIslamicstateto

holdpublic

festivals

and

to

decorate

the

country.

He

also

ordered

the

orators

to

spread

the

virtuesofImamarRedha(a.s)andlaudtheexploitsoftheAhlulBayt(a.s).Hehimselfhelda

publicfestivalinhisroyalcourtwhichwasattendedbyallclassesofpeople.HeseatedImamar

Redha(a.s)besidehim,andthenalAbbasalKhateebstooduptomakeaspeech.Hegavean

eloquentspeechandendeditwiththisverseofpoetry:

Peoplemusthaveasunandamoon,youarethesunandthisisthemoon.[2]

ThishomagewascarriedoutandtheIslamicworldbecameverydelightedwithit.Muslims

declaredtheirsupportforthishomageandwerecertainthatitwouldachievealltheirhopesand

wishes.

WithImamalJawad(a.s)

WehavetostopalittletotalkabouttheaffairsofImamalJawad(a.s)withhisfatherImamar

Redha(a.s).


[2]UyunAkhbararRedha,vol.2,p.146.

Carryingouthisfathersaffairs

AlthoughImamalJawad(a.s)wasveryyoung,hewasresponsiblefortheaffairsandtasksofhis

father,especiallythoseinMedina.[1]

HistorianssaythatImamalJawad(a.s)orderedandforbadetheservantsandnooneofthemever

objectedtohisorders.ImamarRedha(a.s)waspleasedwithwhateverhissondid.

TheletterofImamarRedhatoImamalJawad

WhenImamarRedha(a.s)wasinKhurasan,hesentalettertoImamalJawad(a.s)whichsaid:

OAbuJafar,Ihavebeeninformedthatwhenyourideyoursumpter,themawali[2]makeyou

leavefromthesmallgateofthegarden.Itisbecauseoftheirstinginessinthattheyfearsomeone

mayreceivesomegoodness(alms)fromyou!


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Iaskyoubymyrightoveryoutonotenterorleave(thehouse)exceptthroughthemaingate.

Wheneveryouwanttogoout,keepsomegoldandsilverwithyou.Nooneshouldaskyoufor

anythingwithoutyourgivingittohim.Ifoneofyourunclesasksyoutobepioustohim,donot

givehim

less

than

fifty

dinars,

and

you

may

give

him

more

if

you

want.

If

one

of

your

aunts

asks

you,donotgiveherlessthanfiftydinars,andyoumaygivehermoreifyouwant.IwantAllahto

exaltyou,sospendanddonotfearstinginessfromtheLordoftheThrone.[3]

Generosity,doinggoodforpeopleandbeingcharitabletotheweakandthepoorwereembedded

inthenatureofthepureimams(a.s).ImamarRedha(a.s)drewtheattentionofhissonImamal

Jawad(a.s)towhattheservantsdidwithhimwhentheyledhimoutfromthesmallgatelestthe

poorwouldseehim.Heorderedhimtoleave

[1]DhiyaalAalameen,vol.2amanuscriptinalHusayniyyaalShushtariyyaLibrary.

[2]Mawlameansafreedslave.Mawaliisthepluralform.



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JesusChrist(a.s)asaprophetandgivenhimknowledgewhilehewasstillachildandyoungerin

agethanImamalJawad(a.s).Prophethoodandimamatearefromonesource,andtheyarenot

entrustedtoayoungoranoldman,butrather,theyareinthehandofAllahWhochoosesfor

themwhomHelikesfromamongstHispeople.

[1]In

Khurasan.

[2]AdDurranNadheem,p.218,amanuscriptinAmeerulMomineenLibrary.

2.SafwanbinYahya

SafwanwasamongthosewhonarratedtraditionsoftheappointmentofImamalJawad(a.s)by

hisfatherastheimamafterhim.Henarrated,Once,IsaidtoarRedha:weoftenaskedyou,

beforeAllahgrantedAbuJafartoyou,abouttheimamafteryouandyouwouldsayAllahwill

givemeaboy.Now,Allahhasgivenyouaboyandhasdelightedoureyes.Ifsomethinghappens

(toyou),towhomshallwerefer?HepointedtoAbuJafar(alJawad)whowasbeforehimand

whowasatthattimethreeyearsold.Isaid,Heisathreeyearoldchild!Hesaid,Itdoesnot

matter.JesusChrist(a.s)wasentrustedwithprophethoodwhilehewaslessthanthreeyears.[1]

3.MamarbinKhallad

MamarnarratedthetraditionsofImamarRedha(a.s)abouttheappointmentofhissonalJawad

astheimamafterhim.Hesaid,Iheardhim(ImamarRedha)sayingtohiscompanionsafter

havingmentionedsomethingtothem,Whatelsedoyouwant?ThisisAbuJafar.Ihaveseated

himinmyplaceandmadehimmysuccessorWearethepeopleofahousewhoseyounginherit

fromtheold,oneaftertheotherandeachoneisequaltotheother.[2]

