Imam Sadiq's biography and life
- Updated On Tuesday, 11 August 2015
- Written by Allamah Qurashi
- Editor Fatimah Graham
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Tuesday, 11 August 2015
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His noble parents Imam al-Sadiq's father was Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, who was not only the leader of the Muslim nation of his time, but also of all times throughout history, with respect to honesty and piety. Of the sons of Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn there were none who were as familiar with the sciences, customs, the Qur'an, literature and rhetoric as Imam al-Baqir.1 Imam al-Sadiq's mother was a well-mannered, honest woman, who was the daughter of al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr,2 a master jurisprudent. She was chaste, noble and virtuous. His Names His respected name is Ja'far. Several historians have stated that the Holy Prophet (saws) gave this name to him, as well as the name Sadiq (veracious). His names reveal his exceptional character and striking personality: Al-Sadiq (the veracious), Al-Sabir (the steadfast), Al-Fadhil (the virtuous), Al-Tahir (the pure), Amud al-Sharaf (the pole of honor), Al-Qaim (the undertaker of the mission), Al-Kafil (the supporter), and Al-Munji (the savior). Al-Sadiq is the most famous of his names, as it is the one which his great-grandfather, the Holy Prophet (saws) gave to him, because he was to be the most honest person in speech.3 Imam al-Sadiq's surnames (kunyah) were: 1. Abu-Abdullah 2. Abu-Ismail 3. Abu-Musa.4 The Year of his Birth Historians disagree on the year of Imam al-Sadiq's birth. The following are some examples: He was born in Medina in 80 A.H. (After Hijra)5 He was born in 83 A.H. on a Friday or a Monday, thirteen nights before the end of the month of Rabi al-Awwal.6 He was born in 86 A.H.7 Under the Umbrella of His Father and Grandfather Imam Abu-Abdullah al-Sadiq grew up in one of the most respected houses of Allah. Imam Zayn al-Abidin, his grandfather, who was the leader of the devout and the chief of those who prostrate themselves before Allah, used to nourish Imam al-Sadiq with his spirituality and holiness, both intellectually and religiously. He imparted all types of knowledge to his grandson. Imam al-Sadiq lived with his grandfather, Imam Zayn al-Abidin, and watched him fasting by day and spending the nights busy in the worship of Allah the Exalted. Imam al-Sadiq witnessed his grandfather, in the darkness of the night, carrying bags of food or money to donate to the poor and needy, all the while shielding his true identity from them. Imam al-Sadiq also observed his grandfather, the greatest Imam, as he distributed knowledge and culture throughout the Muslim community. Imam al-Sadiq spent nineteen years with his father, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, one of the shining stars of the Prophet's Household, who implanted spiritual momentum and morals of the highest standard in his son, to ensure he was ready for the spiritual leadership of the nation. Imam al-Sadiq was extremely obedient, respectful and courteous towards his father. He considered that staring too long at one's parents was an act of disobedience toward them. He is also reported to have said: “One characteristic that a noble person should adhere to, is to leave his place for his parents.” Imam al-Sadiq accompanied his father when he departed Yathrib to travel to Damascus in answer to the summons of Husham ibn Abd al-Malik. The Nomination of Imam al-Sadiq for the Imamate Imam al-Baqir nominated his son, the pioneer of intellect and knowledge in Islam, for the next Imamate. He asked the Shi'a community to obey him and adhere to his commands. Traditions concerning this nomination have been reported without interruption by numerous reporters. Husham ibn Salim reported the following from the master jurisprudent, Jabir ibn Yazid al-Jafi: “When Abu-Ja'far was asked about who would be the next to assume the Imamate, he touched Abu-Abdullah by his hand and said: 'I swear by Allah, this is the next one from Muhammad's Household to assume the Imamate.'” The Era of Imam al-Sadiq When Imam Muhammad al-Baqir passed away and Imam al-Sadiq took over the leadership of the nation, he began to discover sources of knowledge and wisdom throughout the earth and opened up the gates of science to the people who had previously not been accustomed to this. “He filled the world with his knowledge,” Jahiz is reported to have said. According to ibn Hajr: “People narrated from him different branches of sciences, which were repeated, generation after generation in countries all over the world.” Imam al-Sadiq worked on enlightening the human mind, the advancement of human society and on outstanding Islamic values. As a result, elite scholars, who became intellectual, creative and inventive leaders working sincerely to distribute scientific knowledge, benefited from his teachings. Such blessings developed intellectual thought at that time and resulted in the honor of being known as the golden age in Islam. The Islamic civilization owes a great deal to this intellectual school and its chief, Imam al-Sadiq, for his high scientific status and the valuable inheritance he has left behind. The Government's Dread The ruling government of that time feared the Imam's school and its rapid expansion and large number of followers who were spreading knowledge of the Imam and speaking of the school's merits and excellences, as well as of the qualities that Allah had granted the Imam, such as high levels of morals and knowledge, and extreme patience. This prevented the tyrant Mansour from sleeping at night. He feared for himself politically and feared that people would be attracted to the Imam, because of his attributes. Mansour tried extremely hard to invite Imam al-Sadiq to his side