# Muhammad al-Taqi

Muhammad ibn Ali at-Taqi al-Jawad (Arabic: محمد بن علي التقي الجواد‎; 12 April 811 – 27 November 835 AD) was the ninth of the Twelve Imams and a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. He was also called Abu Ja'far, Ibn al-Ridha ("the son of al-Ridha); al-Jawād ("the generous") and al-Taqī ("the pious"). His role is celebrated by the largest branch of Shia Islam, the Twelver or Athnā‘ashariyyah branch.

## Quotes

* Modesty is the decoration of poverty, thanks-giving is the decoration of affluence and wealth. Patience and endurance are the ornaments and decorations of calamities and distress. Humility is the decoration of lineage, and eloquence is the decoration of speech. Committing to memory is the decoration of tradition (hadīth), and bowing the shoulders is the decoration of knowledge. Decency and good morale is the decoration of the mind, and a smiling face is the decoration of munifence and generiosity. Not boasting of doing favours is the decoration of good deeds, and humility is the decoration of service. Spending less is the decoration of contentment, and abondoning the meaningless and unnecessary things is the decoration of abstention and fear of God.
** al-Shahid al-Tustari, Ihqaqul-Haq, vol.12, p. 434
* The honour of a person lies in his needlessness from the people.
** Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 365
* The one who conceals the (way of) prosperity and progress from you, has done enimity to you.
** Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 364
* If the ignorant keeps silent, people would not differ.
** al-Shahid al-Tustari, Ihqaqul-Haq, vol.12, p. 432
* The lapse of time uncovers hidden secrets.
** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 245
* Showing something before it becomes complete spoils that thing.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* He, who does not know the entries, the exits will fail him.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* Forebearence is the dress of a scholar, so do not get yourself undressed of it.
** Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 362
* The one who acts without knowledge, destroys and ruins more than he rectifies.
** Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 364
* Meeting and visiting brothers, even if little, causes the development and maturity of intellects.
** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 242
* Knowledgeable persons are strangers because of the many ignorant people around them.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* The boon and benevolence which is not thanked for, is like the sin which is not forgiven.
** Majlisi, Bihārul Anwār, vol.78, p. 365
* The one who commits aggression and tyranny, and the one who helps him upon it, and the one who is pleased over it - all are party and participants in it.
** al-Shahid al-Tustari, Ihqaqul-Haq, vol.12, p. 432
* The one who attended a matter and disliked it, is as the one who was absent; and whoever was not present in an affair yet was pleased with it, is as the one who witnessed it.
** Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 479
* Our upriser is The Mahdi, who should be waited for in his absence, and obeyed in his appearance. He is the third of my sons.
** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 131
* When the divine decree descends, the human being is cornered.
** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 244
* Whoever has three things will never regret:
** 1) Refraining from haste
** 2) Consulting (with others)
** 3) And depending upon God when making decisions
*** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 247
* There are three characteristics that attract kindness: being fair in dealing with others, being helpful when others are in hardships and bearing a truly compassionate heart.
** Muhammadi Reishahri, Muhammad (2010). Mizan al-Hikmah. 2. Qum: Dar al-Hadith.
* Man's death by sins is more than his death by fate and his life by charity is more than his life by age.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* Take patience as your pillow, hug poverty, discard lusts, oppose your desires and know that you are seen by God, so look at how you are.
** Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 479
* The increase of blessing is not interrupted by God, unless thanksgiving is interrupted by the slaves.
** Ibn Shu’ba al-Harrani, Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 480
* Three things take the slave to God's pleasure:
** 1) Increase in seeking forgiveness
** 2) Gentleness
** 3) Increased charity giving
*** Misnad al-Imām al-Jawād, p. 247
* Turning to God with the deep of the heart is much better than tiring the organs.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "From the Reality of Faith". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
** Ad-Durr an-Nadhīm, p.223.
* Do not anticipate matters before their time that you may regret. Do not live just with wishes that your hearts may be hard. Be merciful to the weak and ask for mercy from God by being merciful yourselves!
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* Do not make an enemy of anyone until you know what there is between him and God! If he is good, God will not leave him to you and if he is bad, then your knowing of his badness will make you safe from him and so you do not need to make him your enemy.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
* People are brothers. The brotherhood that is not in the way of Allah turns into enmity, for Allah says, "Friends on that day will be foes one to another, save those who kept their duty (to God)."
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.
** Qur'an 43:67
* Trusting in God is a price to every dear thing and a ladder to every high thing.
** Baqir Sharīf al-Qurashi (2005). "Wonderful Maxims and Arts". The life of Imam Muhammad al-Jawad.