4.AbdullahbinJafar

AbdullahbinJafarsaid,Oneday,SafwanbinYahyaandIwenttoImamarRedha(a.s)whileAbu

Jafar,whowasthreeyearsoldthen,wasbeforehim.Wesaid,MayAllahmakeusdieforyou!If

somethinghappens[3]Allahforbidwhoshallbetheimamafteryou?Hesaid,Myson.He

pointedtohissonalJawad.Wesaid,Eventhoughheisofthisage!?Hesaid,Yes!Allahthe

AlmightyhasgivenJesusChrist(a.s)asanargumentthoughhewasbuttwoyearsold.[4]

[1]AlFusulalMuhimmahbyibnalSabbagh,p.251,UsoolalKafi,vol.1p.379.

[2]AlFusulalMuhimmah,p.251,BiharalAnwar,vol.12p.103.

[3]Theymeanifyoudie.


5.MuhammadbinAbuAbbad


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MuhammadbinAbuAbbadnarratedfromhisfatherwhosaid,IheardImamarRedha(a.s)

saying:AbuJafarismyguardianandsuccessorinmyfamilyafterme.[1]

AndtherearemanyothertraditionsrelatedfromImamarRedha(a.s)declaringtheimamateof

Muhammadal

Jawad

(a.s)

after

his

father

and

his

being

one

of

the

caliphs

of

the

Prophet

(a.s)

for

hisUmma.

ThetreacheryofalMa'moonagainstImamarRedhar

WhenalMa'moonhadfulfilledthepoliticalpurposesofhishomagetoImamarRedha(a.s)ashis

heirapparent,hethoughtofbetrayingandgettingridofhim.Weshalltalkinbriefaboutthe

reasonsthatledalMa'moontocommitthiscrime.

1.Envy

ThesoulofalMa'moonwasfilledwithenvyofImamarRedha(a.s)whowasveryfamousand

respectableamongpeoplebecauseofhisvirtuesandabundantknowledge.

HistorianshavementionedthatalMa'moonhadaskedtheleadingscholarsoftheIslamicdistricts

to

come

to

Khurasan

to

test

Imam

ar

Redha

(a.s).

They

argued

with

him

on

different

philosophical,

theologicalandmedicalquestionsandonotherbranchesofknowledge.ThescholarsleftImam

arRedha(a.s)afterwardswithcompletebeliefinhisimamate.Theybeganspreadinghisvirtues

andsciences.WhenalMa'moonlearnedthat,heaskedMuhammadbinAmratToossitodrive

peopleawayfrommeetingwithImamarRedha(a.s).[2]AbussaltalHarawiexposedthismatterin

hisresponsetoAhmedbinAlialAnsarisquestionofhowwasalMa'moonpleasedwithkilling

arRedhainspiteofhishonoringandlovinghimandhishavingmadehimhisheirapparent?

[1]BiharalAnwar,vol.12p.104,IthbatalHudat,vol.6p.161.


Abussaltreplied,

Al

Ma'moon

honored

and

loved

Imam

ar

Redha

(a.s)

because

he

was

aware

of

hisvirtueswhichwerealsoknowntothepeople,andheappointedhimashisheirapparentto

makepeoplethinkthatImamarRedha(a.s)wishedforthisworldlylifeanditspleasuresand

wouldconsequentlybedisrespectedbythepeople,butwhenhisvirtueandrespectamong

peoplegrewevenmore,he(alMa'moon)sentfortheologiansfromdifferentcountrieshoping

thatoneofthemmightdefeatImamarRedha(a.s)andthenhewouldbedisrespectedbythe


31/175


scholarsandthatwouldspreadamongthepublicandtheywouldthenturntheirbacksonhim.

But,everyopponentfromtheJews,theChristians,themagi,theapostates,theBrahman,the

atheists,theDahriyya,andeveryopponentfromthedissentingMuslimsectswasdefeatedby

ImamarRedha(a.s)withhisclearevidences.Peoplebegansaying,ByAllah,heisevenworthier

ofthecaliphatethanalMa'moonandthenewsmenreportedthattohim(alMa'moon)andhe

becamevery

angry

and

envious

of

that.[1]

Envyisoneofthemostmaliciouspsychologicaldiseasesthatleadstoallvicesandundoubtedly

throwsmanintogreatevil.ItwasenvythatcausedalMa'moontoassassinateImamarRedha

(a.s)andtodoawaywithhim.

