Sunday, 13 September 2015

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The Infallibles : Imam Muhammad Al Taqi (as)

Imam Muhammad Al-Taqi (as)
Name: Muhammad bin ‘Ali.
Titles: At-Taqi, Al-Jawad.
Kuniyya: Abu Ja'far.
Father: Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as)
Mother: Sabika (also known as Khaizarun).
Birth: 10th Rajab 195 a.h. Madina.
Death: 29th Dhulqa'da 220 a.h. Baghdad. Buried in Kadhmain.
His Parents & Birth
He was the only son of Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as) The Prophet (S) had said:
“My father be sacrificed on the mother of the 9th Imam who will be a pure and pious Nubian.”
Imam Musa Kadhim (as) 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 wife - Mary Copt who bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim (who died in infancy).
Imam Muhammad Taqi (as) was born when his father was 45 years old. Till then Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as) had constantly been taunted that he had no children. When the 9th Imam was born, a brother of Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as) was angry because he would lose out in inheriting the Imam's property and in his jealousy spread a rumour that Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as) 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 Ma’mun Rashid to be his 'heir apparent'. When Imam ‘Ali Ridha (as) 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.
His Titles, Life & Works
He became an Imam at the age of 9. Ma’mun Rashid thought that as all the rulers before him had oppressed the Imams and their schemes had backfired that he would try to bribe the Imams. He tried to make the 8th Imam his heir apparent and give him power and wealth but that also backfired.
He now tried to use power and wealth with the 9th Imam again but from a much younger age thinking that he would be able to influence him. His main purpose was also to make sure that the 12th Imam (whom he knew would bring justice to the world) would be from his progeny and therefore intended to give his daughter Ummul Fadhl to the Imam for a wife. Ma’mun still continued oppressing the family and followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as).
Ma’mun called the young Imam (as) to Baghdad from Madina and offered his daughter. This infuriated his family (Banu Abbas). To prove to them the excellence of Imam even at a young age he arranged a meeting between Imam and the most learned of men at that time - Yahya bin Athkam.
It was a grand occasion with some 900 other scholars present. Imam (as) was first asked by Yahya:
What is the compensation (kaffara) for a person in Ehraam who hunted and killed his prey?”
Imam replied that there were many more details required before he could answer the question:
1. Did the Muhrim (one in Ehraam) hunt in the haram or outside?
2. Did the Muhrim know Sharia or not?
3. Did he hunt intentionally or not?
4. Did he hunt for the first time or was this one of many times?
5. Was he free or a slave?
6. Was his prey a bird or an animal?
7. Was it big or small?
8. Had he hunted by day or by night?
9. Was he baligh or not?
10. Was he repentant or not?
11. Was his ehraam for Hajj or Umra?
Yahya was stunned. He looked down and started sweating.
Ma’mun asked the young Imam to answer the question, which he did, and then Imam asked Yayha a question which he could not answer. The Banu Abbas admitted defeat and Ma’mun took the opportunity to offer his daughter in marriage to Imam. Imam (as) read his own Nika (the khutba of which is used today) with the Mehr of 500 dirhams. Imam wrote a letter to Ma’mun that he would also give Ummul Fadhl Mehr from the wealth of Aakhira. This was in the form of 10 duas which were for fulfilling any hajaat (desires) [Chain of narrators upto Prophet - Jibrail - Allah]1 . Thus his title Al-Jawad (the generous one).

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