Islam Guidance

BIRTH OF IMAM JA’FAR AS-SADIQ (a.s.)

Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was born in Medina, on 17th of Rabi ul-awwal, 82 A.H. His father was Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir (a.s.). When he grew up he became famous as Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.).
There are a number of stories about the childhood of Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.). It is said that he was born circumcised and with a full set of teeth. There is another story that says he began to speak as soon as he was born.
It is also reported on the authority of Abu Horera, a famous companion of the Prophet, that the Prophet of God had said about Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that one of his descendants would become famous as as-Sadiq (truthful).
Four facts show us that from his childhood, Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was favoured by nature:
He was born very weak, but did not suffer from any childhood disease, which were common in those days. After two years he became quite robust and strong.
Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was born in a well-to-do family. His father and grandfather were men of substance in Medina.
His father, Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.), was a learned man and his mother, Umme Farva, a descendant of Abu Bakr, was also an educated lady.
His father and mother started teaching him when he was only two years of age.
As a rule, children whose fathers and grandfathers are learned persons, have better chances of becoming learned than those who come from ordinary families. The father and grandfather of Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) were great scholars. His grandfather, Ali ibn Husain, had written a number of books whose names have been mentioned by Ibn Nadim in his book, Al-Fehrist, although there is no trace of them today.
Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) had many brothers and sisters. His parents educated them all, but they paid special attention to him from the time he was 2 years old, because of his supernatural intelligence and wonderful memory.
The old family house of Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), which was on one side of the mosque of the Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and where his great grandfather, Husain ibn Ali, was born, was demolished at the time of the expansion of the mosque. From the money that was received from the public treasury in compensation, a plot of land was purchased by the side of newly constructed road, called Musqa and a house was built there. That house, just like all the new houses of Medina, was constructed by Iranian architects.
The courtyard of that house, which was probably planned by his great grandfather, Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.), was spacious and provided a good playground for children. After finishing his lessons Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) used to play with his friends there.
There are different reports as to when he started attending classes, which were run by his father. Some say that it was at the age of 3 years, and others say at the age of 5. One of the Muslim historians of North Africa, Muhammad Abu Bakr, well known as Ibn Abi Rindega, who was born in 451 of the Hijra and died in 520 Hijra has written in his book, Ikhtisar, that Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) started attending classes when he was ten years old. This report seems to be quite logical. Before that time he did not attend any classes. Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) taught him at home.

Imam Reza (AS) Network

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