2.PleasingtheAbbasids

SomehistorianshavethoughtthatalMa'moonpoisonedImamarRedha(a.s)tohumorthe

Abbasidsandsatisfytheirpassions.[2]TheAbbasidshadflaredupandwereveryagitatedwhen

ImamarRedha(a.s)wasappointedtheheirapparentofalMa'moonfortheyfearedthatthe

caliphatemightnowmovetotheprogenyofAlibinAbuTalib(a.s).AlMa'moonwantedto

removethisfearandworryfromtheAbbasids;therefore,heassassinatedImamarRedha(a.s)

afterachievinghispoliticalgoals.


[2]UyunatTawareekh,vol.3p.227.

3.ImamarRedhadidnotflatteralMa'moon

Perhaps,oneofthestrongestreasonsthatledalMa'moontoassassinateImamarRedha(a.s)

wasthatImamarRedha(a.s)neverflatteredalMa'moonorhumoredhim.ImamarRedha(a.s)

oftenandalwaysrecommendedalMa'moontofearandobeyAllahandwarnedhimofthe

punishmentoftheafterlife.AbussaltalHarawihassaid,ArRedhadidnotflatteralMa'moonin

anymatteroftruthand,inmostcases,repliedtohimwithwhatalMa'moondisliked.Thiswould

makealMa'moonangryandledhimtobearagrudgeagainsthim,buthewouldnotshowit.

Whenhefoundnowayoutwithhim,heassassinatedhim.[1]

4.TheprayerofEid

AnotherimportantreasonthatledalMa'moontobearagrudgeagainstImamarRedha(a.s)was

theprayerofEid.AlMa'moonaskedImamarRedha(a.s)toleadthecongregationalprayerofEid,

butImamarRedha(a.s)refused.AlMa'moonkeptinsistingonituntiltheImamagreedbuton

theconditionthathewouldleadthepeopleintheprayerashisgrandfatherthemessengerof

Allahdid.AlMa'moonagreedtothatandorderedtheleaders,theofficersandtherestofthe


32/175


peopletogotothehouseofImamarRedha(a.s)earlyinthemorning.Thepeople,inalltheir

differentclasses,wentoutearlyinthemorningandsatinthestreetswhileothersclimbedupthe

rooftops,andallwerelookingeagerlyforthecomingofImamarRedha(a.s).Inthemorning,

ImamarRedha(a.s)tookaghusl[2]andpreparedhimselffortheEidPrayer.Hedonnedawhite

turbanandletoneendofithangdownhischestandlettheotherendhangbetweenhis

shoulders.He

ordered

his

servants

to

do

the

same.

He

went

out

barefoot

holding

astick

in

his

hand.Aftereverystep,heraisedhisheadandsaidAllahuAkbar(Allahisgreat).Thepowerof

hisutterancewasfelt,asitseemedtothepeoplethattheairandeventhewallsofhouseswere

respondingtohim.


[2]Aritualablution.

Theleadersandtherestofpeoplehaddonnedthebestoftheirclothes,wereholdingweapons

andhadpreparedthemselvesinthemannertheyconsideredbest,astheywereaccustomedto

doingwiththeirkingsandrulers.ImamarRedha(a.s)continuedhismarchinhisownsplendid

mannerwhichmadeheadsturnandsubmittoit.Heraisedhisvoiceandkeptreciting,Allahu

Akbar,AllahuAkbarforwhatHehasguidedusto.AllahuAkbarforwhatHehasgrantedusof

cattle,andpraisebetoAllahforthatwhichHehastrieduswith.

Peopleraisedtheirvoiceswhilerepeatingwhatherecitedandbegancrying,fortheysawinthe

imamtheactionsofthemessengerofAllah.Theydiscoveredthedeviationoftheirrulersandsaw

thattheywerenotonthetruth.Marv[1]burstintoaclamor.Theleadersfellofffromtheir

mounts.Somehistorianshavesaidthattheluckyleaderswerethosewhowereabletofindan

acquaintancetoleadtheiranimalsbacktotheirhomes.

ImamarRedha(a.s),aftereverytensteps,stoppedtorecitetheTakbeer(AllahuAkbar)four

times.Thepeoplerepeatedafterhim.TheycriedloudlyfortheyviewedtheImamasthenatural

continuityofthepersonalityofhisgrandfatherthemessengerofAllah,whowasthegreatest

liberatoroftheoppressedhumanity.

AlBahri,thepoet,describedImamarRedhas(a.s)leavingtoleadtheprayerinthefollowing

words:

Theyrememberedbyyourexpression,whenyoucameoutoftherows,

theProphetandsotheysaidTahlilandTakbir,[2]

untilyoureachedthemosque,wearingthelightofguidancethatwasvisibleonyou,

[1]Marwwasthecapitalofthestateatthattime.

[2]TahlilissayingLailahaillallah(thereisnogodbutAllah)andTakbirisAllahuakbar(Allahis


33/175


great).

andwalkedreverentlyandsubmissivelytoAllah,neitherwithpridenorwitharrogance.