and win his friendship and the trust of his students. He wrote to the Imam: “Why do you not visit us as well as other people?” The Imam answered frankly: “There is nothing in this world that we fear, and you have nothing in the Hereafter that we wish for. So why should we come?” This meant, there was nothing in this worldly life that Mansour could do to cause fear in the Imam, nor did Mansour have anything to offer for the hereafter. The tyrant neglected anything that could have brought him closer to Allah, and instead carried out all sorts of sins. Mansour attempted a new method to try and receive a reply from the Imam. He wrote: “You could accompany us and act as our advisor.” The Imam answered directly: “If someone seeks success in the Hereafter, he would not accompany you. And the one, who seeks the worldly life, would not advise you.” Mansour failed to achieve The Imam's companionship, so in order to minimize the high acclaim of Imam Sadiq and keep him away from the nation, he asked Abu-Hanifah to prepare the most complicated and ambiguous questions he could, and ask the Imam for their answers, presuming that the Imam would not be able to answer them and his glory would subsequently be reduced. He also turned his attention to Malik ibn Anas, and showering him with glorification and respect, asked him to write a book of Islamic instructions and rules, with the hope that this would force the population, under pressure, to adhere to it. Malik rejected, but was then forced to do so. Malik authored the book entitled 'al-Muwatta'. The Abbasid government supported Malik and used all necessary means to distribute his thoughts among the population. This was all designed to keep people away from the ideology of the Ahlul-Bayt, which were propounded by Imam al-Sadiq. The Imam's Announcement of His Death Shahab ibn Abd Rabeh narrated: “Abu-Abdullah said: 'How would it be if Muhammad ibn Sulayman informs you of my death?' I replied: 'I swear by Allah that I do not know Muhammad ibn Sulayman. Who is he?' One day I was in Basrah with Muhammad ibn Sulayman who was the ruler of Basrah. He gave me a letter and told me: 'O Shahab! May Allah increase your rewards and ours because of the departure of your Imam, Ja'far ibn Muhammad.' I remembered that conversation with the Imam and wept.” His Assassination Imam al-Sadiq was a disturbance in the mind of the tyrant, Mansour al-Dawaneeqi. Al-Mansour appointed many spies around the house of the Imam, who recorded everything about the Imam and sent this information to him. The Imam had managed to avoid the malice of the tyrant whose plans had been unsuccessful, so al-Mansour decided on assassination using the information he had at his disposal. Therefore, he contaminated the Imam's water with a fatal poison using an agent from Yathrib. When the Imam drank the water, he suffered unbearable pains in his stomach and his internal organs felt as if they were being cut. He knew that the last moments of his life were drawing close. His Will He made his will in public before the people, and he appointed five people as his successors: al-Mansour al-Dawaneeqi, Muhammad ibn Sulayman, Abdullah, his son Imam Musa, and his wife Hamida. He devised this plan as he feared the cruel authorities would assassinate his son, Imam al-Kazim. This in fact manifested, as al-Mansour wrote a letter to his agent in Yathrib, ordering him to kill the Imam's successor. The agent told him that the Imam had appointed five successors and that he was one of them. Then al-Mansour replied: “It is not necessary to do so.” In his will he specified his son, Imam al-Kazim, as his successor, and instructed him to perform and prepare all the funeral rites and to pray the funeral prayer over him. Additionally, he appointed him as the next Imam and informed close companions of the necessity of obeying him. He sent for his wife, Hamida, and asked her to gather together some of their neighbors and followers. When they were gathered, he said: “Our intercession does not reach those who belittle prayer. Prayer is the main principle in Islam. So, he who adheres to it, and performs it, is a believer. But he who belittle it, has left the boundaries of Islam.” His Date of Departure Historians have different views on the date of the death of the Imam: He passed away in 148 A.H. This is the most common date suggested. He passed away in 146 A.H His death was in the month of Shawal or in the middle of Rajab. His Blessed Age Historians and narrators have differing views on the age of the Imam: 65 years old 68 years old The Imam spent his blessed life distributing general and scientific knowledge. He opened up horizons that people previously had no knowledge of. His life had a significant impact on the population.
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References: 1 Ibn al-Sabbagh, al-Fusoul al-Muhimmah, pp.192. 2 Ibn al-Jawzi, Sifat al-Safwah 249/2 as quoted from al-Maarif, pp.175. 3 Yousuf ibn Hatam al-Shami, al-Durr al-Nazim fi Manaqib al-A'immah; A manuscript found in Amir al-Muminin Library, pp.185. In his book entitled al-Ansab (3:507), al-Samani says: Al-Sadiq is one of Ja'far al-Sadiq's names and he was given this name due to his honesty in speech. 4 Ibn Shahrashoub, Manaqib Al Abi-Talib 4:281. 5 Ibn al-Wardi, Tarikh 1:266; al-Shabrawi al-Shafii, al-Ithaf bi-Hubb al-Ashraf, pp. 54; Abou-Nasr al-Bukhari, Sirr al-Salsalah al-Alawiyyah, pp.34; al-Qanadouzi, Yanabi al-Mawaddah, pp.457; Al-Dhahbi, Tadhkirat al-Huffaz 1:157; al-Shablanji, Nour al-Absar, pp.132; Ibn Khallakan, Wafiyyat al-Ayan 1:191. 6 Al-Kulayni, Usoul al-Kafi 1:472; Ibn Shahr'ashoub, Manaqib Al Abi-Talib 4:280; al-Tabarsi, Ilam al-Wara bi-Alam al-Huda, pp.271. In this reference book, the author says: He (i.e. Imam al-Sadiq) was born in Medina thirteen nights before the end of the month of Rabi al-Awwal. 7 Ibn Shahrashoub, Manaqib Al Abi-Talib 4:208.