On the contrary...

On the contrary, the majority of the companions of Imam al- Riḍa believed in the imamate of Imam al-Jawād. There are several reports about Shi’a’s questions and answers of Imam al-Jawād in hadith sources. His answers despite his tender age promoted his position in the eyes of Shi’a and their acceptance of his imamate. The Imamate of Imam al- Jawād lasted 17 years from 203/818 until 220/835.

After the martyrdom of Imam al-Jawād, his son, Imam ‘Ali ibn Muhammad al-Hadi took the responsibility of imamate. His wives and children Imam al-Jawād (PBUH) married Umm al-Fadl (al-Ma’mun’s daughter) in 202/817-8. Some historical sources mentioned that during the visitation of Imam Jawād of his father in Khorasan, al-Ma’mun asked him to marry his daughter. Al-Shaykh al-Mufid considered the marriage to be due to al-Ma’mun’s love for Imam al- Jawād [17] .

Some other researchers believe that this marriage had political motives, including that al-Ma’mun wanted to control Imam al-Jawad and his relations with Shi’a through that marriage [18] . The other wife of Imam al- Jawād was Samana al-Maghribiyya, whom all the children of Imam al-Jawād were from her. According to Shaykh al-Mufid, Imam al- Jawād (PBUH) had four children with the names, ‘Ali, Musa, Fatima and Amama [19] .

However, some sources mentioned three daughters for him with the names of Hakima, Khadija, and Umm Kulthum [20] . His Moral conducts Based on reliable historical reports, Imam al- Jawād was unique in terms of knowledge, forbearance, eloquence, devotion and other moral virtues despite his being underage. He had a wonderful aptitude for answering scientific questions on the spot. Like his purified ancestors, Imam al- Jawād paid special attention to physical appearance and cleanliness.

It is said that the title of “al- Jawād” (i.e., the generous) was given to Imam (PBUH) due to his great generosity and the act of benevolence to people. In addition, he was considered the most ascetic and purest of the people of his time. Similarly, Imam Jawād played a very crucial role and shared in enriching the scholarly school during the period of his leadership.

Sheikh Tusi in his book ‘Rijal’, mentioned the number of the close companions of Imam al- Jawād and his narrators, who studied and were educated under his care to be about one hundred, including two women.