Among the theological (1) topics\nrelated to divine leadership (Imamate) is the question, how is it possible for\na person to become an Imam during his childhood. The question became widely\ndebated and discussed in scientific gatherings after Imam Jawad (PBUH) was appointed\nan Imam at the age of eight in the year 203 A.H, and Imam Hadi (PBUH) at the\nage of eight and years later Imam Mahdi (PBUH) at the age of five. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the narrations about Imam Jawad\n(PBUH), it has been recorded that when Imam Reza (PBUH) chose his son as his\nsuccessor from divine inspiration, he insisted to do so long before the\nappointed date. And in response to questions posed by his companions about the\nyoung age of Imam Jawad (PBUH) , Imam Reza (PBUH) would bring the example of Prophet\nIsa\u2019s\/Jesus’ (PBUH) appointment to\nProphet hood during his infanthood, and note how the age was even younger than\nthat of his son.(2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The concept of the reasoning of Imam\nReza (PBUH) refers to the holy verse of the Quran about the appointment of\nProphet Isa\/Jesus (PBUH): \u201cBut she pointed to the babe. They said: ‘How can we\ntalk to one who is a child in the cradle?’ \nHe (Jesus) said: ‘Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the\nBook and made me a prophet.\u201d(3)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Historic accounts show that despite\nhis young age, Imam Jawad (PBUH) was fully capable of carrying out his\nresponsibilities as an Imam as he was fully able to respond to scientific and\njurisprudence problems of the people due to the divine appointment to the\nposition of Imamate. But it wasn\u2019t only the Shiites who came to understand this\nmatter, but even the Imam\u2019s foes came to learn this matter through interactions\nand debates they had with the Imam. One of such debates has been noted as\nfollows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once, during a disagreement between\nMa\u2019mun the Abbasid Caliph (4) and his companions about the knowledge of Imam\nJawad (PBUH), Ma\u2019mun addressed his companions saying, \u201cI know this young boy\nmore than you. He comes from a family whose knowledge is divine (5), and comes\nfrom divine inspiration. Their fathers have been needless from the norm in\nobtaining knowledge and ethics. To better understand, feel free to test him\nwhen you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus one of the companions of Ma\u2019mun,\nYahya ibn Aktham who was the most famous scholar in jurisprudence was chosen to\ndebate with the Imam. In the debate session, and with the presence of Ma\u2019mun,\nYahya asked the Imam a question. The Imam posed ten assumptions which the\nanswer of Yahya was dependent upon them. Yahya was awestricken and with a pale\nface his companions understood his failure. Then Imam answered the question of\nYahya in each of the assumptions. (6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that Imam Jawad (PBUH) asked\nYahya a question. Yahya who had failed to answer the Imam\u2019s question asked the\nImam to clarify the matter himself. In the end of the session, Ma\u2019mun said,\n\u201cWoe unto you! The Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (PBUH&HP) have been assigned\nvirtue and greatness among all people and the age does not prevent them from\ngreatness\u2026\u201d(7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From what has been said, we can\nunderstand that the position of Imamate of the infallible Imams (PBUT) is a\nblessing from Allah (SWT), and cannot be obtained. Thus the age of the Imam\ndoes not have any conflict with this position. \nA clear example can be seen in the case of Imam Jawad (PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection from the book, “The Political and Intellectual Life of Shiite\nImams (Peace be Upon Them)” by Rasul Ja\u2019farian, with minor changes)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roshd Website congratulates all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend on the 10th of Rajab, the birth anniversary\nof the light and deputy of Allah (SWT) in the darkness of earth, the ninth Imam\nof Shiites, Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jawad (PBUH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1-Theology (aka\nKALAM) is a subject of study which covers the religious beliefs and principals;\nthrough the use of different approaches for reasoning, theology addresses\nconflicts and questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2-Safvan Bin\nYahya narrated: \u201cI asked Imam Reza (PBUH): Before Allah (SWT) granted you\nJawad, when we inquired about your succession, you always said: Allah (SWT)\nwill grant me a son. Now that He has granted you a son and we are honored to\nhave visited him, should anything happen to you, who should we follow? Imam Reza\n(PBUH) pointed to his son, Jawad, who was standing in front of him. I asked him\nthe Imam: My master, this is only a three year old child. Imam Reza (PUBH)\nreplied: Why would it be a problem? Jesus (PBUH) was much younger than three\nwhen he was chosen by Allah (SWT) to rise for the truth.\u201d (Usool Kafi, vol. 1,\npg. 321)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3-The Holy Quran\n(19:20-30)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4-Ma\u2019moon was an\noppressive Abbasid Caliph who ordered the martyrdom of both Imam Reza (PBUH)\nand Imam Jawad (PBUH) during his reign<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5-Divine\nknowledge is the God given knowledge that is granted only to Prophets and\nInfallibles to proof their prophet hood and imamate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6-Yahya asked:\n\u201cWhat do you think about one hunts an animal while in IHRAM (obligated in Hajj\nrituals)?\u201d Imam (PBUH) asked: \u201cWhere did he perform the hunt, inside or outside\nof the Haram area? Was he aware of what he did or not? Did he do it on purpose?\nWas he a free man or a slave? Mature or young? Was it his first hunt or more?\nWas the pray a bird or not? If so was it a large bird or small? Is the hunter\nregretting it now or not? Was he obligated for the Hajj or Umrah?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7-al-Ihtejaj,\nvol. 2, pg. 443; al-Irshad, vol. 2, pg. 281; Tohful al-Oghool, pg. 451<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Among the theological (1) topics related to divine leadership (Imamate) is the question, how is it possible for a person to become an Imam during his childhood. The question became widely debated and discussed in scientific gatherings after Imam Jawad (PBUH) was appointed an Imam at the age of eight in the year 203 A.H, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[22650,22649,19654,22651,22663,17762,18418,17943,19335],"class_list":["post-4577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2014-05-10","tag-a-divine-position","tag-child","tag-historic","tag-imam-jawad","tag-imamate","tag-occasion-letters","tag-quran","tag-young"],"yoast_head":"\n