Ifthe

minbar

could

walk,

it

would

hurry

towards

you

out

of

yearning.[1]

AlMa'moonwasinformedthatthepeopleweresohighlyreveringandglorifyingImamarRedha

(a.s).AlFadhlbinSahlsaidtohim,IfarRedhareachestheplaceofprayerinthisstate,people

willbeseducedbyhim.Youhadbetteraskhimtoreturn.AlMa'moonthensenttoImamar

Redha(a.s)tocomebackandhereturned.[2]

ThesearesomereasonshistorianshavementionedwhichmadealMa'moonbearagrudge

againstImamarRedha(a.s)andfearforhisruleandauthority,and,consequently,hedecidedto

committhemostheinouscrimeinIslam,andthatwastheassassinationoftheImam.

TheassassinationofImamarRedha

WhenalMa'moonwasunabletobearImamarRedha(a.s)anylonger,hedecidedtoassassinate

him.Heinvitedhimandofferedhimaclusterofgrapesinwhichhehadinsertedsomepoison.He

saidtohim,OsonofthemessengerofAllah,Ihavenotseengrapesbetterthanthese.

ImamarRedha(a.s)replied,TheremaybegrapesinParadisebetterthanthese.

AlMa'moonaskedImamarRedha(a.s)toeatfromthosegrapesbuttheImamwasreluctantand

saidtoalMa'moon,Wouldyouexcusemefromit?

AlMa'moonscoldedandshoutedathim,Youmusteatthem.Whatpreventsyoufromeating?

Areyouaccusingusofsomething?

[1]ManaqibAalAbiTalib,vol.4p.372.

[2]UyunAkhbararRedha,vol.2p.150151,NooralAbsar,p.143.

HethenforcedImamarRedha(a.s)toeatthegrapes.ImamarRedha(a.s)atethreeberriesand

thenthrewtheclusteraway.Thepoisonacteduponhimatonceandhegotuptoleavetheir

meeting.AlMa'moonaskedhim,Whereareyougoing?

ImamarRedha(a.s)glancedathimandsaidinasadandtremblingvoice,Towhereyouhave

directedme.Hemeanttodeath.[1]


34/175


Thepoisonreactedinhisbodyandthepainsofdeathattackedhim.AlMa'moonsenta

messengertoImamarRedha(a.s)asking,Whatwouldyourecommendmetodo?

ImamarRedha(a.s)saidtothemessenger,Tellhim:herecommendsyounottogivesomeonea

thingthatyoumayfeelregretfor.[2]ImamarRedha(a.s)meantthepositionofheirapparent

withwhich

al

Ma'moon

had

entrusted

him

and

had

bound

himself

by

it

before

Allah

and

the

nationandthenhebrokehistrust.

ImamarRedha(a.s)turnedtoAbussaltandsaid,OAbussalt,theydidit.[3]Hemeanthis

assassinationwaswroughtbyalMa'moon.

ImamarRedha(a.s)begansufferingfromthebitterpainsofthepoison.Hisintestineswerecut

andhisinsidesmelted.Deathwasquicklyapproachingtheimamtoextinguishthatshiningflame

whichhadlittheintellectualandsociallifeintheworldoftheArabsandtheMuslims.Imamar

Redha(a.s),eveninthatcriticalordeal,wasbusyintheremembranceofAllah.Thebitterpainsof

thatseveredeathdidnotpreventhimfrommentioninghisLord.Hebreathedhislastwhile

praisingandglorifyingAllah.HisgreatsoulascendedtoitsCreatorasthesoulsoftheprophets

andimamshaddonebeforehim,surroundedbytheangelsandthecontentmentofAllah.The

soulofImamarRedha(a.s)ascendedtoAllahtheMercifulafterhehadcarriedouthisgreat,

reformativemissionofdefendingthereligionofAllahandprotectingHisprinciplesandgoals.


[2]UyunatTawareekh,vol.3p.227.

[3]AlIrshad,p.355.

AlMa'moonannouncestheImamsdeath

AlMa'moonhidthenewsofImamarRedhasdeathforadayandanightandthenhesentfor

MuhammadbinJafarasSadiqandsomeothermenofaal[1]AbuTalib(theAlawids),ordering

themtocometohim.Whentheycametohim,heannouncedtothemthedeathofImamar

Redha(a.s)andpretendedtobeverysadanddistressedbyit.Hewentwiththemtothebodyof

theimamandshowedthemthathehadnotbeenstruckbyaswordorstabbedwithaspear.Then

headdressedtheholycorpseoftheimamsaying,Obrother,itpainsmetoseeyouinthisstate.I

wishIhaddiedbeforeyou,butAllahonlydoeswhatHewants.[2]

Preparingtheholycorpse

AlMa'moonpreparedthecorpse,washedit,shroudeditandplaceditinthecoffin.Thenhe

wrotetoallpartsofKhurasaninvitingthemtopartakeinthehonorofescortingtheholycorpseof

ImamarRedha(a.s)tohisgrave.


