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	==Under the Abbasid rulers==		==Under the Abbasid rulers==

Revision as of 16:01, 5 October 2007

Ja'far al-Sadiq
Born	Approximately April 20 , 702 AD in Madinah
Died	Approximately December 4, 765 AD
Spouse(s)	Hameedah Fatimah, (in full:Fatimah bint Al-Husain ibn Al-Hasan ibn Ali Ibn Abi Talib)
Children	Musa al-Kazim Isma'il ibn Jafar Abdullah (Known as Abdullah Al-Aftah) Ishak Ali Al-Abbas Muhammad Fatimah Um Farwah Asmaa
Parent(s)	Muhammad al-Baqir Umm Farwa, (In full:Fatimah bint Al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr)

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Ja'far al-Sadiq (Arabic: جعفر الصادق in full Ja'far ibn Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Husayn (702-765 AD) was the sixth infallible Imam and one of the Ahl al-Bayt of Shi'a Islam. The dispute over who was to succeed him led to the split of the Ismailis from the mainstream Twelver Shi'a and the establishment of the Aga Khan's family line.

Al-Sadiq was a polymath: an astronomer, alchemist, Imam, Islamic scholar, Islamic theologian, jurispudent, litterateur, philosopher, physician, physicist and scientist. He was also a teacher of the famous chemist, Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber).

Birth and family life

Date of Birth : Approximately: April 20, 702 – December 4, 765), (Seventeenth of Rabi' al-awwal 83 AH – Twenty-fifth of Shawwal 148 AH)
The sun of the existence of Ja'far al-Sadiq arose from the lap of his mother Umm Farwah bint Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr on the 17th of Rabi' al-awwal, 83rd year Hijra, in the city of Medina. Ja'far Al-Sadiq has the same birth date as that of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Ja'far Al-Sadiq has three titles; they are As-Sadiq, Al-Fadil, and At-Tahir. His father, Muhammad al-Baqir (the fifth Shi’ah Imam), was much happy and pleased by the birth of his son.

His mother Umm Farwa was the granddaughter of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, who was one of the companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib (the first Shi’ah Imam and the fourth Sunni Caliph). Ali ibn Abi Talib repeatedly said about him that, "Muhammad is my spiritual and moral son." Asma bint Umais was the mother of Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, and she was considered to be a pious woman. She was continuously in the service of Fatima Zahra bint Muhammad and took pride in it. After the death of her husband Ja`far bin Abī Tālib in the Battle of Mu'tah, Asma bint Umais married Abu Bakr (the first Sunni Caliph) and after his death, married to Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Ja'far Al-Sadiq said about his mother, "My mother was one of the pious, faithful and devoted women." Ja'far Al-Sadiq was 15 years old when his grandfather Ali ibn Husayn (the fourth Shi’ah Imam) was killed, and he was 34 years old when his father Muhammad al-Baqir was killed. Consequent upon the death of Husayn ibn Ali (the third Shi’ah Imam), the government of Bani Umayyah was shaken which turned the people into their enemy and pessimistic about them. This opened the avenue for the formation of Bani Abbasid government. The gap in between these two powers opened the way for the propagation of Shi’ah ideology and school of thought. Ja'far Al-Sadiq could, through a learning movement, propagate the learning's of Islam in such a way to extend and make it reach all the people in the World.

Scholarly attainments

As a child, Ja'far Al-Sadiq studied under his grandfather, Ali ibn Husayn. After his grandfather's death, he studied under and accompanied his father, Muhammad al-Baqir, until Muhammad al-Baqir died in 733.

Ja'far Al-Sadiq became well versed in Islamic sciences, including Hadith, Sunnah, and the Quran. In addition to his knowledge of Islamic sciences, Ja'far Al-Sadiq was also an adept in natural sciences, mathematics, philosophy, astronomy, anatomy, alchemy and other subjects.

The foremost Islamic alchemist, Abu Musa Jabir ibn Hayyan, known in Europe as Geber, was Ja'far Al-Sadiq's most prominent student. Ja'far Al-Sadiq was known for his liberal views on learning, and was keen to debate with scholars of different faiths and of different beliefs.

Abu Hanifa an-Nu‘man was an Islamic scholar and Jurist. He was a student of Ja'far Al-Sadiq. Abu Hanifa was once asked the question, how old are you? And he replied two; the person asking said you have been around me for more than two years. Abu Hanifa replied "My age is that which I spent under Ja'far Al-Sadiq."

