Tuesday 29 December 2015

Imam Jafar Sadiq-Ocean of Knowledge


 
Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
Greetings to the admirers of Imam Jafar Sadiq on his birth anniversary today. He was born on17th Rabi –Ul-Awwal in 700 or 702 C.E. After the martyrdom of his father, Imam Mohammed Baqir, he took the responsibility of guiding the believers. Imam Sadiq utilized the feud between Umayyad and Abbasid and devoted his life to the revival of Prophetic customs, dissemination of Islamic culture and trained students who excelled in the field of Fiqh(Jurisprudence),Tafsir(Commentary) of Holy Quran, Hadees(Traditions) and experimental science. His theological university had more than 4000 students and two of the Imams of Ahle-Sunnat, Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Maliki derived great benefit from the ocean of knowledge that Imam Sadiq possessed as a direct descendant of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. Imam Abu Hanifa is reported to have said “if
 it was not for those two years -the period that he spent with Imam Sadiq, No man would have been destroyed.”The untiring efforts, endeavors and struggles of Imam Sadiq resulted in the revival and dissemination of Islam in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophet. He founded Jafri School of thoughts and
elaborated the doctrine of Naas (divinely inspired designation of each imam by the previous imam), and Ismah (the infallibility of the imams).it was because of him Imamis are known as followers of Jafri religion.

Like his illustrious ancestors, Imam Sadiq was also a man of great virtues and qualities. He was full of respect and humbleness in front of the Almighty, brave and courageous against the merciless and the tyrants, helpful to the afflicted and those willing to work to eke out living, full of awe, dignity, perseverance and steadfastness.
Once he was working with a spade in the agricultural field and soaked in perspiration. Abu Omar Shaibani saw Imam and said to himself “May be Imam is working himself with the spade as he is having no helper”. Out of respect, he offered to work for Imam but he politely declined the offer, saying “No, I like that one should endeavor and struggle himself to earn his livelihood”.
 It is reported from the wife of Imam Sadiq that in the final hours of the life he suddenly opened his eyes and said to all his family members and near ones “ Our ( Ahle- Bait ) Shafaat ( intercession) will not reach to those who degrade and undervalue their prayers. Imam Sadiq always
stayed out of the political conflicts that embroiled the region and evaded many requests for support that he received from rebels. He lived for about 65 years and had the longest life among the Imams. Imam Sadiq devoted his maximum time for teaching correct Islam but the regime also did not spare him. His popularity and respect among the people led to his harassment by the Caliph Al-Mansur who finally got him poisoned. Imam attained the martyrdom on 25 Shawwal and lies buried in Baqi cemetery. His tomb was a place of pilgrimage until Wahhabis conquered Medina for the second time in 1925 and razed shrine of Imam Sadiq along with other tombs. The blogger would like to conclude the article with the famous quote of the blessed Imam –“Nothing is better than silence, no enemy is more harmful than ignorance, and no illness is more dangerous than telling lies."If Muslims could only pay attention to his precious saying, most of their problems could be solved automatically.


(References available on request. Photo Courtesy Google Images.The article has been posted to mark the birth anniversary of Imam Jafar Sadiq today).  








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