In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent and Merciful

The Life of Imam Jafar ibn Mohammad ibn Ali ibn Al-Husayn
the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (s)

"I have never seen a man more knowledgeable in religion than Jafar al-Sadiq" imam Abu Hanifa. An overview 1- Prophet Mohammad (s) says: "I am leaving two weighty things among you: The Book of Allah, in which you will find guidance; and the people of my household (Ahlul-Bayt). I remind you of the people of my household, I remind you of the people of my household, I remind you of the people of my household." (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Musnad Ibn Hanbal, and more). 2- Prophet Mohammad (s) at the final Hajj, appoints Ali Ibn Abu Talib as the guardian of all believers. (Mutawatir). 3- Ali becomes the fourth Khalifa and carries out Islam as it was taught to him by Prophet since his childhood. Mu'awya and the Kharijites reject his Khilafa. Imam Ali is martyred by a Kharijite. 4- Imam Hasan, son of Ali, becomes the Khalifa for six months and takes the responsibility of teaching Islam as it was taught to him and his father by the Messenger of Allah. Mu'awya resists his Khilafa, as a result a treaty is signed under which Mu'awya agrees to give Khilafa to Imam Husayn. 5- Imam Hasan is poisoned by his wife under the influence of Banu Umayya. Mu'awya dies after appointing his son (Yazid) for Khilafa, breaking his promise. 6- Imam Husayn rebels against Yazid. Husayn is brutally martyred in Karbla and the household of Prophet are taken to Damascus in chains by the Banu Umayya. 7- Imam Sajjad, Imam Husayn's only son who survived the massacre, takes the responsibility of teaching Islam as it was taught to his father by Prophet Mohammad (s). Later, Banu Umayya poisoned Imam Sajjad. 8- Imam Sajjad's son, Imam al-Baqir who was also present in Karbla, assumes the responsibility of teaching Islam as it was taught to him by his father who learned Islam from Imam Husayn. Imam al-Baqir gets poisoned by the Banu Umayya, but he leaves a son who establishes the School of Ahlul-Bayt: Imam Jafar was raised by his grandfather, Imam Ali son of Imam Husayn for 12 years. Afterwards, he was raised by his father, Imam Mohammad al-Baqir. When Imam al-Baqir was martyred, Imam Jafar took the responsibility of teaching Islam as it was taught to his grandfathers by Prophet Mohammad (s). Imam Jafar, his personality and his time Many changes and activities were happening during the time of Imam Jafar. Preparations for a revolution against Banu Umayya, intellectual and philosophical movements, scientific research by Muslims and the rise of Banu Abbas are a few to name. Imam Jafar chose to stay in the town of his grandfathers, Madina. He was under an extreme pressure during the time of Umayyads and later was persecuted by the Abbasids. Imam Jafar, like his grandfathers, was very humble, generous, friendly and a hard working family man. Once a person saw Imam Jafar wearing a nice expensive and a beautiful robe. The man got very angry and said: "How dare you wear such a nice cloth? Your grandfather (Prophet Mohammad) was a simple man and lived a simple life. You are being fooled by the beauties of this world." Imam: "You must think that because Prophet Mohammad (s) lived in poverty, it is the duty of all Muslims to be poor! No. Not so. The Holy Prophet (s) and his companions lived poorly because that was the situation at that time. But now, it is a different situation. When Allah gives you His Grace and grants you His gifts, why not use it? Because if I or any other good people do not use these valuable things, the bad people will. It is the good Muslims who deserve these beautiful things and not the corrupt people." The generosity of Imam Jafar was unique and was not limited to his followers. He helped Muslims with a special care for his followers: On a dark rainy night Imam Jafar left his house without telling anyone and headed towards a neighborhood. One of his friends, Moli, noticed that Imam has left his house in a rainy night. So he got curious and followed him. He noticed something fell off Imam's shoulder and he heard him say: "Oh Allah! Return this back to me!" Moli stepped forward and greeted Imam Jafar. Imam Jafar: "Are you Moli?" Moli: "Yes. This is me." Then he looked trying to see what was it that Imam dropped. He noticed some bread in a heavy bag that had fell. Imam: "Help me collect these." Moli helped Imam but the bag was heavy, so he said: "Please allow me to carry this for you." Imam: "No. Thank you. I am more responsible for this task than you." Imam Jafar carried the breads on his