Imam Javad's (AS) Birth and Honorable Childhood
Birth:
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali (AS), also known as Javad or Taqi, was born on the 15th of Ramazan in the year 195 Hijri in Medina. He was given the title of Abu-Ja’far by his father Imam Reza (AS), which was originally the title of Imam Baqir (AS). To distinguish him from Imam Baqir, he would also be called Abu-Ja’far al-Thani, or “The Second Abu-Ja’far”. He was the only child of Imam Reza. His mother was Lady Sabikeh who, before marrying Imam Reza, was a slave. Similar to Najmeh Khatoon, the mother of Imam Reza, Lady Sabikeh was also originally from an area in Africa that is between modern day Egypt and Sudan. She belonged to the same tribe as Maria al-Qibtiyya, the Prophet’s wife and the mother of Ibrahim, who passed away in early childhood during the life of the Prophet. To purge bad memories from the period of her captivity, Imam Reza also called her by the name of Khayzuran. She was unique in piety among the other women of her time. She had such great status that, years earlier, before Imam Kazim’s imprisonment, Imam Kazim had asked someone to pass his greetings to her.
Difficulties of Late Fatherhood:
Imam Javad was born when his father Imam Reza was 46-years old, when 12 years had passed from the start of Imam Reza’s Imamat. During these 12 years, many doubted if Imam Reza was the true Imam of the time, as he did not have a son to inherit the Imamat. Among the skeptics were the Vaghefi Shias, who did not believe in the Imamat of Imam Reza, and were looking for any excuse to challenge his Imamat. Imam Reza was patient with the accusations against him. He would confidently respond with a prophecy that God will certainly bless him with a son who will inherit the Imamat after him.
Even after Imam Reza’s prophecy became a reality and Imam Javad was born, the accusations against him did not stop. Some doubted and spread rumors that Imam Javad was not really Imam Reza’s son. This went so far that even some of the Imam’s close relatives were also influenced by the rumors. They came to the Imam and questioned Imam Javad’s darker complexion, which was rare in the family. They asked the Imam to allow them to bring some experts who could confirm that Imam Reza was the biological father of Imam Javad, by matching their faces and body gestures. Due to their insistence, the Imam finally agreed. The experts came and verified that Imam Reza was indeed Imam Javad’s biological father.
Honorable Childhood:
The Imam Javad’s birth brought great joy to Imam Reza and his family. This was not only because Imam Reza had become a father at an old age, but also because it verified his Imamat. The Shia community gained trust and confidence in their belief in the Imamat of Imam Reza, as he now had a son to become his successor. Imam Reza described Imam Javad as a newborn more auspicious and blessed for the Shias than any other newborns. The Imam would stand by Imam Javad’s cradle and speak to him in private for a long time. When Imam Reza was asked about their
Imam Muhammad ibn Ali (AS), also known as Javad or Taqi, was born on the 15th of Ramazan in the year 195 Hijri in Medina. He was given the title of Abu-Ja’far by his father Imam Reza (AS), which was originally the title of Imam Baqir (AS). To distinguish him from Imam Baqir, he would also be called Abu-Ja’far al-Thani, or “The Second Abu-Ja’far”. He was the only child of Imam Reza. His mother was Lady Sabikeh who, before marrying Imam Reza, was a slave. Similar to Najmeh Khatoon, the mother of Imam Reza, Lady Sabikeh was also originally from an area in Africa that is between modern day Egypt and Sudan. She belonged to the same tribe as Maria al-Qibtiyya, the Prophet’s wife and the mother of Ibrahim, who passed away in early childhood during the life of the Prophet. To purge bad memories from the period of her captivity, Imam Reza also called her by the name of Khayzuran. She was unique in piety among the other women of her time. She had such great status that, years earlier, before Imam Kazim’s imprisonment, Imam Kazim had asked someone to pass his greetings to her.
Difficulties of Late Fatherhood:
Imam Javad was born when his father Imam Reza was 46-years old, when 12 years had passed from the start of Imam Reza’s Imamat. During these 12 years, many doubted if Imam Reza was the true Imam of the time, as he did not have a son to inherit the Imamat. Among the skeptics were the Vaghefi Shias, who did not believe in the Imamat of Imam Reza, and were looking for any excuse to challenge his Imamat. Imam Reza was patient with the accusations against him. He would confidently respond with a prophecy that God will certainly bless him with a son who will inherit the Imamat after him.
Even after Imam Reza’s prophecy became a reality and Imam Javad was born, the accusations against him did not stop. Some doubted and spread rumors that Imam Javad was not really Imam Reza’s son. This went so far that even some of the Imam’s close relatives were also influenced by the rumors. They came to the Imam and questioned Imam Javad’s darker complexion, which was rare in the family. They asked the Imam to allow them to bring some experts who could confirm that Imam Reza was the biological father of Imam Javad, by matching their faces and body gestures. Due to their insistence, the Imam finally agreed. The experts came and verified that Imam Reza was indeed Imam Javad’s biological father.
Honorable Childhood:
The Imam Javad’s birth brought great joy to Imam Reza and his family. This was not only because Imam Reza had become a father at an old age, but also because it verified his Imamat. The Shia community gained trust and confidence in their belief in the Imamat of Imam Reza, as he now had a son to become his successor. Imam Reza described Imam Javad as a newborn more auspicious and blessed for the Shias than any other newborns. The Imam would stand by Imam Javad’s cradle and speak to him in private for a long time. When Imam Reza was asked about their