"We are a household to whom no one could ever be compared."
The Noble Apostle (s.a.w.)
"I heard the traditions I communicate to you from my father. My Father heard them from my grandfather. My grandfather heard them from his father, his father heard them from Ali bin Abi-Talib. Ali bin Abi-Talib heard them from the Messenger of Allah. And what traditions the Messenger of Allah had conveyed are the exact word of Allah, the Almighty and Most High..
Imam al-Sadiq (as.)
"Never has the eye seen, nor the ear heard, nor the heart of a human being thought of any one more Virtuous, knowledgeable, devout, or pious than Ja'far al-Sadiq."
Imam Malik bin Anas
"Whenever I looked at Ja'far bin Muhammad, I knew he was from Prophet's ancestry."
Umar bin al-Miqdam
Praise be to Allah, the One and only God. Peace and the blessings of Allah be on Muhammad, the Lord of His servants, Ahlul-Bait, the Boat of salvation, the leaders of guidance from among his companions, and all those who supported and helped him, treaded the right path, and did not deviate.
The care the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w) lavished on his household, expressed in their education and upbringing, was not an emotional concern so much as an implementation of a decisive Divine order which he received from the Lord of the Worlds. He communicated the message, and brought mankind out of the darkness of atheism and polytheism into the light of monotheism and faith. Allah ordered His Messenger (s.a.w.) to say to the successive generations of mankind,
"...say (Muhammad): I demand not of you any recompense for it save the love of (my) relatives;...'"
Holy Qur'an (42:23)
Alas, they were compensated by being killed, tortured, and made homeless. Patiently and steadfastly they, along with their followers, faced tribulations and bitter trials in a heartrending way.
Some people stood against them out of ignorant spite, personal interests, trivial worldly gains, and in revenge for the killing of Abu-Jahl and Abu-Lahab. Up to now, the grandsons of the enemies of Ahlul-Bait (a.s.) are still harbouring ill intentions against them. They may express their deep-seated hatered for Ahlul-Bait (a.s.) with their writings or through their followers. There were people who pretended to be loyal to Ahlul-Bait (a.s.). At the same time, fabricated myths and lies and attributed to Ahlul-Bait (a.s.) fables and incredible stories about the unseen, which they were innocent of, until the Imams (a.s.) frankly said:
"By Allah, those who opposed us out of their hatred are not more harmful for us than those who ascribed to us what we never said about ourselves."
The greatness of Ahlul-Bait (a.s.) is manifested in their possession of "the honour of Islam." They are of noble birth, descending from Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). They were the most knowledgeable, being educated in the Prophetic school. And they had the honour of jihad, as they were patiently victimized and martyred.
Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (a.s.), a branch of this big tree, the symbol of this pure household, perpetuated the message of his grandfather the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w.), by spreading Islamic sciences, and teaching in fiqh and traditions.
In the life of Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) one can clearly see the call to justice before the tyrants, the announcement of right before the unjust and falsehood, and the heroic, wonderful steadfastness against the horrors of deviation and darkness.
In spite of all this, the flow of his knowledge furnished the great scholars of Basrah, Kufah and central Hijaz with enlightenment. He illuminated the minds of such great leaders as Malik bin Anas, Abu-Hanifah, Ibn Uyaynah, Ibn Jurayh, Yahya bin Sa'd al-Ansari, Ayyub al-Sajistani, and many others who lived at that time.
As Al-Balagh Foundation presents, to its dear readers, this fragrant glimpse of the life of the Apostle's grandson, the standard - bearer of his message, the renewer of Islam, the perpetuator of the originality of his call, Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.). We beseech Allah to grant us success to call people to obey Him, lead the way in preaching the faith until Islam prevails, by which He may reward us with honour in this life and the hereafter. He is the Hearing and the Knowing.
Al-Balagh Foundation
AN APPROACH TO THE STUDY
Writing about Imam al-Sadiq bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.), the Imam of Muslims, the master of jurisprudents (fuqaha) and preachers, and the authority of scholars and intellectuals, is writing about a leading man from Ahlul-Bait (a.s.). He is a link in the chain of Imamate and the political and ideological leadership in the life of Muslims.
Introducing the Imam (a.s.) to the readers, specially those who know nothing about him, is part of the process of acquainting them with Ahlu-Bait (a.s.). A study of the life of any of the Imam (a.s.), from the household of the Prophet (a.s.w.), would disclose the common denominator in their lives and harmonious continuity of their role as the choice of Muslims' Imams.
This brief study emphasizes, for the researchers interested in the lives of the Imams of Ahlul-Bait (a.s.), that they have made a single history with clearly defined dimensions and roles perfectly assigned across successive periods of time throughout their lifetimes. Their mission was aimed at keeping the originality of Shari'ah and defending its entity. This will becomes crystal-clear through our concise study of the life of Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.).
Since the study of any of the Islamic personalities, such as that of Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.), centers on the practical value of his personality, its ideological and historical role in the lives of Muslims in particular, and mankind in general, we have focussed, our study on this fact. We have tried to present a good, clear, cut portrait of Imam Ja'far bin Muhammad al-Sadiq (a.s.). We have divided the study into three main areas: Character, political conditions, and Scholarship Status.