Scholars believed to have studied extensively with Ja'far Al-Sadiq:

Jabir Ibn Hayyan - known in Europe as Geber, a great alchemist.
Musa al-Kazim - his son, the seventh Shi’ah Imam according to the Twelvers
Isma'il ibn Jafar - his son, the seventh Shi'ah Imam according to the Ismaili

Sunni scholars who either attended Ja'far Al-Sadiq's lectures or studied with him:

Abu Hanifa - founder of the Hanafi school of thought.
Malik ibn Anas - founder of the Maliki school of thought.

Others that attended lectures by Ja'far Al-Sadiq:

Wasil ibn A'ta' - founder of the Mutazilite school of thought.

The Characteristic distinctions of Ja'far Al-Sadiq

We all know that the conduct of men is the reflection of their inner character and everyone can be recognized by his conduct. There are only a very few people who do not spill out their conduct and whatever they have in their interior and do not exhibit it. Whatever they have in their hearts kindles the exterior of the electric lamp like an electric switch.

The whole life of Ja'far Al-Sadiq, like the other Imams, was the enlightened lesson of the real and true Islam. He himself was considered to be the example and specimen of the Islamic ethic, moral and conduct. You cannot find a father and a son among all the people, of all the tribes who may resemble each other from all the angles of ideas, thoughts, character and conduct. But the family of Muhammad and his successors all were on the same line and performed their heavenly duty with one aim, one ideology, and did not have any kind of difference in speech, character and ethical conduct. About the ethical value and virtue of Ja'far Al-Sadiq, it is sufficient that out of four thousands of his students even a single one did not object or criticize upon the moral character and conduct of Ja'far Al-Sadiq, and did not find a weak point in it.

He was a practical example and specimen for the Muslims with respect to eating, relaxing and resting, walking, speaking, and conducts with others. He had the same social conduct with his friends as he had with his children.

Under the Umayyad rulers

Ja'far Al-Sadiq lived in violent times. Ja'far Al-Sadiq was considered by many followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib to be the sixth Shi'a imam, however, the Shi'ahs were considered heretics and rebels by the Umayyad caliphs. Many of Ja'far Al-Sadiq's relatives had died at the hands of the Umayyad. Shortly after his father's death, Ja'far Al-Sadiq's uncle, Zayd bin Ali led a rebellion against the Umayyad. Ja'far Al-Sadiq did not participate, but many of his kinsmen, including his uncle, were killed, and others were punished by the Umayyad caliph. There were other rebellions during these last years of the Umayyad, before the Abbasids succeeded in grasping the caliphate and establishing the Abbasid dynasty in 750 CE, when Ja'far Al-Sadiq was forty-eight years old.

Many rebel factions tried to convince Ja'far al-Sadiq to support their claims. Ja'far Al-Sadiq evaded their requests without explicitly advancing his own claims. He is said to burned their letters (letters promising him the caliphate) commenting, "This man is not from me and cannot give me what is in the province of Allah". Ja'far Al-Sadiq's prudent silence on his true views is said to have established Taqiyya as a Shi'a doctrine. Taqiyya says that it is acceptable to hide one's true opinions if by revealing them, one put oneself or others in danger.

The incidents and difficulties, which come into human life can, measure and find out the extent of his energy and faith. The difficulties, which cropped up in the life of Ja'far Al-Sadiq and the patience and forbearance, which, he showed towards them, illuminated his personality and worth. Howsoever they (enemies) abused and teased him he showed patience and forbearance and admonished them. He never cursed or used foul language about them.

As a scientist and philosopher

Ja'far al-Sadiq has provided many theories related to the Solar System, theory of light, anatomy of the human body, and many more subjects, which were further explored by both European and Muslim scientists, such as his students Ibn al-Hezum and Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber), and many others. The Reseach Committee of Strasburg University in France has published detailed information about the theories given by Ja'far Al-Sadiq.

Alchemy

In alchemy, al-Sadiq refuted Aristotle's theory of the four classical elements and discovered that each one is made up of different chemical elements:

"I wonder how a man like Aristotle could say that in the world there are only four elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The Earth is not an element. It contains many elements. Each metal, which is in the earth, is an element."

