Biography of Imam Muhammad Bin Ali (a.s.)(al-taqi)

Imam Muhammad Bin Ali (a.s.): His Adulthood

INTRODUCTION

He was called upon to perform the duties of the Imam of the time at a very young age of eight or nine years. And he left away this world also at a very young age of 25. Therefore it is rather meaningless to talk of his life in terms of childhood and adulthood.

However, for the sake of simplicity we look at his life in these two phases - the way we did for all other infallible Imams from the house of the Prophet (S.A.W.W.)

MARTYRDOM OF HIS FATHER, IMAM REZA (A.S.)

At the time when Imam Reza (A.S.) left for Marv in A.H. 200, Imam Taqi (A.S.) was only five years. The parting of the father and the son was very painful and has been described by an eye witness, by the name of Umayya Ibne Ali who reports:

"Before his departure for Marv, Imam Reza (A.S.) went to Mecca to pray in the house of Allah (Ka'ba). His son, Muhammad Taqi (A.S.) was with him.

Imam Reza (A.S.) completed his last Tawaf of the Ka'ba and went at Makame Ibrahim to pray. Imam Muhammad Taqi (A.S.) was with his servant, Muwafaq, performing the 'TAWAF' of Ka'ba.

Having finished that, Imam Taqi (A.S.) retired in one corner of the Mosque. Muwafaq asked the Imam to accompany him and go home but the Imam was weeping; saying what was the use of going home without his father."

Muwafaq went to call Imam Reza (A.S.) who came ad consoled his son, asking him to bear his separation patiently as this was the will of Allah.

"The father and the son then went out of the Mosque; the father left for Marv, and the son for Medina."

Imam Reza (A.S.) never returned from this journey. For years later, he was martyred. But before he departed this world, through a miracle, he contracted his son Imam Taqi (A.S.), asking him to come to Marv.

When Imam Taqi (A.S.) learnt, through the special knowledge given to him by Allah, that his father, Imam Reza (A.S.), had been poisoned in Sanabad (Iran) and was about to leave this world, through special powers given by Allah. He went to Marv to be by the side of his father, and to offer all the ritual services given to the dead. After that he returned to Medina.

MAMOON CALLS HIM TO BAGHDAD IN AH 206

As the Imam of his times, he started serving Islam in the same way as his predecessors had done. His "headquarters", as it were, was the Prophet's Mosque in Medina where people from all over the world would come in search of knowledge and guidance and he would serve them all.

His biggest challenge was his age. However, anyone who cam in his contact would immediately recognize his excellence and see in him the extra ordinary qualities found in only the Imams appointed by Allah.

For his own selfish reasons, Mamoon invited Imam (A.S.) to Baghdad, and offered his own daughter Ummul Fadhl to him, in marriage.

The noble men and courtiers from the clan of Abbas (The c Bani Abbasi') were very angry with Mamoon for wishing to make Imam Taqi (A.S) his son-in-law. They sent a strong delegation to Mamoon, expressing their dissatisfaction with this arrangement.

A royal princess given to the "child-Imam" would humiliate the noble house of Abbas1 Mamoon's reply was "Do not underestimate this child, he has qualities that none amongst you has."

To satisfy them, Mamoon gave them permission to test the young Imam's knowledge and any other skills that they wished. The Bani Abbasi were very happy with this proposal.

They planned to have the Imam tested by the most renowned scholar of the court, Kazi Yahya Ibne Aksam, who also happened to be the head of the Judiciary of the Muslim empire at that time. ("Kazi-ul- Kuzzat").

THE QUESTION - ANSWER SESSION IN THE ROYAL COURT.

The Bani Abbasi were sure that the Imam (A.S) was no match to the crafty Kazi. However, they wanted the whole world to see the young Imam humiliated. By their insistence, Mamoon arranged for a full court session and invited 900 scholars to be present to watch the Imam being tested.

The Court was fully decorated for the occasion. Irnam (A.S) was offered a place to the right of Mamoon.

Kazi Yahya, beaming with arrogance, turned to Mamoon, seeking formal permission to begin testing the Imam (A.S).

Mamoon advised him to seek the permission from Imam (A.S) himself Kazi Yahya Bin Aksam addressed the Imam saying, "May I ask you a question?"

The Imam replied. Yes, go ahead."

Yahya then paused his question "What fine does a person have to pay if he hunts while he is still in 'Ihram" (If one is in 'Ihram" of pilgrimage to Mecca, he is forbidden from doing 25 things one of them being hunting).

Yahya had a reason for asking this question. In his wisdom, he thought that however clever the child may be in Islamic "FIQH", his knowledge would be limited to matters of "Salat", fasting etc.;

the child would hardly know matters on "Hajj" as this act is performed but once in a year or once in life time. Yahya was proved wrong. The Imam politely but firml replied, "Your question has no answer, because it is totally incomplete."

This reply sent chill in die spine of Yahya and every one present in the Court.

The Imam continued, "You have to tell me if this "Muhrim" (The one who is wearing the special garment for performing pilgrimage when entering Mecca) killed the animal in "HILL" (in the non-forbidden area) or "HARAM" (the forbidden area)?

Did he do this act in ignorance, by mistake or purposely? Was the "MUHR1M' a free person or a slave, young or old, an experienced hunter or an inexperienced or: Was the animal which was hunted a bird or a mammal, small or large? Was the hunter repentant or non-repentant? Was the hunting done in day light or at night? Was the hunter in the Ihram of 'Hajj' or "Umra"?"

After the Imam had re-stated question, everyone in the Court knew that Yahya did not know the answer! There was a complete silence: Yahya wished he was never born!

Mamoon turned to his courtiers and said, "Didn't I tell you that this young man's knowledge is supreme and unmatchable?" He then requested the Imam (A.S.) to reply the question as none knew the answer.

In reply the Imam said, "If the 'Muhrim' hunted in "Hill" a large bird he would have to give Kaffara ('pay' as a fine) by sacrificing a sheep; if this act was done at "Haram" the "Kaffara would be two sheep.

If the bird hunted was small and killed at "Hill" the "Kaffara" would be a lamb that had stopped taking milk. The similar bird if hunted at "Haram" would call for a Kaffara of a lamb and monetary value of a small bird.

"As for wild animals at "Hill", if a wild, as was killed the "Kaffara" would be a cow. If an ostrich was killed, the "Kaffara" would be a camel. If a deer was hunted, the fine would be a sheep. If the hunting was in the "Haram" the Kaffara would be double, to be offered in Mecca.

"If the hunting was done in the Ihram of "HAJJ" the sacrifice would be done at Meena, if the Ihram was for "Umra" the sacrifices would be offered at Mecca."

The Imam's reply was such that even his worst enemies admitted that he was not an ordinary child but one gifted with special qualities by Allah.

The Imam (A.S.) now inquired from Yahya if he was willing to answer his question. Yahya replied meekly, "Yes ask me whatever you want. If I know the answers I will tell you, if not I will request you to answers it yourself".

The Imam's question proved too hard for Yahya. If a scholar like Yahya Bin Aksam could not reply the Imam's question, who else could? The Imam (A.S.) replied it himself.

The Ban Abbasi who had come to the Court to Humiliate the Imam (A.S.) were themselves humbled. They could do nothing but bow down their heads in front of the Imam (A.S.).