Imam Muhammad Taqi (PBUH), the ninth\nImam and son of Imam Reza (PBUH), was appointed to Imamate at age of seven. As\nImam Muhammad Taqi (PBUH), also referred to as Imam Jawad and Abu Ja’far, was\nthe first Imam to be appointed to Imamate at such a young age, many may\nquestion its possibility and reliability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This selection will seek to answer the\nfollowing questions: Is it really possible a young boy could have reached\nperfection and thus become successor of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HP)? Have\nsimilar cases occurred to previous communities? Was this incident sudden and\nunordinary for the society of the time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. \nIn general, based on human nature, to blossom in\nintellect and body, and to express abilities in thought and spirit; passage of\ntime is essential. Allah (SWT) as one who created rules and regulations of\nnature is more powerful than to be limited to the regulations themselves. In\nother words, Allah (SWT) can easily change the normal regulations in life\ncycles of His selected servants. This case holds true in regards to prophets\nand Imams who as the Holy Quran recalls have been chosen by Allah (SWT).(1) The\nQuranic references are proof of the prophets’ God given gifted characteristics,\nwhich are apart from materialistic tools and reasons. The characteristics prove\nthat prophets had the necessary liabilities and qualifications for this\nposition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. \nThe Holy Quran informs us about previous\ngenerations who experienced young prophets, like in the example of Prophet\nYahya (John) (PBUH), “O Yahya! take hold of the Book with strength, and We\ngranted him wisdom while yet a child”.(2) The Holy Quran also brings\nexamples from the birth of Prophet Isa (Jesus) (PBUH) who defended his mother\nfrom the accusations and blasphemy of his community. For a normal human being it would take at\nleast twelve months past his birth to begin saying his first words. What Prophet\nIsa (PBUH) said(3) at birth sounded like intellectual words a wise elderly man\nmight have said.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Imam Reza (PBUH), father of Imam Jawad\n(PBUH), was aware of this fact and thus prepared the grounds by informing\nMuslims, especially Shiites and devotees about the concept of Imamate at a\nyoung age. A follower of Imam Reza (PBUH) narrates: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nIn the city of Khurasan we were present in a\ngathering with Imam Reza (PBUH). One of\nus asked, “O Master, if something occurred to you who should we refer to?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“To my son\nAbu Ja’far,” replied the Imam. The reply of the Imam was not satisfactory\nfor the man as he felt Imam Jawad (PBUH) was too young. Imam Reza (PBUH) thus\nsaid, “Allah (SWT) appointed Isa ibn Maryam to Prophethood and gave him\nnew teachings at an even younger age than Abu Ja’far.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the preaching of Imam Reza\n(PBUH) explained the possibilities of a divine position at a young age and\nprepared the grounds for the next Imam, yet because people were unaware of the\nteachings of previous Imams (PBUT), they questioned the authenticity. To find\nthe truth, learned men and scholars held gatherings and meetings with Imam\nJawad (PBUH). Imam Jawad (PBUH) firmly answered their questions and convinced\nthem with his answers. (5) It should be noted that the detailed answers Imams\n(PBUT) would give to questions of the community about the belief and thought\nwas a routine task in their life. Likewise the question\/answer sessions of the\nShiite society and the movement of Imam Jawad (PBUH) in clarifying doubts do\nnot seem out of the ordinary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Selection taken\nfrom “The Face of the Leaders”, by Mahdi Pishwayi)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Condolences to all the truth seekers,\nthe anniversary of the Martyrdom of the generous who became Imam at young age\nand martyred due to the oppression of the tyrants in the young age, Imam Jawad\n(PBUH).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1- “Allah\ndid choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of ‘Imran above\nall people.” (The Holy Quran, 3:33)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2- The Holy\nQuran, 19:12<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3- The Holy\nQuran, 19:30-32<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4- Sheikh Mufid,\nAl-Irshad, Maktab e Basirati, p. 319; Kuleini, Al-Usul Min al-Kafi, Tehran:\nMaktab al-Saduq, vol.1 pp 322 and 384.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5- Majlisi,\nBihar al-Anwar, 2nd Edition, Tehran: Maktaba al-Islamiyyah, 1395 AH vol. 50, p.\n98-100; Muhammad ibn Jarir Tabari, Ibn Rustam, Reasons of Imamate, 3rd Edition,\nQum, Manshoorat al-Razi, 1363 AH, pp. 204-206.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Imam Muhammad Taqi (PBUH), the ninth Imam and son of Imam Reza (PBUH), was appointed to Imamate at age of seven. As Imam Muhammad Taqi (PBUH), also referred to as Imam Jawad and Abu Ja’far, was the first Imam to be appointed to Imamate at such a young age, many may question its possibility and […]<\/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":[22717,17778,18159,22716,18131,22663,17990,18418,18536,22718,19251,17965],"class_list":["post-4589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2006-12-20","tag-allah","tag-body","tag-childhood-and-wisdom","tag-holy","tag-imam-jawad","tag-muhammad","tag-occasion-letters","tag-prophet","tag-similar","tag-society","tag-success"],"yoast_head":"\n