Astronomy

In astronomy, al-Sadiq refuted the geocentric model of the universe common at the time, in which the Earth is not moving and the Sun, Moon and the planets are orbiting around it. He was the first to refute Ptolemy's theory of the Sun having two movements, one going round the Earth in one year and the other going round the Earth in 24 hours causing day and night. Al-Sadiq argued that if the Sun is moving round the Earth in one year, it cannot suddenly change its course and go round the Earth in one day. He suggested that this could be explained with a heliocentric theory in which the Earth rotates about its own axis and around the Sun.

Cosmology

In cosmology, al-Sadiq wrote a theory on how the universe is expanding and contracting. He also stated that every object in the universe is always in motion, including objects which appear to be inanimate.

Al-Sadiq's student, Jabir ibn Hayyan, asked him the following question on the stars:

"How does the movement of the stars keep them from falling?"

Al-Sadiq replied:

"Put a stone in a sling and swing it round your head. The stone will stay in the sling so long as you are rotating it. But as soon as you stop the rotation, the stone will fall down on the ground. In the same way the perpetual motion of stars keeps them from falling down."

Literature

In the field of literature, al-Sadiq defined the term 'literature' as follows:

"Literature is the garment which one puts on what he says or writes so that it may appear more attractive."

Medicine

In medicine, al-Sadiq theorized that disease can be caused by certain forms of light:

"There are some lights which, if thrown from a sick person to a healthy person, can possibly make that healthy person sick."

Physics

In physics, al-Sadiq developed a particle theory, which he described as follows:

"The universe was born out of a tiny particle, which had two opposite poles. That particle produced an atom. In this way matter came into being. Then the matter diversified. This diversification was caused by the density or rarity of the atoms."

He also wrote a theory on the opacity and transparency of materials. He stated that materials which are solid and absorbent are opaque, and materials which are solid and repellent are more or less transparent. He also stated that opaque materials absorb heat.

Under the Abbasid rulers

The new Abbasid rulers, who had risen to power on the basis of their claim to descent from Muhammad's uncle Abbas, were extremely suspicious of Ja'far, whom many considered to have a better claim to the caliphate. Ja'far was watched closely and, occasionally, imprisoned to cut his ties with his followers. Ja'far endured the persecution patiently and continued his study and writing wherever he found himself.

He died on December 4, 765. Some say that he was poisoned, thus becoming a martyr, like the Shi'a imams before him. He is buried in Medina, in the famous Jannat al-Baqi cemetery.

The Imamate

After Ja'far Al-Sadiq's death, there arose a major split between the partisans of the Ithna Ashari Shi’ahs (Twelvers) and the Ismailis. The Ismailis felt that Isma'il ibn Jafar was the rightful successor as the seventh imam. On the other hand, the Ithna Asharis believe that Ja'far Al-Sadiq chose his son, Musa al-Kazim, as his successor (on the order of Allah). The Ismailis eventually became a separate sect; their supreme spiritual leaders, the Aga Khans, are descendants of Ismail.

Sayings

1. Whoever attacks a matter without knowledge cuts off his own nose.

2. Intellect is the guide of the believer.

3. The perfection of intellect is in three (things): humbleness for God, good certainty, and silence except for good.

4. Ignorance is in three (things): Arrogance, the intensity of dispute, and the ignorance about God.

5. Certainly, knowledge is a lock and its key is the question.

6. When the believer becomes angry, his anger should not take him out of the truth; and when he becomes satisfied, his satisfaction should not bring him into falsehood.

7. Some manners of the ignorant are: the answer before he hears, the opposition before he understands, and the judgment with what he does not know.

Anecdotes

Someone once asked Ja'far Al-Sadiq to show him God. The Imam replied, "Look at the sun." The man replied that he could not look at the sun because it was too bright.
Ja'far Al-Sadiq replied: "If you cannot see the created, how can you expect to see the creator?"

Notes

^ Reseach Committee of Strasburg University, Imam Jafar Ibn Muhammad As-Sadiq A.S. The Great Muslim Scientist and Philosopher, translated by Kaukab Ali Mirza, 2000. Willowdale Ont. ISBN 0969949014.
"Light and Disease", The Minister 11 (10), p. 5-7, 1984. (cf. Hwaa Irfan, Vibrational Medicine And The Human Energy Field, IslamOnline.net)

References

Muhammed Al-Husain Al-Mudaffar, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq.
Sayyid Mahdi as-Sadr, THE AHLUL-BAYT Ethical Role-Models.
Mohammad Hussein il Adeeb, The Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibales.

External links

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