35/175


PeopleofallclasseshurriedtoescorttheholycorpseoftheImam.Itwasagreat,memorableday,

thelikeofwhichKhurasanhadneverbeforewitnessed.AlMa'moonadvancedbeforethebier

andaddressedthecorpseinavoicethatcouldbeheardbyall.Hesaid,Whichofthesetwo

misfortunesisgreatertome:mylosingyouortheaccusationofpeopleagainstme?

Inhislastabode

Theholycorpsewasbroughtunderahalooftahlilandtakbir.AlMa'moonplacedthecorpseof

ImamarRedha(a.s)inthetombbesidethegraveofHarunarRashid[3]andthusburiedthe

clearestpageoftheIslamicmissionthathadprovidedpeoplewiththeelementsofintellectand

culture.ImamarRedha(a.s)wasburiedin

[1]Aalmeansthefamilyortheprogenyof.

[2]AlIrshad,p.355.

[3]HarunarRashidwasthefifthAbbasidcaliphandhewasthefatherofalMa'moon.

thatpureareaandhisholyshrineinKhurasanhasbecomealandmarkofhumandignity.Itisthe

mosthonoredandimpregnablesanctuminIslam.Peopledonotknowashrineofanyofthesaints

ofAllahthathassuchregard,honoranddignity.TheProphet(a.s)hadbeeninformedbythe

unseenthatoneofhisguardianswouldbeburiedinKhurasan.Hementionedthatinhistraditions

andmentionedthehonorandtherewardthatthevisitorsofthatshrinewouldreceive.Hesaid,

ApartofmewillbeburiedinKhurasan.Foreverydistressedonewhovisitsit,Allahwillrelieve

hisdistress,andforeverysinnerwhovisitsit,Allahwillforgivehimhissins.[1]

OnepoethasmoldedthisProphetictraditionintotwoversesofpoetrythathavebeenwrittenon

thewallsoftheholyshrine.Thepoetsays,

Hewholikestoseeatombinhissleep,

whereAllahrelievesthedistressesofitsvisitors,

lethimcometovisitthistomb,

inwhichAllahhashousedachoiceprogenyfromthemessengerofAllah.[2]

Thisspecialziyarah[3]hasbeenrelatedfromImamalJawad(a.s)forhisfatherImamarRedha

(a.s):

PeacebeuponyouOtheinfallibleimam,highbornimam,farbutnear,poisonedin

desolation.[4]

[1]AlHadaiqalWardiyyah,vol.2p.219.

[2]InthebookAnwaralYaqeen,amanuscriptinKashifalGhitaLibrary,tovisitToosswas

mentionedinsteadoftovisitthistomb.ToossisthenameoftheareawhereImamarRedha(s)


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hasbeenburied.

[3]Ziyarahisaspecialaddress,likeasupplication,thatisofferedtotheinfallibleimamsandholy

saint

[4]HayatalImamarRedha,p.432.

Themerits

of

visiting

his

holy

shrine

ManytraditionswerereportedfromImamalJawad(a.s)talkingaboutthemeritsofvisitingthe

holyshrineofhisfather,ImamarRedha(a.s),andtherewardAllahhaspreparedforthevisitors.

Herearesomeofthosetraditions:

1.AbdulAdheembinAbdullahalHasanisaid,IheardMuhammadbinAliarRedha(Imamal

Jawad)saying:whoevervisits(theshrineof)myfatherandsuffersfromtheharmsofrain,coldor

heat,Allahwillsavehisbodyfromthefire(ofHell).[1]

2.AlibinAsbaatsaid,Once,IaskedAbuJafar:whatdoeshe,whovisitsyourfatherinKhurasan,

get?Hesaid,TheParadise,byAllah,theParadise.[2]

3.AbdulAdheembinAbdullahalHasanisaid,IsaidtoAbuJa'far,Iamconfusedbetweenvisiting

AbuAbdullahalHusayn(a.s)andvisitingthetombofyourfatherinTooss.Whatdoyouadvise?

Hesaidtome,Stayhere!Hethenwentinside(thehouse)andthencameoutwhilehiseyes

weresheddingtearsdownhischeeks.Hesaid,ThevisitorsofAbuAbdullaharetoomanyandthe

visitorsofmyfatherstombinToossaretoofew.[3]

MuslimsconsoleImamalJawad

WhenthepainfulnewsofthedeathofImamarRedha(a.s)reachedthepeopleofYathrib

(Medina),theyhurriedtoImamalJawad(a.s)toconsolehim.Theyparticipatedwithhiminhis

sorrowandpainforthedeathofhisfather.Manydelegationsfromtheothercountriesalsocame

togivehimtheircondolences.Fromamongthedelegations,therewasthegreatpoetAbdullah

binAyyoobalKhuraybiwhohadmetImamarRedha(a.s)andhaddevotedhimselftohim.He

recitedapoembeforeImamalJawad(a.s)elegizingImamarRedha(a.s).

