On Saturday, the 11th of January 2025 A.D. (the 10th of Rajab 1446 A.H.)
Imam Muhammad bin Ali al-Jawād (the ninth Imam) was born in Medina, on the 10th Rajab 195 A.H. (811 A.D.). He was the only son of Imam Ali al-Ridhā and Lady Sabīka (Khiyzarān). His honorable mother came from the same tribe as the Prophet's wife (Mariah Copt that bore the Prophet his son Ibrahim who died in infancy).
The ninth Imam was born when his father was 45 years old. Till then, Imam al-Ridhā had constantly been taunted that he had no children. However, after the martyrdom of Imam al-Ridhā, Imam Muhammad al-jawād was commissioned by Allah to hold the responsibility of Imamate at the age of eight. We believe that the Imamate is a divine position that is assigned by God and the Prophet, and has nothing to do with age. In this regard, when some of his companions said something about the young age of Imam al-Jawād, Imam al-Ridhā would touch upon the story of Prophet Jesus and how he became a prophet during his infant years by saying, “When Jesus was appointed a prophet, he was younger than my son!”[1]
The concept of Imam al-Ridhā’s saying refers directly to Surah “Maryam”, verses 29 through 31.
