Each Imam from the Shia Imams, based on the circumstances of their time and the resources available to them, made the utmost use of their abilities for the preservation of the true Islam. Specifically, the temporal conditions of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), coupled with his young age, created additional challenges. It took some time to dispel the doubts and uncertainties among the Shia, and the severe restrictions imposed by the rulers regarding communication between the Imam and his followers made it difficult for the Shia to interact freely with their Imam. Moreover, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) was martyred at the young age of just 25 years.
Despite all these challenges, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) managed to spread Islamic jurisprudence, beliefs, and counter the deviant sects to the best of his ability, through limited meetings and correspondence with Shia communities across the Islamic lands.
Shia followers living in different parts of the Islamic world sometimes visited Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) in Medina to discuss their religious, social, and personal issues with him. For example, it is narrated by Harb ibn Othman Hamadani that a group of Shia from Ray came to visit the Imam, and among them was a Zaydi sectarian[1]. After engaging in a discussion, this person eventually accepted the Imamate of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him).[2]
Shia communities also maintained contact with their Imam through his representatives and letters. For instance, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) wrote a letter to Ibrahim ibn Muhammad Hamadani: “The funds you sent have reached me, and may God accept them from you. May He be pleased with our Shia and grant them proximity to us in this world and the Hereafter… I also wrote to my friends in Hamadan, instructing them to follow you, for you are my only representative in that area.”[3]
Furthermore, the Imam’s followers played a crucial role in promoting Shia beliefs and jurisprudence by publishing books containing the sayings of the Imams. This reflected the growing attention of both the Imams and their followers to cultural and intellectual efforts. When asked about narrations from the books of companions that had been hidden for various reasons, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) said, “Narrate from them what is true and correct.” In this way, the Shia strove to revive the works of their predecessors and strengthen the legal foundation of Shia jurisprudence.[4]
Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) also had a significant role in addressing the deviant sects of his time, such as the Ahl al-Hadith, the Waqifas, and the Ghulat. He guided his followers on how to deal with these sects, which had adopted positions against the true teachings of Islam. For example, regarding the Ahl al-Hadith, who believed that God had a physical form, or the Waqifas, who denied the Imamate of Imam Ali (peace be upon him), he instructed his followers not to pray behind them or give them alms[5]. He also condemned the Ghulat, who elevated the Imams to the level of divinity and distorted the Shia beliefs by fabricating Hadiths.[6]
Indeed, Imam Jawad al-Aima (peace be upon him) made every possible effort to protect the true religion of Islam despite the difficulties and limited opportunities at his disposal.
(Taken from the book “The Intellectual and Political Life of the Shia Imams” by Hujjat al-Islam Rasul Jafariyan, with summarizations and additions)
Footnotes:
[1] Those who believed in the Imamate of Zayd ibn Ali, the son of Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him), instead of Imam Muhammad Baqir (peace be upon him).
[2] Al-Thaqib fi al-Manaqib, p. 519, Hadith 450
[3] Rijal al-Kashi, p. 611-612
[4] Al-Kafi, Vol. 1, p. 53
[5] Al-Tawhid, p. 101 – Al-Tahdhib, Vol. 3, p. 283 – Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, Vol. 1, p. 379
[6] Rijal al-Kashi, p. 528-529