[1]WassailashShia,vol.10p.437.

[2]Ibid.

[3]Ibid.,p.442.

OthergroupsoftheShiaalsocametohim,condolingwithhimwarmlyforthegreatdisasterthat

hadafflictedhimandalltheShia.


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TheconfusionoftheShia

TheShiabecameterriblyconfusedabouttheimamateafterthedeathofImamarRedha(a.s),

becauseImamalJawad(a.s)wasjustsixyearsandsomemonthsofageatthattime.[1]This

causedtheShiatobecomeconfusedandtodisagreewitheachother.Somethoughtthatasix

yearold

child

could

not

be

an

imam

and

the

imamate

should

be

entrusted

to

an

older

man.

A

groupoftheShiagatheredinoneoftheirhouses.AmongthemwerearRayyanbinasSalt,Yonus,

SafwanbinYahya,MuhammadbinHakeemandAbdurrahmanbinalHajjaj.Theydiscussedthe

matteroftheimamateandbegantocry.Yonussaidtothem,Stopyourcryingandwaituntilthis

childgrowsup.HemeantImamalJawad(a.s).ArRayyanbinasSaltsaid,Ifitisdecreedby

AllahtheAlmighty,thenatwodayoldchildcanbelikeahundredyearoldman,butifitisnot

decreedbyAllah,thenevenifonelivesforfivethousandyears,hewillnotbeabletodowhatthe

masterscandoorevenapartofit.Thisisworthponderingover.[2]

ThiswasthedecisiveanswerthatrevealedtheshiningrealitywhichtheTwelverShiabelievein:

childhoodoradulthoodhavenothingtodowiththepositionofimamate,whichisliketheposition

ofprophethoodinmostofitsspecifications,forbothimamateandprophethoodareinthehand

ofAllah,WhoentrustswiththemwhomsoeverHechoosesfromamongstHispeople.

Delegationsofjurisprudentsandulama

Asignificantnumberofscholarsandjurisprudents,whohadbeenselectedbytheShiitemilieusin

Baghdadandothercountries,cametoYathribfollowingthedeathofImamarRedha(a.s)inorder

to

[1]Inmostsources,itismentionedthattheageofImamalJawad(s)thenwassevenyearsand

somemonths.

[2]Dala'ilalImama,p.250,FiraqashShia,p.59.

ascertainthenewimam.Theywereabouteightymen,ashistorianshavementionedintheir

books.WhentheyarrivedinYathrib,theywenttothehouseofImamAbuAbdullahasSadiq(a.s).

Aredrugwasspreadoutforthem.AbdullahthesonofImamMusaalKadhim(a.s)cametothem

andsatattheheadoftheirmeeting,claiminghimselftobetheimamafterImamarRedha(a.s)

andthereligiousauthorityoftheUmma.Amanstoodupandcalledouttotheulama,Thisisthe

sonofthemessengerofAllah.Whoeverhasaquestionlethimaskit.Oneoftheulamastoodup

andaskedhim,Whatdoyouthinkaboutthemanwhosaystohiswife:Idivorceyouasmany

timesastherearestarsinthesky?

AbdullahthesonofImamMusaalKadhimansweredagainstthejurisprudenceoftheAhlulBayt

(a.s)saying,SheisdivorcedthricebeforetheGemini.


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Theulamaandthejurisprudentswereastonishedatthisanswer,whichwasdifferentfromthat

whichtheinfallibleimamshaddeterminedthatdivorcecouldonlybeachievedonce.[1]Wedo

notknowwhyAbdullahsingledouttheGeminifromallthestarsandplanets!

Anotherone

of

the

jurisprudents

asked

him,

What

is

your

opinion

regarding

aman

who

has

sexualintercoursewithananimal?

AgainheansweredcontrarytothelawofAllah.Hesaid,Hishandshouldbecutoffandheshould

bewhippedahundred

Theattendeeswereastonished.Someofthembegantocrybecauseofthesefatwasthat

contradictedtheverdictsofAllah.Theybecameveryconfused.Whiletheywereinthisstate,a

doornearthefrontofthemeetingwasopenedoutofwhichemergedMuwaffaqtheservant,and

thenImamAbuJa'farMuhammadalJawad(a.s)appearedwithsuchaloftinessthatmadeall

headsbowtohimsubmissively.Theulamaandthejurisprudentsstoodupoutofrespectand

began

[1]Ahusbandmaysaytohiswifeyouaredivorcedonetimewhenhewantstodivorceherand

shewillnolongerbehislegalwife.Hedoesnothavetorepeatthisstatementthreetimes.

glorifyinghim.Amanintroducedhimtotheattendeesastheimamafterhisfatherandasthe

greatauthorityforMuslims.

