Imam Ja'far b. Muhammad al-Sadiq (a): Difference between revisions

This title was also common among [[Sunnis]] at the time of Imams (a). For example, [[Malik b. Anas]]<ref>Ḥimyarī, ''Qurb al-asnād'', p. 22.</ref>, [[Ahmad b. Hanbal]] and al-Jahiz mentioned this title for Imam (a).<ref>See: Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal, ''Musnad'', vol. 5, p. 122; Jāḥiẓ, "Faḍl Hāshim ʿalā ʿAbd al-Shams", p. 422.</ref> [[Abu l-Faraj al-Isfahani]] said that Imam's (a) foreseeing about the killing of [[al-Nafs al-Zakiyya]] was true; thus, when [[al-Mansur al-Abbasi]] became the caliph, called Imam (a) "al-Sadiq" and it became popular. According to an analysis of the history at that time, Imam al-Sadiq (a) was titled "al-Sadiq" because he (a) avoided any involvement in the uprisings of his time, especially in comparison with 'Abd Allah b. Hasan who was Imam's (a) rival among the descendants of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and made an uprising against Abbasids and later was called "Kadhdhab".

Imam al-Sadiq (a) was born on [[Rabi' I 17]], [[83]]/[[April 24]], 702 in [[Medina]] and was martyred on [[Shawwal 25]], [[148]]/[[December 18]], 765 at the age of 65. Another report mentions his martyrdom in the middle of [[Rajab]] or Shawwal. He was buried in the [[Baqi' Cemetery]] beside his father, [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]], his grandfather [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]] and his uncle [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]].<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', pp. 526-527</ref>

Some historians and biographers have mentioned his birth in 80/699.<ref>Al-Irbili, ''Kashf al-ghumma'', vol.2 p.155</ref> And Ibn Qutayba has recorded his martyrdom in 146/764.<ref>Ibn Qatayba, ''al-Ma'arif'', p.215</ref> Twelve years of his life were contemporary with his grandfather and nineteen years of it were contemporary with his father and his [[imamate]] period was thirty four years.<ref>Al-Tabrisi, ''I'lam al-wara bi a'lam al-huda'', p.514</ref>

It is mentioned in ''[[Al-Fusul al-muhimma fi ta'lif al-umma (book)|al-Fusul al-muhimma]]'', ''[[Misbah al-Kaf'ami]]'' and other sources that Imam al-Sadiq (a) was given poison.<ref>Al-Majlisi, ''Bihar al-anwar'', vol.47 pp.1-2</ref> In ''[[al-Manaqib]]'', [[Ibn Shahrashub]] has written that [[al-Mansur]] gave him poison since he hated Imam (a) so much and feared that people would turn to him.<ref>Ibn Shahrashub, ''al-Manaqib'', vol.4 p.280</ref> Those who know about al-Mansur's life know that he did not have mercy even on those who endeavored to take him to [[caliphate]]. He even killed [[Abu Muslim al-Khurasani]] who greatly helped in the establishment of [['Abbasid government]].<ref>Shahidi, ''Zindigani imam Sadiq'', pp.85-86</ref>

* Fatima, daughter of [[Husayn b. 'Ali b. Husayn]] who was the mother to three of his children;

* [[Hamida Wife of Imam al-Sadiq (a)|Hamida]] who was the mother of three other children of him

* some other women who were mothers to his other children.<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', p. 553</ref>

[[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] listed 10 children for him:

The recent four children were from different mothers<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', p. 553</ref>

[[Fadl b. Hasan al-Tabrisi|Al-Tabrisi]] wrote that, "Musa (a), Ishaq, Fatima and Muhammad were from one mother whose name was [[Hamida al-Barbariyya]]."<ref>Al-Tabrisi, ''I'lam al-wara bi-a'lam al-huda'', p.546</ref>

Isma'il was his eldest son whom was beloved by Imam al-Sadiq (a) and some [[Shi'a]] thought that he was to succeed Imam (a), but he passed away while Imam al-Sadiq (a) was alive and was buried in the [[Baqi' Cemetery]]. It is reported that Imam al-Sadiq (a) was so mournful upon his demise. He was very distressed and walked ahead of his coffin barefooted without wearing cloak. Before burying him, several times Imam (a) ordered to put his coffin down, removed his shroud from his face, looked at him and asked people around to look at him so that those who thought that he would become the Imam after Imam al-Sadiq (a) become sure that he had really passed away.<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', pp. 553-554</ref>

[[Imamate]] of Imam al-Sadiq (a) was 34 years<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', pp. 527</ref> and it was contemporary with the caliphate of

Imam al-Sadiq (a) was martyred ten years after the beginning of the rule of [[al-Mansur al-Dawaniqi]] by him.<ref>Al-Tabrisi, ''I'lam al-wara bi-a'lam al-huda'', p.514</ref>

Imam (a) was at least once summoned by al-Mansur to [[Iraq]] and went there accompanied by [[Safwan al-Jammal]]<ref>Al-Thaqafi, ''al-Gharat'', vol.2 pp.850-856</ref> and was forced to stay there for a while.<ref>Al-Shahristani, ''al-Milal wa l-nihal'', vol.1 p.147</ref>

Several people have narrated from [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] about the [[imamate]] of his son Ja'far among whom are [[Hisham b. Salim]], [[Abu l-Sabah al-Kanani]], [[Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi]] and 'Abd al-A'la mawla Al Sam.<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', pp. 526-527</ref>

[[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] wrote that, "In addition to the Imam al-Baqir's (a) will about the imamate of his son Ja'far, his superiority and merits in knowledge, piety, and practice over all his brothers, cousins and all other people of his time proves his imamate."<ref>Al-Mufid, ''al-Irshad'', pp. 527-528</ref>