It is a sad story that Imam Muhammad al Jawad may peace be upon him, had to face series of misfortunes since his early boyhood. For only a very brief peaceful period, he enjoyed the love and availed himself of the teachings of his father. He was five years old when Imam `Ali ar-Ridha may peace be upon him, was forced to leave Medina for Khurasan.

The sire never saw his son again since then, for Imam `Ali ar-Ridha may peace be upon him, died in Marv three years after this separation. The world duly thought that the young boy would never reach the peaks of knowledge once graced by Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq may peace be upon him, and sealed by his forefathers, and that the pedestal of knowledge would remain vacant. But the astonishment of people knew no bounds when a few years later, they saw the boy arguing and expostulating with the renowned scholars of fiqh, tafsir, hadith and kalam, and subduing them all in the presence of al-Ma’mun. They had to confess that God-gifted knowledge never depends on material resources, nor on age.