Imam Muhammad Taqi (a.s.)

10th of Rajab  - birth anniversary of the 9th Holy Imam, Imam Muhammad Taqi al-Jawwad(a.s.). His birth was in the year 195 A.H.

His Parents & Birth

He was the only son of the eighth Imam Ali Riza (a.s.) The Prophet (sawaw) 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(sawaw) wife - Maria Kubtiya 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 Riza (a.s.) had constantly been taunted that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam Ali Riza(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 Riza(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 Riza (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. Imam Riza(a.s.) was fully aware of the treacherous character of the ruling king and was sure that he would not return to Medina. So before his departure from Medina he declared his son Muhammad al-Jawad(a.s.) as his successor , and imparted to him all his stores of Divine knowledge and spiritual genius.

Imamate

Imam Ali Riza(a.s.) was poisoned on 17th Safar 203 AH and with effect from the same date Imam Muhammad al-Jawad(a.s.) was commissioned by Allah to hold the responsibility of Imamate . At the tender age of eight there was no apself 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 ( Islamic jurisprudence ) , hadith ( tradition ) , tafsir ( Qur'anic exegesis ) , ect . and outwitted them , but also to exhort their admiration and acknowledgment of his learning and superiority . Right from then the world realized that he possessed Divine knowledge and that the knowledge commanded by the Holy Imam was not acquired , but granted by Allah.

Imam Mohammad Taqi al-Jawwad(a.s.) was entrusted with the responsibilities of Imamate in an apparently tender age of 8 years. He is the Imam with the smallest age i.e. only 25 years before he was martyred at the hands of Moatasim Abbasi in the year 220 A.H. Imam Jawwad(a.s.) showed immense knowledge and maturity during his short imamat time of 17 years so much so that at some sessions he answered more than 30 thousand questions within 3 days time.

Once the most learned scholar of the court of Mamoon named Yahya bin Aksam was prepared for a debate with Imam Jawwad(a.s.) to show that he is still in his infancy and does not have divine knowledge. Imam(a.s.) went to the court to take up the debate.

Yahya took up one of the most difficult matters in Islamic Shariah and asked Imam(a.s.) "What will be the Kaffara for a person who hunts while in the state of Ahraam?".  Imam(a.s.) before replying said "Your question is incomplete. First you should complete your question. There could be 22 different situations:

(1) Hunting was done within or outside the limits of Haram?

(2) The hunter was aware of this shariah issue or not?

(3) Hunting was done intentionally or occurred un-intentionally?

(4) Hunter was a free person or a slave?

(5) He was a mature (baligh) or immature (nabaligh) person?

(6) He hunted for the first time or had been doing earlier as well?

(7) The hunt was a bird or other animal?

(8) The hunt was a small or a big animal?

(9) Hunter was ashamed of his act or insisted on its correctness?

(10) Hunting was done in the night or day time?

(11) Ahraam was for Hajj or Umra?

"Which of these situations are in question? Since the teaching of shariat depends on them."

Hearing this, Yahya bin Aksam was speechless and accepted his ignorance and requested the Imam(a.s.) to answer in the light of each situation. Imam(a.s.) replied as follows:

(1) If the animal was hunted while wearing Ahraam outside the limits of Haram and the animal was a bird and of big size then the kaffara is a goat.

(2) If the same has been hunted inside the limits of Haram then the kaffara is 2 goats.

(3) If the animal was small and hunted outside the Haram then the kaffara is one lamb that has completed its feeding from its mother.

(4) If this was done inside the haram then the kaffara is the cost of the bird and one lamb.

(5) If the hunted was a four-legged animal then if it was a wild donkey then the kaffara is a Cow and if was is an Ostrich then the kaffara is one Camel and if it was a Deer then one goat.

(6) If the same is done inside the haram then the kaffara is double.

(7) If the ahraam is for Umra then the kaffarat have to be brought to the Khana-e-Kaaba and the sacrifice will be done in Makkah. However if the Ahraam if of Hajj then the sacrifice will be done in Mina.

(8) It does not matter is the hunter is aware of the shariat issue or not – the kaffara will be the same in both cases.

(9) If the hunting is done intentionally then there is additional sin committed, but if it was done un-intentionally then there is no sin.

(10) If the hunter is a free person then the kaffara will be the liability of that person and if the hunter is a slave then the kaffara  is the liability of his owner.

(11) Kaffara will be mandatory on a baligh (mature) person and is not mandatory on a na-baligh (immature) person.

(12) If the hunter repents his act then there is no punishment on the day of judgment but if the hunter insists on it being correct then will have to face punishment on the day of judgment as well.