Birthday of Imam al-Ṣādiq (83 A.H./ 702 A.D)

Birthday of Imam al-Ṣādiq (83 A.H./ 702 A.D)

On Saturday, the 21st of September 2024 (the 17th of Rabī al-Awwal 1446 A.H.)

Imam al-Ṣādiq (the sixth Shi’ite Imam) was born on the 17th of Rabī al-Awwal 83 A.H. (702 A.D) in the city of Medina. His name is Jaʽfar. He is also called Sābir (Patient), Fāzil (learned), Tāhir (pure) but his most famous title is Sādiq (truthful). All the mentioned names refer to his beautiful character and attributes. His father is Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (the fifth Shiite Imam) and his mother Umm-e-Farwah is the granddaughter of Muhammad bin Abī Bakr.

Imam al-Ṣādiq succeeded his father, Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir, after his death and became Imam in the year 114 A.H. when he was 31 years old. Imam al-Sādiq gained fame as a teacher of Islamic science. Great scholars of later days were his students. Imam al-Sādiq was not only an oracle in religious sciences, but he was also a great specialist in the science of medicine, Chemistry, western and Islamic philosophy and more. The famous chemist of those times, Jābīr bin Hayyān refers in his writing to the Imam as his teacher and his lord.