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IMAM
MUHAMMAD AL-TAQI (A.S.)
Birth: 10th Rajab 195 AH in Madina
Parents:
Imam ‘Ali al-Ridha (a.s.) & Bibi Sabika Naubiyyah (a.s.)
Titles: ‘Al-Jawad’ (The Generous),
‘Al-Taqi’ (The Pious)
Death:
29th Dhul-Qa’da 220 AH
Buried:
Kazmayn, ‘Iraq
Children:
4 Daughters & 7 Sons
IMAM
(A.S.) & MAMOON AL-RASHEED
One day
Mamoon al-Rasheed left for hunting with his royal entourage. As he
passed through a street in Baghdad, Mamoon saw some children playing. On
seeing the royal party approaching, all the children fled except for
one. This child was none other than Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (a.s.). His
age was 9 years.
When
Mamoon saw him standing, he stopped and asked him, “O Boy! Why didn’t
you also run away?” The Imam (a.s.) replied,
“O Amir! The path is not narrow that it would
become wider by my moving away, nor have I committed any crime that I
should fear you and run away. And I do not think that you are you are
the sort who would punish one who is innocent!”
Mamoon
was very happy with this reply and he was also wonder struck by the
handsome and illuminated face of the young boy. So he asked, “Tell me
what your name is?” The young boy replied,
“Muhammad”. “Whose son are you?”
asked Mamoon. “I am the son of ‘Ali bin
Musa al-Ridha (a.s.)” replied the young boy. When Mamoon
heard this, he praised the 8th Imam (a.s.) and then proceeded
with his entourage for hunting. (Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah)
Interestingly, the incident does not end here. Safder Husayn Najafi in
his book Chauda Sitaare continues. He adds:
After
this brief encounter with our Imam (a.s.), Mamoon proceeded to a forest.
There, he released his eagle which flew away for sometime only to return
with a small alive fish in its beak. Mamoon was quite surprised by this.
As he returned and passed by the same spot where he had met with our
Imam (a.s.) earlier on, he saw him once again in the same place.
Addressing him, Mamoon asked, “O Muhammad! Tell me what do I have in
my hand?” Imam (a.s.) replied, “Allah (SWT)
has created many vast oceans from which clouds are formed. When clouds
are forming, they absorb small live fishes which are caught by the
eagles of the kings, who then use them to test the Imams of their
times”.
Hearing
this, Mamoon was speechless for sometime and then said, “There is no
doubt that you are the son of ‘Ali bin Musa (a.s.) for such miracles are
not impossible from his son!”
(Chauda Sitaare)
SOME OF
THE WISE SAYINGS OF IMAM (A.S.):
“If the ignorant kept silent, people would not differ”.
(Ihqaaq
al-Haq)
“It suffices to know a man’s dishonesty when he is chosen as a trustee
of the dishonest ones”.
(A’yaan
al-Shia’h)
“One who abandons conciliation with people is faced with the undesirable
(misery, distress)”.
(Bihar
al-Anwaar)
On the occasion of the birth of Imam Muhammad al-Taqi (a.s.), we extend
our heartiest greetings and felicitations to our 12th Living
Imam (AJ) and to all the Mu’mineen.
Mulla
Mujaheedali Sheriff
mulla@almahdi.org.uk |