Salamun alaykum,
This evening, on the 25th Shawwal, the sad occasion of martyrdom of our beloved 6th Imam J’afar Al Sadiq a.s. will be observed.
Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s was born in Madina on 17th Rabi ul Awwal, 83 A.H. His parents are the 5th Imam Muhammad Al Baqir a.s. and Sayyida Fatima (Um Farwa); daughter of Al Qasim bin Muhammad bin Abi Bakr.
In 114 A.H. when the Imam was 31 years old his father died, and he assumed the office of Imamat. He led the Ummah for 34 years till the time of his martyrdom on 25th Shawwal,148 A.H.
He was buried in the Cemetery Jannatul Baqi alongside his father, grandfather and his (great-great) uncle Imam Hassan a.s.
The Golden chain of narration:
Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s. often said, “I heard the hadith I communicate to you from my father (Imam Al Baqir). My father heard them from my grandfather (Imam Zaynul Abideen). My grandfather heard them from his father (Imam Husayn). His father heard them from Ali bin Abi Talib. Ali bin Abi Talib heard them from the Apostle of Allah. And what hadith the Apostle of Allah communicated are the exact words of Allah, the Almighty and most High.” This Hadith is called the Golden chain of narration.
Excellence:
Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s. stood out among the people for his great fadl (merit); he was the most celebrated, the greatest in rank and the most illustrious of them in the eyes of both al-‘aam-mah (the non-Shia) and al-khaas-sah (the Shi'a).
The learned scholars have transmitted on the authority of no other member of the Ahlul-Bayt as much as they have transmitted on authority of Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s.
Who is a loser?
As Shias observing the sad day of wafat of our beloved 6th Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s. on the 25th of Shawwaal, ponder over this hadith of the Imam.
In exhorting for seeking knowledge, the Imam said,” I like to see the young men following two states: either a scholar or a learner. If one does not do (one of these), then he is wasting his time. If he wastes, he loses, and if he wastes, he commits a sin.”
Reflect:
How do you utilise your time?
As a Shia where do you place yourself in one of the two situations which Imam loves to see his Shias in?
How are you working towards one of these two states?
Condolences to Imam Sahibaz Zaman A.F. and the Ahlul Bayt a.s. on the martyrdom of Imam J’afar al Sadiq a.s.
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah.
With salaams and duas,
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat