In every occasion, numerous efforts and attempts were made to discredit the character of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), to the point where it was said: “Mamun resorted to every trick against Abu Ja’far (Imam Jawad (peace be upon him)), but he achieved nothing[1].” However, despite all these efforts, Mamun made no progress, and Imam (peace be upon him) continued to gain greater respect and influence every day. His growing stature became increasingly alarming for the ruling regime that held the reins of power. Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) successfully guided the Ummah and the Imamate through the difficult and terrifying circumstances they faced. He firmly established the foundations of the faith, presented clear evidence and arguments, illuminated the path for the wayfarers, and fully embodied the words of his father, Imam Ali Reza (peace be upon him), who had said: “This is a child who has brought more blessings to Islam than anyone else”[2] or, in another text, “This newborn is the most blessed among our Shi’ah.”[3]
Indeed, as Imam’s stature continued to rise and his star shone brightly, despite his young age and his early succession to the Imamate, he became widely recognized, and both supporters and opponents alike acknowledged his knowledge and virtue. Even those gatherings and events orchestrated by the government—whose purpose was to diminish the Imam’s status and make him appear unlearned—contributed significantly to the recognition of his excellence and his growing renown.
As Sibt ibn al-Jawzi, a major scholar of the Sunni tradition, said: “He followed the path of his father in knowledge, piety, asceticism, and generosity.”[4]
Al-Jahiz, a famous Mutazili scholar from Basra, known for his extensive knowledge and writings in various fields, was contemporary with Imam Jawad (peace be upon him). Jahiz listed Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) among ten figures of the “Alawites,” and he said of them: “Each of them was learned, ascetic, pious, courageous, generous, and pure-hearted.”[5]
Many scholars have praised Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), but there is not enough space to mention them all. In any case, Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) was widely respected by both common folk and scholars. His followers’ love and admiration for him were such that when he entered the streets of Baghdad, the capital city, people would run from all sides, climb to high places, and stand to catch a glimpse of him. For them, seeing him was a momentous event.
The level of respect and reverence for Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) can be gauged from the immense respect shown by his paternal uncle, Ali ibn Ja’far al-Sadiq, a renowned scholar and hadith narrator.
Muhammad ibn Hasan narrates: “I stayed for two years with Ali ibn Ja’far, writing down the hadiths he had heard from his brother (Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him)). One day, while I was sitting with him in Madinah, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad (peace be upon him) entered the Masjid al-Nabi. Ali ibn Ja’far immediately sprang up, barefooted and without his cloak, and kissed his hands in reverence.”
Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) said: “Uncle, please sit down, may Allah have mercy on you.”
Ali ibn Ja’far replied: “My master, how can I sit when you are standing?”
When Ali ibn Ja’far returned to his home, his companions scolded him and said: “You are his paternal uncle, and you behave like this?”
Ali ibn Ja’far replied: “Be quiet,” and holding his beard, he continued: “When Allah has not considered this grey beard worthy and has made this young man worthy of the position (Imamate), how can I deny his excellence?”
(Excerpted from the book “The Political Life of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him)”, written by Allama Ja’far Murtadha Amili)
Footnotes:
[1] (Usul al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 494)
[2] (Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 50, Page 20)
[3] (Usul al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 321)
[4] Tadhkira al-Khwas, Pages 359–358
[5] A’thar al-Jahiz, Page 235 [6] Usul al-Kafi, Volume 1, Page 322