ThemanwhohadaskedthefirstquestioncametotheImamandaskedhim,Whatdoyouthink

aboutthemanwhosaystohiswife:Idivorceyouasmanytimesastherearestarsinthesky?

ImamalJawad(a.s)said,Oman,readintheBookofAllah:(Divorcemaybe(pronounced)twice,

thenkeep(them)ingoodfellowshiporlet(them)gowithkindness)[1]andthenitisatthethird

(thatdivorcebecomesirrevocable).

Theattendantswonderedattheintelligenceoftheimamandwerecertainthattheyhadreached

theaimwhichtheyhadsought.TheaskertoldImamalJawad(a.s)ofthefatwaofhisuncle

AbdullahthesonofImamalKadhimconcerningthesamematter.ImamalJawad(a.s)turnedto

hisuncleandsaid,Ouncle,fearAllahanddonotgiveanyfatwawhenthereexistsintheumma

onewhoismoreawarethanyou.

Abdullahbowedhisheadtotheearthanddidnotknowwhattosay.Themanwiththesecond

questioncametoImamalJawad(a.s)andaskedhim,Whatisyouropinionregardingamanwho

hassexualintercoursewithananimal?


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ImamalJawad(a.s)said,Heshouldbesubjectedtoadiscretionarypunishment,andtheanimal

shouldbemarkedwithalastingmarkonitsbackandtakenoutofthecountrysothattheshame

ofitdoesnotremainwiththeman.

TheaskerinformedImamalJawad(a.s)ofthefatwaofhisuncle.ImamalJawad(a.s)strongly

rejectedthat

fatwa

and,

turning

to

his

uncle,

angrily

said,

There

is

no

god

but

Allah

(O

my

God!)!

OAbdullah,itissogreatamattertoAllahthatwhentomorrowyouwillstopbeforeHim,Hewill

askyou:whydidyougiveafatwatomypeopleaboutthatwhichyoudidnotknow,whereas

therewassomeoneintheummawhowasmoreawarethanyou?

[1]Qur'an,2:229.

Abdullahbeganmakingexcusesandjustifyinghisanswerbysaying,Ihaveseenmybrotherar

Redhaanswerthisquestionwiththissameanswer.

ImamalJawad(a.s)deniedthisandshoutedathim,ArRedhawasaskedaboutagravedigger

whohaddugoutadeadwoman,madelovetoherandtakenherclothes.He(arRedha)ordered

tocuthishandoffforstealing,towhiphimforcommittingadulteryandtoexilehimformaiming

thedead.[1]

TheulamaandthescholarsthenaskedImamalJawad(a.s)manyquestionsregardingdifferent

mattersofjurisprudence.Historianssaythattherewereaboutthirtythousandquestionsasked.

Somehistorianshavementionedthattheimamwasaskedallthesethirtythousandquestionsin

onemeetingandheansweredthemallthenandthere.[2]Wedonotthinkthatitcouldhavebeen

possibletoanswerallthesequestionsinonemeetingbecausetimewouldnotallowforthat,but

itismorereasonabletosaythatImamalJawad(a.s)wasaskedthirtythousandquestionsin

differentmeetingsandonmanydifferentoccasions.

Anyhow,theulamabecamesatisfiedofhisimamateandreturnedtotheircountriesspreadingthe

newsthatthenextimamwasMuhammadalJawad.TheyrelatedtotheMuslimswhattheyhad

witnessedofhisabundantknowledgeandsaidthathewasthegreatmiracleofIslamforthough

hewassoyounginage,hepossessedsuchahighlevelofknowledgeofsciencesthatcould

neitherbedefinednordescribed.

ItisworthnotingthatsomeoftheShiahadaskedImamarRedha(a.s)somequestionsinhis

lifetime,whichhehadanswered,andthentheywenttoImamalJawad(a.s)afterthedeathofhis

fatherandaskedhimthesamequestionstotryhim,butheansweredtheminaccordancewith

theanswersofhisfather.

[1]AdDurranNadheem,p.218,amanuscriptinAmeerulMomineenLibrary.


40/175


[2]Wassa'ilashShia,vol.18,p.511512.s

AbuKhirashnarrated,IwasattendingameetingofarRedhawhensomemancametohimand

said,MayIdieforyou!Mywife,whoisanhonestbondmaid,suckledoneofmyservantwomen

atthesametimewhenshewassucklingasonofmine.Isitunlawfulformetomarrythatservant

woman?Imam

ar

Redha

(a.s)

replied,

There

is

no

suckling

after

weaning.[1]

The

man

then

asked

himaboutprayerinalHaramayn[2]andhesaid,Youcanofferitinitsshortenedform(qasr:two

rakas)ifyoulike,andyoucanofferitinitsfullform(tamam:fourrakas)ifyoulike.When,later

on,Iwenttoperformthehajj,IwenttoAbuJa'far(alJawad)andaskedhimthesesamequestions

andhegavemethesameanswersthathisfatherhadgiven.[3]

Anyhow,theShiareferredtohimandbelievedinhisimamate.NoShiabelievedinanyotherthan

himastheimam.

