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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Biographies of Leaders of Islam The Ninth Imam Muhammad At-taqi (as) NAME AND PARENTAGE His name is MUHAMMAD; ABU JA'FAR, AT-TAQI and AL-JAWAD are his titles. He is sometimes called ABU JA'FAR II, the first being IMAM MUHAMMAD AL-BAQIR (AS). His father's name is IMAM ALI AR-RIDA (AS); his respected mother is known as SUBAIK or SUKAINA. He was born in Medina on the 10th of RAJAB 195 A.H. (April 8, 811 A.D.).

At that time, AL-AMIN son of HARUN was the monarch of Baghdad. UPBRINGING AND INSTRUCTION It is sad story that IMAM MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI (AS) had to face series of misfortunes since his early boyhood. For only a very brief peaceful period, he enjoyed the love and availed himself of the teachings of his father. He was five years old when IMAM ALI AR-RIDA (AS) was forced to leave Medina for KHURASAN.

The sire never saw his son again since then, for IMAM ALI AR-RIDA (AS) died in MARW three years after this separation. The world duly thought that the young boy would never reach the peaks of knowledge once graced by IMAM JA'FAR AS-SADIQ (AS) and sealed by his forefathers, and that the pedestal of knowledge would remain vacant.

But the astonishment of people knew no bounds when a few years later, they saw the boy arguing and expostulating with the renowned scholars of FIQH, TAFSIR, and KALAM, and subduing them all in the presence of AL-MU'MUN. They had to confess that God-gifted knowledge never depends on material resources, nor on age. FIRST JOURNEY TO BAGHDAD Political exigencies had compelled AL-MA'MUN to cultivate relations with the descendants of IMAM ALI (AS) and Fatima in order to win the support of the SHI'AHS.

After all, being a HASHEMITE himself, he was related to them though remotely. So he was aware of the political need of maintaining close relations with them; therefore, at one of the gatherings of heir-apparent-ship, he married his sister UMM HABIBA to IMAM ALI AR-RIDA (AS) and betrothed his daughter UMM AL-FADL to the son of IMAM AR-RIDA (AS) MUHAMMAD AT-TAQI (AS). He thought those steps would enable him to win over IMAM ALI AR-RIDA (AS) completely.

But AL-MA'MUN soon realized that IMAM AR-RIDA (AS) continued to lead the same simple and saintly life which characterized the descendants of the Prophet.