9th Imam of the Ahlul Bayt (as)
| Name | Hazrat Mohammad Ibn Ali (as) |
| Father | Hazrat Imam Ali Reza (as) |
| Mother | Sabika, Khayzran, Durrah |
| Date of Birth | 10th Rajab, 195 A.H. |
| Place of Birth | Madinah Munawwarah |
| Kuniyyat | Abu Jafar al-Saani |
| Titles | Jawad, Taqi |
| Age | 25 years |
| Martyrdom | Last day of Zilqad, 220 A.H. |
| Buried | Kazmain |
Imam Taqi (as.) was born on the eve of Friday, 10th of Rajab 195 A.H. His mother's name was Sabika. He spent his first 8 years with his holy father, Imam Reza (as.). In 203 A.H., after the martyrdom of Imam Reza (as.), he succeeded him as the Imam.
"Surely, I will make him (Imam Reza (as.)) happy through his son Mohammad who is his successor after him and the inheritor of his knowledge. He is the treasure house of My knowledge and the stronghold of My secrets and My proof upon My creatures."
— Hadees-e-LauhThe concern of the Imam being a minor had never appeared earlier in the chain of Imamate. When those who were enquiring about his Imamate at a young age were told by Imam Ali Reza (as.):
"We are a family in which our young inherit each and everything from their elders."
— Al-Kaafi, vol. 1, p. 320Mamoon organised for group discussions and debates by calling known scholars of the era such as Yahya Ibn Aktham and instigated them to pose difficult questions to Imam (as.). When these scholars were confronted by the Imam (as.) regarding their own questions and the various facets thereof, they were bewildered and left the gathering with their heads hanging in shame.
When Yahya Ibn Aktham sought the opinion of the Imam (as.) about a person who hunts while in the state of Ehram, Imam (as.) while explaining the eleven aspects of this question, asked him as to which aspect he wanted. On hearing this, Yahya Ibn Aktham was stunned. In a state of visible discomfort, his helplessness was obvious to all.
Imam's tremendous knowledge had made such an impression on Mamoon's mind that whenever anyone would speak ill of Imam (as.) for any reason and bring forward the matter of the young age of the Imam (as.) as an excuse, Mamoon would rebuke them saying: "He is more knowledgeable than any of you and more acquainted with the Shariat of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet than you. He is better versed than all of you about the Quran."
In order to keep a close eye on Imam (as.), despite stiff opposition of his advisors, Mamoon gave the hand of his daughter Ummul Fazl to him so that he may be aware of the activities in Imam's (as.) house. The uneasiness that Imam (as.) experienced from this forceful living can be observed from his statements. Once while replying to a question from one of his companions, Abu Talib-e-Qummi, Imam (as.) wrote: "Write an elegy for my father as well as for me." This reveals that behind the veil of an apparently independent life, Imam (as.) was living under strict observation and afflictions.
In the 17 years of Imamate, Imam (as.) saw the reigns of two rulers of Bani Abbas — Mamoon and Mo'tasim. During the reign of Mo'tasim, Imam (as.) was forcibly brought from Madinah to Baghdad in Moharram 220 A.H.
While advising the powerful governor of Seestan, Imam (as.) wrote:
"Behave well with your brothers (the people under your rule and your religious brothers) and know that Allah the Almighty would question you about each and every small deed."
— Mustadrak al-Wasaael, vol. 8"A believer requires three characteristics — a divine grace, an advisor from within his own self and the acceptance of the one who advises him."
"Suffice it is for a believer to have committed treason by being a trustworthy for those who are treacherous."
"Forgetting others' shortcomings and paying attention towards reforming one's own defects are the signs of a sound human being."
"Do not associate yourselves with a wicked person. Surely he is like a naked sword which looks good but has evil effects."
— Al-Kaafi, vol. 5, p. 111"If the ignorant remain silent, people will not differ."
— Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 349Ultimately on Saturday, the last day of the month of Zilqad, 220 A.H. on the command of Mo'tasim, Imam (as.) was poisoned by his wife Ummul Fazl (daughter of Mamoon) which led to his martyrdom at the age of 25 years. He was buried next to the grave of his grandfather Imam Musa Kazim (as.). This area was later known as Kazmain and even today it remains the centre of attraction for thousands of followers of Imams (as.).