AlMujtaba Islamic Articles

The 6th Imam, Ja’ffar Ibn Muhammad Al-Sadiq (as) was born in Madina on 17th Rabi’ al Awwal 83 Hijrah (702 AD). He (as) died in Madina on 15th/25th Shawwal, 148 Hijrah (765 AD) at the age of 65. The Period of his Imamate was 34 years.

Once a pilgrim visiting the Prophet's Mosque in Madina fell asleep. On waking up, he hurriedly searched his belongings and found his purse, which contained one thousand Dinars, was missing. Looking around he saw the Imam was praying in one corner of the Mosque. He accused the Imam of having picked his purse. The Imam asked about its contents and was told that it contained one thousand Dinars. The Imam then asked the man to follow him to his house where he gave the man the same amount. When the stranger came back to the mosque satisfied, once more he checked his property and found that his purse was intact in another bundle. Greatly ashamed of his conduct, he came back to the Imam, apologized and asked him to take his money back. Imam replied with these words, "We never take back what we once give away, but if you feel guilty about it, give it to the poor of the town." The traveller gave all the money in Charity to the poor of Madina.

During the days of scarcity, when people tried to hoard food and other goods, Imam asked his household manager, "The price of corn is rising day by day. How much corn is there in our warehouse," he replied that the Imam should not worry, as there was a large quantity of corn in store. The Imam replied, "Give it away to the poor and let us face the situation along with others." Then he ordered that pure white wheat flour should not be used in his kitchen, and should be mixed with equal quantity's of oat flour. "We must share misfortune with the needy and the poor as long as it takes."

His profound knowledge of religion and other sciences was famed throughout the entire Islamic world. People came from distant regions to learn from him. The number of his students reached over Four Thousand. Among them were scholars of Jurisprudence, Tafseer, and Hadith such as Imam Nu’man bin Thabit, Abu Haneefa and Imam Malik Ibn Anas. Heads of other religions also came there to discuss with the Imams students many matters of dispute and on many occasions returned home embracing Islam. Sometimes he himself argued with the opponents especially atheists. Apart from religious sciences, he used to teach to some students mathematics, chemistry, medicine and astronomy. Jabir Ibn Hayyan, the famous pioneer of physics, chemistry and mathematics, was his disciple who wrote about four hundred treatises based on his mentor's instructions. The hundreds can count the jurists who learnt from him and wrote several volumes of books on jurisprudence. Ya’qoobi in his Tareekh remarks in regard to Imam Ja’ffar Sadiq (AS) that, "it was customary for scholars who related anything from him to say 'the learned one informed us'."

"The Nun [letter "n"] at the beginning of Surah al-Qalam (68) represents the light of Pre-eternity, out of which Allah created all creations, and which is Muhammad (saww). That is why He said in the same Surah [verse 4]: 'Truly Thou art of a sublime nature' -- that is: you were privileged with that light from pre-eternity’.”

"Allah Almighty and Exalted told the lower world, ‘Serve the one who serves Me and tire the one who serves you’.”

"Prayer is the pillar of every pious person; Pilgrimage is the Jihad of every weak one; the Zakat of the body is fasting; and the one who asks for Allah's grants without performing good deeds is like one trying to shoot an arrow without a bow."

"Open the door of provision by giving donation; fence in your money with the payment of Zakat; the best is he who wastes not; planning is the foundation of your life, and to act prudently is the basis of intellect."

"The jurists are the trustees of the Prophet (s)... If you find the jurists sticking to the company of the Sultans, say to them, 'This is forbidden,' as the jurist cannot express his honest opinion under the pressure of the Sultan's proximity."

"No food is better than God-fear and there is nothing better than silence; no enemy is more powerful than ignorance; no illness is greater than lying."

On the auspicious occasion of the birth of Imam al-Sadiq (as), we extend our greetings and felicitations to Imam al-Hujjah (AJ) and to the followers of Ahlul-Bayt (as)