Shafaqna English– Head of the Ahlul-Bayt (AS) Studies Department in the international field at the International Research Institute of Imam Ridha (AS) said: Imam Jawad (AS) considered victory and defeat to be worldly traditions. He said that whichever side is more united will be victorious, but if both sides are united and cohesive, divine help will support the side of truth.
In an interview with Shafaqna Dr Mohammad Ghafuri extended his condolences on the martyrdom anniversary of Imam (AS) faced two major challenges during his time: One was a challenge with the government, and the other with the Shia Muslims.
He clarified: The Abbasid government viewed the Imams (AS) as rivals, and now that they had seized power, they tried to maintain their position and prevent the Imams from gaining authority. They restricted the Imams (AS) and exerted great pressure on them. Thus, we see that the Imams (AS) were summoned to the caliphate starting from the time of Imam Baqir (AS).
He said: Abbasid government tried to keep Imam Jawad (AS) under surveillance and prevent his political activities, which naturally created challenges and crises for the ninth Imam of the Shia. In the end, they could not tolerate his existence and martyred him.
Regarding the second challenge Imam Jawad (AS) faced, he explained: Imam faced Shia followers who were waiting for the Twelve Imams and believed that the Imam should be an elderly, white-bearded man from the Hashemite family, someone with special characteristics, and the leader of his family.
He continued: When Imam Jawad (AS) assumed the Imamate after the martyrdom of Imam Ridha (AS) at such a young age, he faced this challenge with the Shia Muslims and worked to establish his Imamate and secure his position. Imam (AS), referring to numerous Verses from the Holy Quran, responded to those who rejected the Imamate of Imam Jawad (AS), saying: “Imamate, like Prophethood, is a Divine Matter. Just as Prophet Jesus (AS) reached Prophethood in his childhood, the position of Imamate is also according to God’s will and can be realized either in childhood or adulthood.”