[1]Itmeansthatsucklingwillhavenoeffectafterweaning,andespeciallyinthiscasewherethe

servantwasanadult.

[2]AlHaramayn(thetwosacredplaces):MeccaandMedina.

[3]AdDurranNadheem,p.219.

Fromhishighidealsr

ThepersonalityofImamAbuJa'faralJawad(a.s)possessedallthehighidealsandloftyexamples

thatanyhumanbeingwouldtakepridein.Herearesomeoftheseideals:

Imamate

ImamalJawad(a.s)assumedtheimamateandthegeneralreligiousleadershipwhenhewasjust

sevenyearsandsomemonthsinage,asJesusChrist(a.s)hadassumedtheprophethoodwhenhe

wasevenyoungerthanthisinage.

Imamateis

based

on

adeep

philosophy

that

aims

at

exalting

the

position

of

man

and

administeringthetruthandjusticethatmanseeks.Andhere,wewillbrieflydigresstodiscuss

someaffairsofimamate.

Itsgoals


41/175


Imamatetakesgreatcaretoachieveitsactualgoals,undertheshadowsofwhichmancanlive

happilyandpeacefully.Fromamongthegoalsofimamatearethefollowing:

1.Administeringjusticeeverywhere,socialandpoliticalalike,sothatthenation,underthe

shadowofimamate,willnotfaceanysocialorindividualinjusticeandnoindividualorcommunity

willbe

preferred

to

another

for

all

should

be

equal

before

justice

and

the

truth.Byadministeringthispurejustice,mancanbecomethedeputyofAllahonHisearthandthe

nationwillnotfindanycrookednessinitspath.

2.Risingagainstinjusticeandtyranny,resistingoppressionandpreventingthecontrolofthe

strongovertheweak;theShiahaveundoubtedlyundertakenthisaspect.Theyhaveled

successiverevolutionsagainstinjusticeandaggressionandhavefoughttheoppressivepowers.

Theheadsoftheirchiefsandimamshavebeenraisedonspears,foreverilluminatingthepathof

freedomanddignity.Moawiya[1]hadanotablegroupoftheShiakilled,amongwhomwasAmr

binalHamqalKhuzaiy,apropagandistfortruth,freedomandstruggle.Afterbeingkilled,his

headwasraisedonaspearandcirculatedinthetownsandcountries,illuminatingforpeoplethe

wayofstruggle.YazeedthesonofMoawiyahadthepureprogenyoftheProphet(a.s)killedand

theirheadsraisedonspearsastheywereparadedthroughdifferenttowns.Theseandother

revolutionshavegivenIslameternalgloriesthroughouthistory.Theyhaveforcedtheworldto

recognizethatIslamisareligionofstruggleandrevoltagainstinjustice,oppressionandtyranny.

ThegreatrevolutionsthatroseinthehistoryofIslamrosenotbutbytheinspirationofthe

imamate,whoseshiningprinciplesoccupiedtheheartsofthoserevolutionarieswhominedthe

palacesandcastlesoftheunjustandthetyrantswithbombsthattoredownallsignsoftheirpride

andarrogance.

3.ProtectingtheeconomyofthenationandnotspendingfromtheTreasuryexcepttoservethe

publicwelfare,developtheeconomicalresources,increasetheindividualincomeandreformthe

generaleconomytoremovepoverty,whichistheequivalentofdisbelief.Therulerandtheother

officersofthegovernmenthavenorighttomeddlewiththepowersandpropertiesofthestateor

tounlawfullytakesomethingforthemselvesortheirrelatives.Themaincauseoftherevolution

thatoverthrewthegovernmentofOthman,thechiefoftheUmayyadfamily,wasthemeddlingof

theUmayyadswiththe

[1]ThefirstruleroftheUmayyadstate.

wealthofthestateandseizingitforthemselvesandtheirfollowers.

4.SpreadingfaithinAllah,uponwhichthepowersofgoodandpeaceoneartharebased;when


42/175


faithinAllahrootsdeeplyinsideaman,itbecomesimpossibleforhimtocommitanyinjusticeor

oppressionagainstothers.Rather,themanbecomesasourceofmercyandgoodtoothers.

5.Purifyingthesoulsandheartsandplantingnoblequalitiesandvirtue

the life of imam muhammad al jawad

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