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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Life of Imam Muhammad Al-Jawad The End Before we talk about the end of the life of the great Imam Abu Ja'far al-Jawad (a.s), we talk in brief about the life of al-Mu’tasim the Abbasid caliph who had assassinated Imam al-Jawad (a.s) with poison for it has an objective relation with the study on the life of the imam (a.s). The Characteristics Of Al-Mu’tasim Foolishness Al-Mu’tasim was foolish.

Historians described him that when he became angry, he did not care whom he killed or what he did.[^1] Dislike Of Knowledge Al-Mu’tasim disliked knowledge and hated learned people. There was a servant with him who read with him in the book. The servant died and ar-Rasheed said to al-Mu'tasim, ‘O Muhammad, your servant died.’ Al-Mu'tasim said, ‘O yes, my master! He died and rested from the book.’ Ar-Rasheed said, ‘The book will rest from you. (to his men) Leave him!

Do not teach him!’[^2] Al-Mu'tasim remained illiterate. When he became the caliph, he did not know reading and writing and his vizier was unlearned. Ahmed bin Aamir described him by saying, ‘An illiterate caliph and an unlearned vizier.’[^3] He was divested of knowledge, virtue, and any good quality, by which he was supposed to deserve the caliphate in Islam that was the highest and most important position on which justice and equity among people depended.

His Hatred To The Arabs Al-Mu'tasim hated the Arabs too much. He exaggerated in subjugating and degrading them. He omitted their names from the divan and prevented them from their gifts and deposed them from main positions.[^4] His Loyalty To The Turks Al-Mu'tasim had in the deep of his heart a great love and loyalty to the Turks. He depended on them in building his state. It was because that his mother Marida was a Turk. Therefore, he imitated the Turks in everything.

He sent for them from Turkey[^5] and their number was about seventy thousands at his reign. In order to keep their race distinguished, he brought them women from their race and prevented them from getting married to women from other races.[^6] He made them wear silk garments and gold belts.[^7] He made them the leaders of his armies and entrusted them with the high positions of politics and war and deprived the Arabs of the positions they had in the army.

He preferred the Turks to the Arabs and to the Persians in everything. The Turks behaved wrongly towards people.