Imam al-Jawad (peace be upon him) and His Blessed Birth

[صدى المهدي]

His Lineage:
Imam Muhammad al-Jad (peace be upon him) comes from the noble family, one of the most revered and honored lineages known to humanity. He is the son of Imam Ali al-Ridha (peace be upon him), the son of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), the son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (peace be upon him), the son of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him), the son of Imam Ali al-Sajjad (peace be upon him), the son of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him), and the son of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them all).
His Mother:
His mother s from the family of Mariah the Coptic, a Nubian woman from Merys. Her name s Sabeeka or Rayhana or Durra, and she s called "Khayzaran" by Imam al-Ridha (peace be upon him). The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) described her as one of the best and purest women. Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him) said: "She s created pure and clean, and she is the mother of a son who is called Um al-Jad and Um al-Hasan, and she s the best woman of her time."
Place and Date of Birth:
He s born in Medina on the 10th of Rajab in the year 195 AH, corresponding to April 8, 811 CE.
His Age at the Time of Death:
Imam al-Jad (peace be upon him) s 25 years old when he passed ay.
The Duration of His Imamate:
He held the Imamate for 17 years.
Date of Death:
He s martyred on the 29th of Dhul-Qi'dah, 220 AH, which corresponds to November 24, 835 CE.
Cause of Death:
He s poisoned by his wife, Um al-Fadl, at the instigation of the Abbasid caliph al-Mu'tasim.
His Tomb:
He is buried in the Quraish cemetery (currently in the city of Kadhimiyyah) next to his grandfather, Imam Musa al-Kadhim (peace be upon him), in Baghdad, Iraq.
His Kunya (Nickname):
He s known as Abu Ja'far, a title shared with his grandfather, Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him). To distinguish him from his grandfather, he s referred to as Abu Ja'far al-Thani (Second). Additionally, in the "Dala'il al-Imamah," he is given another title: Abu Ali al-Khas. This s understood by later scholars as his special nickname, "Abu Ali."
His Titles:
Imam Muhammad al-Jad (peace be upon him) s bestowed with several titles that reflect the qualities of his noble character:

1. Al-Jad: He s called this due to his generosity and the abundance of good he brought to people.
2. Al-Taqi: He s known for his piety, devotion to God, and abstention from worldly temptations.
3. Al-Murtada.
4. Al-Qani'.
5. Al-Radi.
6. Al-Mukhtar.
7. Bab al-Murad.

His Seal Inscription:
The inscription on his seal is indicative of his absolute reliance on God, with the words "Al-‘Izzah Lilah" ("Honor is for God").
Imam Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Jad (peace be upon him) is the ninth of the twelve Imams, whom the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) appointed under God's command to succeed him in leading and guiding the Ummah. The Qur'an and Sunnah have confirmed their infallibility. Like his forefathers, Imam al-Jad embodied all the lofty moral traits that qualify him for leadership. He assumed the Imamate at the young age of seven, and this should not surprise anyone, as Prophet Isa (Jesus) s also appointed to prophethood while still an infant.
His Interaction with Society:
Imam al-Jad (peace be upon him) s alys present among the people, living with their needs and aspirations. There are many examples of his efforts to address the needs of his community, such as the story where Imam al-Jad gave 300 dinars in a pouch and instcted to find someone to buy goods with it, reflecting his active engagement in fulfilling the needs of others.
His Worship and Devotion:
Imam al-Jad (peace be upon him) s the most devout of his time, showing the utmost love for God and fear of Him. He s known for his abundant voluntary prayers (nafil). It is reported that he would perform two units of prayer in which he would recite Surah Al-Fatiha and Surah Al-Ikhlas seventy times. On the first day of every new month, he would perform two units of prayer, reciting specific verses and giving charity to ensure the safety and blessings of that month.
His Legacy:
Although Imam al-Jad (peace be upon him) lived for only 25 years—making his life the shortest among the Imams—his intellectual and spiritual legacy is rich and diverse. Despite the short duration of his life, his teachings, wisdom, and actions continue to shine as a beacon for the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt.
Peace be upon him the day he s born, the day he s martyred, and the day he will be resurrected.
(1) I'lam al-Wara bi-A'lam al-Huda: 2/98.

[محـب الحسين]

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