The Ninth Holy Imam, Imam al-Jawad (A.S.)

By: Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini
Source:
Principles of Shi’ite Creed
He was called Muḥammad and his best known epithets are Jawād and Taqī. His father was Imām Riḍā (A.S.) and his mother was called Sabīkah. He was born on Rajab 10, 195 Hijrah. He assumed Imamat (leadership) in 203 Hijrah at the age of 9. Of course, as we noted earlier, the leadership of Imām is a divine position that is assigned by Allah the Almighty and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and has nothing to do with age. That is, the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has determined that after the eighth Imam, Imām Riḍā (A.S.), his son, Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī should succeed and therefore, Imām Riḍā (A.S.) introduced him as the successor.
One day, when Imām Jawād (A.S.) entered the Holy Prophet’s (S.A.W.) masjid in Madinah ‘Alī ibn Ja‘far, the son of Imām Ja‘far (A.S.), who was the uncle of his father was sitting there, and as Imām (A.S.) walked into the masjid, he rushed toward Imām (A.S.) barefoot and without his cloak, and bowed to him and kissed his hand and stood by him respectfully. Imām Jawād (A.S.) asked him to be seated. ‘Alī ibn Ja‘far replied, “How could I sit while you are standing?”
Following the departure of Imām Jawād (A.S.), some people who had witnessed this went up to ‘Alī ibn Ja‘far and reproached him and said, “You are the uncle of his father and he is the grandson of your brother, why do you honor him? (He should respect you) ‘Alī ibn Ja‘far held his white beard in his hand and said, “When God has not deemed me with my white beard worthy of the position of Imamat (leadership) and has regarded him deserving of the Imamat (leadership) despite his young age, then how do you tell me not to accept it. I seek refuge in God from what you are saying.” He is our Imām and it is incumbent upon us to submit to him and to honor him.
Yaḥyā ibn Aksam says, “One day, I entered the masjid of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) and was paying tribute to his tombstone when I noticed Imām Jawād (A.S.) there.” I posed some questions and he answered them all very well and then I said, “I have a question but I don’t dare to raise it.” He said, “Before posing your question, I will say it. Your questions is, who will be the Imam (leader) of Muslims after my father, Imām Riḍā (A.S.)?” I said, “By God! That was my question.” He said, “After my father, I will be the Imām and God’s proof.”
He was martyred by poisoning at the order of Mu’taṣim the ‘Abbasīd ruler, on the last day of Dhu’l-Qa‘dah of 220 Hijrah at the age of 25. He was buried next to his grandfather, Imām Mūsā (A.S.) in Baghdād (Kāẓimayn).
Sayings of Imām Jawad (A.S.) Someone asked Imām (A.S.) to advise him, Imām (A.S.) said, “Will you take it?”
He replied, “Yes.” Then Imām (A.S.) expressed remarks with this theme, Quit lustful desires and oppose your evil ego. Beware that God sees you constantly so watch what you are doing and how you are doing.