Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty
Carrying the eternal message of the eternal love of the Lord, some special saints of every era are born on this earth. They illuminate this great world with the radiance of their enlightened souls. They are directly chosen and sent by the Lord. We call all these saints who came before the Holy Prophet (SAW) as Prophets or Messengers and we call all the saints who came in the era of the guardianship, that is, after the Prophet (SAW), as Auliyya, i.e. wise or holy people. They appear in the world and show the straight and good path to the fallen humanity. They pull everyone from the mud to the life of paradise. They are the Auliy Murshid of the era. One such saint is Hazrat Imam Jafar As Sadiq (RA). One of the saints of the era of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (RA). Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (RA) was the bearer and bearer of the ideals of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
Birth and Family History
He is a descendant of Maula Ali (AS). He is part of the family of the Prophet (PBUH). Imam Jafar As-Sadiq (RA) is one of the twelve Imams. His Kuniyat was Abu Muhammad. He had an outstanding background in the science of that time. He was well-versed in the secrets of religion. He was a complete and perfect man. His knowledge of knowledge has shed an outstanding light on the world. He was born in the holy city of Medina on 17 Rabi-ul-Awwal, 83 AH. His title is Sadiq. His father’s name is Imam Muhammad Baqir (RA) and his mother’s name is Umm Farwa (RA). He belonged to the Sayyid lineage of the Prophet. The lineage is as follows – Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) – Hazrat Ali (PBUH) – Imam Hussain (PBUH) Imam Zainul Abedin (RA) – Imam Baqir (RA) – Imam Jafar Sadiq (RA).
Imam of the Muslim World
He learned all the subjects of Muhammadan Islam from his father and grandfather. He was fully aware of the deep secrets of the religion. After the death of his father, he assumed the responsibility of the Imamate of the Muslim world. Imam Jafar Sadiq’s knowledge was the legacy of the knowledge of prophethood. He used to say, “My words are the words of my father Imam Baqir (RA), his words are the words of my grandfather Imam Zainul Abedin (RA), my grandfather’s words are the words of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), Imam Hussain (AS), Amirul Momineen Maula Ali (AS), and Maula’s words are the words of the Prophet (SAW), and the words of the Prophet (SAW) himself are the words of Allah Almighty.” He also used to say, “We, the Ahlul Bayt of the Prophet (SAW), have the knowledge of the past, the future, and the divine knowledge transmitted in the heart, i.e., the inspiration.”
Knowledge and Wisdom
He was the most knowledgeable in religious knowledge in the Muslim world during his time. He had complete control over all branches of religion, Quranic philosophy, and spirituality. He taught religious knowledge to many famous scholars. He had many followers like the famous jurist Muhammad bin Muslim, Zurarah, the scholar Hisham, the distinguished scholar Mufazayl, and the world-renowned scholar Jabir al-Hayan.
Religious propagation
During that time, he devoted himself to the propagation of the knowledge of Sufism, i.e. the true truth of religion, throughout his life. Many people, including the world-renowned saint Bayazid Bustami, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Yahya bin Saeed, gained knowledge from him. After learning Sufism from Hazrat Imam Jafar Saad, Imam Abu Hanifa said, “If I had not gained knowledge from Imam Jafar as-Sadiq, I would have been destroyed.”
Wisdom and religious sense
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq was endowed with a broad-minded mind, far-sighted knowledge, and boundless wisdom. He had complete knowledge in all branches of knowledge prevalent in his time. Throughout his life, he has given the benefits of his Imamate to the common people. His numerous miracles were then spoken of by the people. He was of great religious dignity.
Death
Hazrat Imam Jafar Sadiq passed away in the month of Shawwal 148 AH after leading the Muslim world for 34 years. This great ascetic and Imam was martyred by the poison given by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mansur. He was 65 years old at that time. He was buried next to the tombs of his father Imam Baqir (RA) and grandfather Imam Zainul Abedin (RA) in Jannatul Baqi in Medina.
Date of writing – 06/09/2019
Author – Labib Mahfuj Chisty