Abu Ja’far ibn ‘Ali, known by the titles at-Taqi (the God-fearing) and al-Jawad (the generous), was born in 195/810. There are differences as to the identity of his mother but most sources seem to state that she was a Nubian slave. Muhammad at-Taqi’s father ‘Ali ar-Rida had been married to Ma’mun’s daughter but no children resulted from that marriage.
Muhammad at-Taqi was born in Medina and remained there when his father went to join Ma’mun in far-off Marv. He was only seven when his father died and he succeeded to the Imamate. His youth became a cause of controversy among the Shi’a, some asking how such a boy countered such suggestion by relating numerous stories about his extraordinary Knowledge at young age and by referring to the fact that the Qur’an states that Jesus was given his mission while still a child.
The Caliph Ma’mun had changed his colour from the ‘Alid green back to the ‘Abassid black shortly after arriving in Baghdad but he maintained his friendly attitude towards the Shi’is and the Alids and Muhammad at-Taqi was to benefit greatly from this.
Muhammad at-Taqi had apparently come to Baghdad shortly after his father’s death and had been warmly received by Ma’mun who was greatly impressed with the boy. Ma’mun decided to give his daughter Umm al-Fadl in marriage to at-Taqi proved his worth in public debate with one of the leading scholars of Baghdad. A magnificent wedding was arranged. It has been suggested that a revolt in the important Shi’i centre of Qumm, which began in 210/825 and flared up again in 214/829 and 216/831, caused Ma’mun to arrange this wedding in order to placate Shi’i sentiment. But it would appear that Ma’mun had little to fear from this revolt.
After eight years in Baghdad, Muhammad at-Taqi and his bride retired to Medina. Some of the histories report that Umm al-Fadl was not altogether happy as at-Taqi’s wife and wrote to her father complaining but the Caliph defended at-Taqi.
Ma’mun died in 218/833 and was succceeded by his brother, Mu’tasim. Muhammad at-Taqi was summoned back to Baghdad in 220/835 and he died there in the same year. Since most Shi’i writers have felt in necessary to demonstrate that all the Imams were martyred, they have attributed at-Taqi’s death to poisoning by his wife, Umm al-Fadl, on the instigation of Mu’tasim. However, there is little evidence of this and Shi’i writers differ among themselves as to how the poisoning was accomplished. Moreover, early Shi’i writers, such as Shaykh al-Mufid, have declined to give credence to the story of the poisoning.
Muhammad at-Taqi was buried in the cemetery of the Quraysh at Baghdad, close to his grandfather, the grave is now contained in the double shrine of Kazimayn.
Bibliography:
See M. Momen, An Introduction to Shii Islam (1985).