It is not unrealistic or an\nexaggeration to call the teaching system of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) a University.\nThis University had a great scientific legend, and it trained numerous\nspecialists who became noble intellectuals and professional scholars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The great Ja\u2019fari University guided\nthe nation towards discovering rules of interpretation, criticizing narrations,\ncompilation, and categorization of Islamic laws. Despite all the attempts to\ninhibit the progress and fame of this school, it became a focal point for\nscholars and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The teachings of Imam Sadiq (PBUH)\nwere so popular that even passengers narrated Hadith from him. In fact, his\nviews were studied in all scientific centers around the world, and\nintellectuals referred to his views in their reasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shaykh Mufid says,\u201d The narrators\namong all different sects with different views who are considered to be\ntrustworthy and have narrated Hadith from Imam Sadiq (PBUH) were four thousand\npeople\u201d(1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shahid Awwal has also said,\u201d Four\nhundred authors have compiled four hundred books about the answers Imam Sadiq\n(PBUH) provided to questions. Four thousand people have been counted as\nnarrators and students of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) from Iraq, Syria, and Hijaz.\u201d (2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among those narrators are individuals\nwho later became leaders of Islamic sects, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Abu Hanifah\n(Nu\u2019maan bin Thaabit), the leader of the Hanafi sect. There is a famous quote\nfrom him:\u201d There is no one more knowledgeable than Ja\u2019far ibn Muhammad. He is\nthe most knowledgeable one among Muslims\u201d (3). He had several meetings with\nImam Sadiq (PBUH) in Medina and Kufa; however, he used to stay in Medina for\ntwo consecutive years to learn from the Imam (PBUH). He has said,\u201d If it was\nnot for the two years that I benefited from the knowledge of Ja\u2019far ibn\nMuhammad, I would have perished\u201d (4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Malik ibn\nAnas, the leader of the Maliki sect. He had a good connection with the Imam\n(PBUH) and has narrated Hadith from him. He has been quoted to say,\u201d No one has\nfound a person who has preceded Ja\u2019far ibn Muhammad in terms of knowledge,\ndeeds, and piety\u201d (5).\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Sufyan Thuri.\nHe is among the most famous narrators and scholars. He is the founder of an\nIslamic sect which was around up to the fourth century. Sufyan has narrated\nnumerous Hadiths from Imam Sadiq (PBUH), including several Hadiths regarding\nrituals, morals, and advises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to the aforementioned\nnarrators, there are other people who were in contact with the University of\nImam Sadiq (PBUH) and have taught and narrated Hadith from him.(6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As for the special students of Imam\nSadiq (PBUH) and those who propagated his jurisprudence system, several people\nhave been mentioned who entered social and political fields, opposed the\natheists and dualists, and had debates with those with deviated ideas; they\nfought against the oppressors and condemned them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most famous ones among such people\nare Aban ibn Taghlab, Mu\u2019min Taaq, Hisham ibn Hakam, Zurarah ibn A\u2019yan, Ali ibn\nYaqtin, Ammar Duhani, Umar ibn Hanzalah, Fudail ibn Yasar, Abu Basir, Muhammad\nibn Muslim, Muawyiah ibn Ammar, Mufaddal ibn Umar, Hisham ibn Salim\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The University of Imam Sadiq (PBUH)\nhad unique characteristics: such as intellectual independence, disagreement\nwith the government, avoiding any interference from the rulers in its affairs,\nand in general, prohibiting the government from governing the University or\nplanning for it. Because of this, the rulers were never able to misuse this\nschool for their personal purposes or force it to cooperate with the government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mansoor (the oppressor Abbasid Caliph)\ndid his best to attain Imam Sadiq\u2019s (PBUH) attention and cooperation, yet he\nfailed to do so, and in fact, Imam Sadiq (PBUH) completely disconnected from\nhim and advised his students to do the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For example, Mansoor sent a message\nfor Imam Sadiq (PBUH) asking why he would not go to visit Mansoor. Mansoor\nexpected a favorable answer from the Imam (PBUH) since he was the ruler of the\ntime. However, Imam Sadiq (PBUH) replied,\u201d We do not have anything from the worldly\nproperties so that we would fear you, and you have no share of the Hereafter so\nthat we would have hope in you; you are not blessed so that we would\ncongratulate you for it, neither you consider it (government) a disaster so\nthat we would offer condolences to you. So why should we visit each other?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mansoor could not tolerate this\nresponse; however, he knew the position of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) and his\ntruthfulness. Therefore, he used another way to approach the Imam (PBUH). It\nwas difficult on him to see Imam Sadiq (PBUH) would not visit him and overlook\nhim from a higher position. Therefore, he sent a message for the Imam (PBUH)\nsaying,\u201d Accept our companionship so that you would advise us\u201d. Imam Sadiq\n(PBUH) knew the intention of Mansoor, so replied by saying,\u201d Whoever is after\nthis world would not accept to advise you, and whoever is after the Hereafter\nwould not give in to your companionship\u201d(7).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on these characteristics, the\nJa\u2019fari school was able to preserve its intellectual independence, gain that\ngreat fame, and leave behind that precious legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As such, not only this school did not\ngive up on opposing the oppressors, but also its animosity with the oppressors\nincreased constantly, and this was dangerous for this University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nevertheless, to this day, despite all\nthe attempts of the oppressors to remove this school and their indescribable\nharms towards it, the Ja\u2019fari school is still alive and firm. In fact, the\neternity and transformation of Islamic civilization is indebted to this school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(The above is a\nselection taken from \u201cImam Sadiq (PBUH) and the Four Islamic Sects\u201d, by Assad\nHaydar)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Roshd offers condolences to all\nMuslims, especially you dear friend, upon 25th of Shawwal, the anniversary of\nthe martyrdom of the sixth Imam of Shiites, the discoverer of realities and the\ntruthful Imam, Imam Ja\u2019far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq (PBUH). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Footnotes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Irshad, vol.\n2, p. 179<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Al-Zikra, p.\n6<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Jami\u2019 Asanid\nAbu Hanifah, vol. 2, p. 222<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Al-Tufah\nal-Ithna Asharyiah, p. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Tahzib\nal-Tahzib, vol. 2, p. 104<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. For example,\namong Sunni scholars, Ibn Hajar in three of his books named \u201cTahzib\nal-Tahzib\u201d,\u201dLisan al-Mizan\u201d, and Taqrib al-Tahzib\u201d, Zahabi in two of his books\nnamed \u201cMizan al-Itidal\u201d and \u201cTazkirah al-Huffaz\u201d, Jazri in his book\n\u201cAl-Khulasah\u201d, and Ibn Abi Hatam in his book \u201cAl-Jarh va al-Tadil\u201d have\nmentioned this narrators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Kashf\nal-Ghummah, vol. 2, p. 208<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It is not unrealistic or an exaggeration to call the teaching system of Imam Sadiq (PBUH) a University. This University had a great scientific legend, and it trained numerous specialists who became noble intellectuals and professional scholars. The great Ja\u2019fari University guided the nation towards discovering rules of interpretation, criticizing narrations, compilation, and categorization of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28248],"tags":[21757,18658,20151,18070,18418,21759,21756,21758],"class_list":["post-4432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-occasional-letters","tag-2013-09-02","tag-great","tag-imam-sadiq","tag-islamic","tag-occasion-letters","tag-shahid-awwal","tag-the-jafari-university","tag-university"],"yoast_head":"\n