Imam Taqi al-Jawad (as), commonly referred to as Imam Jawad, was the ninth Imam according to Shia Muslims, following the Imamate after his father, Imam Ridha (as).
A beacon of intellect, hope, and faith, Imam Jawad continues to inspire believers around the world who strive to follow in the exemplary example of the infallibles of the Holy Household of the Prophet Muhammad, the Ahlulbayt.
The Joy of His Birth
Born on the 10th of Rajab in the year 195 AH, or 811 AD, the birth of Imam Jawad was greatly celebrated by his father, Imam Ridha (as).
It is reported that, overcome with joy, Imam Ridha exclaimed after the birth: “The like of Moses son of Imran, the splitter of the seas, and the like of Jesus son of Mary, blessed be the mother that bore him…has been born to me”.
He then turned to his companions and stated: “Allah has granted me one who will inherit me and inherit the children of Dawood”. This newborn child would be the Imam after him – the next spiritual leader for Muslims around the world in respected reverence of the Ahlulbayt.
Life and Imamate
Imam Jawad (as) was given many titles: Jawad meaning The Generous, Al-Taqi meaning The Pious, as well as Bab al-Murad – meaning The Gate of Desires and Hopes – because of his famed generosity and charitable acts of care and goodness.
Raised in the intellect, faith, and love of his father Imam Ridha, Imam Jawad showed early signs of his infallibility – and gained respect and honor alongside his father.
Preserving, spreading, and protecting the beauty of the Quran and the depth of knowledge in hadith, Imam Jawad became Imam after the death of his father and led for 17 years before his martyrdom.
Serving with the intellect and knowledge of his blessed family, his narrations of hadith are some of the most beautiful – especially considering the fact that much of his sermons were given while he was barely at the age of 20.
One of his most famous hadith is narrated as: “Do not be a friend of Allah in public but an enemy of Allah in private”. In his lecture, it is reported that Imam Jawad stressed the importance of representing the faith and its morals both outwardly and inwardly – and that it may do more harm than good if one only focuses on showing outward signs of worship.
Another hadith attributed to Imam Jawad was given during a sermon in Medina: “Sincerity is the best form of worship”. Sincerity, otherwise described as niyyah, or intention, is one of the most powerful aspects of worship – and here in this hadith Imam Jawad describes the need for pure and truthful intention when it comes to our faith.
A third hadith of Imam Jawad is as follows: “The one who hears about oppression and the one who aids oppression and the one who smiles when they hear about oppression, all of them are partners of the oppressor”. This hadith can resonate with believers today – in that the duty to stand up against oppression remains on us all, regardless of what society, family members, or friends may think or say.
Martyrdom and Legacy
Imam Jawad was martyred at the young age of 25 with poison in the year 220 AH, or 835 AD in Kadhimiya, Iraq.
With his young age and relatively short life as Imam, many continue to lament the shortness of his legacy to the Muslim world.
However short his time on earth may have been, the wisdom, generosity, and piety that Imam Jawad left to the believers remains a powerful reminder of faith to those who follow the virtues of the Prophet Muhammad and the Ahlulbayt, up until our current Imam Mahdi today.
Here at The Zahra Trust, we continue to strive in the legacy of Imam Jawad through charitable acts of care, education, and hope – to learn more about what we do and how you can personally contribute, click here.
