The first meeting between Imam Abu Ja’far al-Jawad (a.s) and al-Ma’moon was in Baghdad when one day al-Ma’moon was going out with his train for hunting. On his way, he passed by some children among whom was Imam al-Jawad (a.s). When the children saw al-Ma’moon with his procession, they ran away for fear of him except Imam al-Jawad (a.s). When al-Ma’moon saw him, he stopped asking him why he had not run away. Imam al-Jawad (a.s) replied so wisely, ‘The way is not narrow so that I would clear it to you and I have no guilt to fear from you. I think that you do not harm one who has no guilt.’
Al-Ma’moon was astonished at this answer. He kept on asking him, ‘What is your name?’
Imam al-Jawad (a.s) said, ‘Muhammad.’
Al-Ma’moon asked, ‘Son of whom?’
‘Son of Ali ar-Redh’, said Imam al-Jawad (a.s).
Al-Ma’moon found this excessive intelligence not odd, for Muhammad (al-Jawad) was from the house of the Prophet (a.s), the source of the mission and the center of knowledge and sense in the earth. Al-Ma’moon prayed Allah to have mercy on Imam ar-Redha (a.s) and went on his travel towards the desert for hunting. When he arrived in the place of hunting, he set free a falcon that was with him. The falcon disappeared and after some period it came back having a little fish, which was still alive, in his beak. Al-Ma’moon was astonished and he went back to his palace. He met Imam al-Jawad (a.s) again and asked him,
‘O Muhammad, what is this in my hand?’
Imam al-Jawad (a.s) replied, ‘Allah the Almighty has created in the sea of his power small fish that is fished by the falcons of the kings and caliphs to try with it the progeny of al-Mustafa (Prophet Muhammad).’
Al-Ma’moon could not hide his admiration and said, ‘Indeed, you are the son of ar-Redha!’ He took Imam al-Jawad (a.s) with him, did him good and exaggerated in honoring him.( Noor al-Absar, p.146, Akhbar ad-Duwal, p.116, al-Ittihaf bihubil Ashraf, p.64, Bahr al-Ansab, vol.2 p.19.)