Islamic Scholars & Mystics Codexery

Ja'far al-Sadiq

Sixth Shia Imam and founder of the Ja'fari school of law.

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Ja'far al-Sadiq

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Al-Sadiq died in Medina in 765 CE (148 AH) at age sixty-four or sixty-five, and Shia sources attribute his death to poisoning at the instigation of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur.[1][2]

"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET sf50-23-2
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET sf50-23-2. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Life and work

Al-Sadiq maintained a policy of political quietism and declined invitations to join revolutionary movements against the Umayyads and Abbasids.[3][4] Sources report that around four thousand scholars studied under him, including the Sunni jurists Abu Hanifa and Malik ibn Anas.[5][6] More traditions are cited from him in Twelver hadith collections than from all other Imams combined.[5] He elaborated the Shia doctrines of nass (divine designation of Imams), isma (infallibility), and taqiya (religious dissimulation).[5][7]

"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

What the cited sources add

A 2024 article from IQNA states that a cleric described Imam Sadiq as the founder of a school that played a pivotal role in preserving Islam and reviving Islamic teachings.[8] The Tehran Times reported in 2018 that some 4,000 people were taught by the sixth Imam or by his apostles and pupils.[9] The Imam Hussain Holy Shrine account notes that Imam al-Sadiq carried the title "al-Sadiq," meaning the Truthful, for his unmatched honesty and integrity.[10] That same source states he taught that "Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit"[10]

"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

The shrine account also confirms he was poisoned by the Abbasid ruler al-Mansur and died a martyr in 148 AH in Medina.[10]

"Muhammad Revives the Sick Boy", Folio from a Falnama (Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET
"Muhammad Revives the Sick Boy", Folio from a Falnama (Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET DP148342
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET DP148342. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET DP148341
"Coffin of Imam 'Ali", Folio from a Falnama (The Book of Omens) of Ja'far al-Sadiq MET DP148341. Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Haywood 2022; Gleave 2008; Tabatabai 1977, p. 204 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  2. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Gleave 2008; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Momen 1985, p. 38; Campo 2009; Tabatabai 1977, p. 204; Madelung 2003; Madelung 1985, p. 137, 138; Momen 1985, p. 38 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  3. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Algar 2012; Campo 2009; Gleave 2012; Gleave 2012; De Smet 2012; Kazemi Moussavi 2012; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  4. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Momen 1985, p. 38; Jafri 1979, p. 181; Hawting 2006; Dakake 2012, p. 177; Gleave 2008; Jafri 1979, p. 181; Gleave 2008; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Armstrong 2002, p. 57; Gleave 2008; Daftary 2013, p. 48; Takim 2004a; Armstrong 2002, p. 57; Momen 1985, p. 38; Momen 1985, p. 38 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  5. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: .; iqna.ir, "Imam Sadiq's School Revived Islamic Teachings: Cleric", iqna.ir, 2024-05-04; "Imam al-Sadeq greatest responsibility, teaching", Tehran Times, 2018-09-09; "Imam Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (peace be upon him)", Imam Hussain Holy Shrine; Chambers Nosco 2015, p. 142; Gleave 2008; Momen 1985, p. 38; Jafri 1979, p. 181; Gleave 2008 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
  6. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Tabatabai 1977, p. 204; Momen 1985, p. 38; Takim 2004a; Adamec 2017, p. 224; Takim 2004a; Abd-Allah 2013, p. 44; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Haywood 2022; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Campo 2009; Momen 1985, p. 38; Tabatabai 1977, p. 204; Mavani 2013, p. 121; Campo 2009; Haywood 2022; Taylor 1966, p. 98; Haywood 2022; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65; Haywood 2022; Mavani 2013, p. 121; Haywood 2022; Tabatabai 1977, p. 204; Momen 1985, p. 38; Campo 2009; Donaldson 1933, p. 130; Momen 1985, p. 38; Tabatabai 1977, p. 204; Taylor 1966 en.wikipedia.org
  7. Wikipedia, "Ja'far al-Sadiq" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Momen 1985, p. 38; Gleave 2004; Daftary 2013, p. 48; Momen 1985, p. 38; Gleave 2004; Adamec 2017, p. 224; Gleave 2004; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65; Amir-Moezzi 1994, p. 65; Gleave 2004; Gleave 2004; Armstrong 2002, p. 57 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
  8. iqna.ir, "Imam Sadiq's School Revived Islamic Teachings: Cleric", iqna.ir, 2024-05-04. facts only, no text reused. iqna.ir
  9. "Imam al-Sadeq greatest responsibility, teaching", Tehran Times, 2018-09-09. facts only, no text reused. tehrantimes.com
  10. "Imam Jaʿfar al-Sadiq (peace be upon him)", Imam Hussain Holy Shrine. facts only, no text reused. imamhussain.org

Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Ja'far al-Sadiq (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.

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Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.

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