shoulders to a neighborhood which was a place for the poor and homeless. Everyone was sleeping and no one was awake. Imam placed two pieces of bread next to each person who was sleeping without waking anyone up or leaving anyone without bread. Then he left the scene. Moli asked: "Were those people your followers?" Imam: "No. They do not believe in Imamate. But if they did, I would have given them salt as well." Imam Jafar was very well known for being truthful and sincere; to the extent that people called him al-Sadiq (truthful). His truthfulness is a lesson to all mankind: One day, Imam al-Sadiq's need for money and to support his family increased all of a sudden. He thought to make some business; therefore he designated a servant of his for a business. He gave the servant (named Musadef) 1000 Dinars and told him to go to Egypt and make some trade. Musadef went to the market and bought things that were commonly used in Egypt and then headed towards Egypt with a caravan. When Musadef reached Egypt, he encountered some other businessmen socializing with them. Musadef found out that the goods he bought to sell in Egypt have become very rare. So, he made a deal with other businessmen to create a black market and make a 100% profit. And they did it. Musadef was very happy that he had made a 100% profitable business. He came to Imam al-Sadiq with two bags of money. Imam: "What is this?" Musadef: "One is the money you gave me, the other is the profit....a 100% profit." Imam: "This is too much....tell me how did you make it?" Musadef told Imam about his deal with others to create a black market. Imam: "Glory be to Allah! You made deals so that you create a black market among Muslims and take advantage of their needs?! No. I will never accept such profit." Then he took one of the bags, did not touch the other and said: "I have nothing to do with the other one." Then Imam commented: "Listen Musadef! Fighting with a sword is much easier than making Halal money!" Imam Jafar and Religion Imam al-Sadiq's knowledge of religion was remarkable. "I have never seen a man more knowledgeable in religion than Jafar al-Sadiq" says imam Abu Hanifa. Abu Hanifa also commented: "If it were not for Jafar al-Sadiq, people would have not known how to perform Hajj." And imam Malik commented: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard and no heart has known a human better than Jafar son of Mohammad." Because of the Abbasid uprisings, Imam Jafar saw an opportunity which none of his grandfathers had. And that was to establish a school with minimum interruption by the aggressors. Imam al-Sadiq managed to open a school in Madina and started teaching Islam as it was taught to his grandfathers by the Holy Prophet Mohammad (s). His school had more than 4000 students, among them were Abu Hanifa, Malik and Jabir Ibn al-Hayyan. It was Jabir ibn al-Hayyan who discovered Alcohol, as well as Acetic Acid and some other metals and elements of nature. Jabir's books have been translated into many languages and now are in a museum in Paris. During the lifetime of Imam Jafar, many new thoughts in religion were emerging and many new innovations were taking place in Islam. Also, many people from Kufa and elsewhere claimed to be the followers of Ahlul-Bayt calling themselves "Shia", yet they contaminated their religion with blasphemy, innovations and disrespect to Prophet's companions. Of the things Imam al-Sadiq accomplished was to define true Shi'ism which is to follow the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet as taught by Ahlul-Bayt. Imam Jafar held many debate sessions with Sufis, Motazelites, materialists, and with those who did not believe in his Imamate. These debates are well documented. One of his famous discussions was with imam Abu Hanifa: Once imam Abu Hanifa came to Madina and asked for a meeting with Imam Jafar. But Imam rejected his request and did not grant him permission. Abu Hanifa explains: "I waited at his door for a while until a group of people from Kufa arrived and asked his permission to enter; he granted them the permission and I entered with them. When I met him, I said: 'It would be wise if you send a representative to Kufa and advise them to stop mocking Prophet's companions. There are more than 10,000 people there who mock Prophet's companions.' Imam: "They will not listen to me!" Abu Hanifa: "How could they not accept your words and you are Prophet's son (grandson)?" Imam: "You are one of them who do not listen to my words! Didn't you enter my house without my permission? And without my permission you sat. And without my permission you spoke. I have heard that you use "Qyaas" (rule of comparison) to issue a fatwa." Abu Hanifa: "Yes!" Imam: "Woe to you! The first person who used this method was Shaytaan. When Allah, the Exalted, told him bow to Adam, he said: 'I wont, because You created me from fire and him from mud." Then Imam Jafar continued: "In your opinion, which one is more important: killing someone without a just cause, or adultery?" Abu Hanifa: "Killing without a just cause is worse." Imam: "If Qyaas is a correct method, then why murder requires two witnesses but adultery requires four? Is this law of Islam compatible with Qyaas?" Abu Hanifa: "No!" Imam: "Which one is more impure: urine or semen?" Abu Hanifa: "Urine." Imam: "Then why Allah, the Exalted, has ordered us to do Wudu for the first but to do Ghusul for the other? Is this compatible with Qyaas?" Abu Hanifa: "No!" Imam: "Praying is more important or fasting?" Abu Hanifa: "Prayer." Imam: "Then why an impure woman must remake her fasts but not her prayers? Is this rule compatible with Qyaas?" Abu Hanifa: "No!" Imam: "About the aya saying: "On that day, you shall most certainly be asked about the boons"(Surat-al-Takathur, Aya 8), I've heard you interpret it such that: Allah, the Exalted, will question people about the food and cool water in the Summer." Abu Hanifa: "True, I interpret it such." Imam: "If a person invites you to his house, gives you cool water and food and then questions you about it; what would you say about that person?!" Abu Hanifa: "I would say he is ungiving." Imam: "Is Allah, the Exalted, ungiving so that He would question us about the food He has provided?!" Abu Hanifa: "Then what does Quran mean by "the boons" which we will be questioned about?" Imam: " 'The boons' is the love towards us, the family of Prophethood and the household of Prophet." Imam Jafar and the four imams of the Sunni Madhab - Imam Jafar and imam Malik were close friends and Imam Jafar used to pay a high respect to imam Malik telling him: "I love you!". Imam Malik mentions this as a great honor. They performed Hajj together and Imam Malik refers to Imam Jafar four times in his "Almuwatta". - Imam Shafi'i and Imam Hanbal use Imam Jafar as a reference for several ahadith. - Imam Abu Hanifa was born around the same time when Imam Jafar was born. There are reports which indicate that Imam Jafar used to refer to Imam Abu Hanifa as "The scholar of Iraq" and dealt with him as an Alim (scholar) not a student. Imam Abu Hanifa also uses Imam Jafar as a reference to many ahadith. Imam Jafar, a scientist Imam al-Sadiq's knowledge was not limited to religion. His postulations in the sciences of medicine, chemistry and physics are significant. Imam al-Sadiq's contributions to science cannot be covered in one paragraph or one article. Here are *some* highlights: - Medicine/Chemistry: Viruses, Bacteria, healthy motherhood, chemistry of human body, and diet. - Physics/Astronomy: Expansion of the universe, explanation of light, and the rotation of Earth around itself and around Sun. Imam Jafar and the Abbasids He openly opposed the system of the government and spoke against the Abbasids and never made bay'a with them saying: "If I had seven sincere warriors, I would have revolted!" Mansoor Dawaniqi, the caliph of that time started inviting Imam to his court for support. But Imam resisted supporting his Khilafa. Once Mansoor said: "Why don't you join us (the Abbasids) to advise us?" Imam replied: " Those who want this world would never advise you, and those who want hereafter would never join you!" Another time Mansoor invited Imam Jafar to his court. A fly sat on caliph's nose and bothered him. Mansoor got uncomfortable then asked Imam Jafar in a sarcastic tone: "Why did Allah create flies?" Imam: "So that He would humiliate the nose of the oppressors!" Mansoor Dawaniqi was very uncomfortable with Imam's attitude and once asked: "Why don't you fear us with respect the same way other people do?" Imam: "There is nothing in this world (belonging to you) so that we would fear you, and there is nothing of your hereafter that we would desire!" Imam Jafar was poisoned by the Abbasids and reached the Shahada at the age of 54. Some Of Imam al-Sadiq's Sayings - "Do not laugh when others fall; you don't know what the world is holding for you!" - "The richest person is the one who is not caught in greed." - "Our intercession will never reach those who are lazy in prayer." - "Those who do not obey Allah, are not of our Shia." - "Your real enemy is the one who hides your weaknesses in front of you but talks about them behind you; be careful of that person."

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