Name and Lineage
Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad ibn ʿAli ibn al-Husayn ibn ʿAli ibn Abi Talib, the Imam, known as as-Sadiq. His kunya was Abu ʿAbdullah. He was a descendant of the Prophet through his grandson al-Husayn, and was called “al-Sadiq” (the truthful one). His mother was Umm Farwah bint al-Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, and her mother was Asma’ bint ʿAbd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr, so he used to say: “Abu Bakr gave birth to me twice.”
Attitude towards the Rāfidah
He was known to express strong anger and hatred toward the Rāfidah when he knew they insulted his grandfather Abu Bakr, saying, “I dissociate myself from whoever dissociates himself from Abu Bakr and ʿUmar,” and, “By Allah, I hope for Allah’s benefit for me through my relationship to Abu Bakr.”
Birth and Early Life
He was born in 80 AH. He saw some of the Sahabah, most likely Anas ibn Malik and Sahl ibn Saʿd.
Who He Narrated From
He narrated from his father Muhammad al-Baqir, from ʿUbaydullah ibn Abi Rafiʿ, ʿUrwah ibn al-Zubayr, ʿAtaʾ ibn Abi Rabah (whose narration is found in Muslim), his grandfather al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, Nafiʿ the freedman of Ibn ʿUmar, Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, al-Zuhri, and others. Most of his narrations were from his father.
Who Narrated From Him
His narrators included his son Musa al-Kazim, Yahya ibn Saʿid al-Ansari, Yazid ibn ʿAbdullah ibn al-Had, Abu Hanifah, Ibn Jurayj, Malik, Sufyan al-Thawri, Shuʿbah, Sufyan ibn ʿUyaynah, Ibn Ishaq, Ismaʿil ibn Jaʿfar, al-Darawardi, and many others.
Reliability in Hadith and Criticism of Him
The scholars differed about him not in his honesty, but in strength of memorisation. Malik delayed narrating from him until the Abbasid rule appeared. Some early critics like Yahya ibn Saʿid said he preferred Mujalid over him, but this was not followed, and Yahya himself later called him trustworthy. Ahmad, Ibn Maʿin, and Abu Hatim all said he was trustworthy, and stronger than many like Ibn Ishaq and Suhayl.
Statements About His Knowledge and Religion
Abu Hanifah said, “I never saw anyone more knowledgeable than Jaʿfar ibn Muhammad.” When he tested him with forty difficult questions before al-Mansur, Jaʿfar answered each by presenting the views of the people of Madinah, the Kufans, and his own. He showed full awareness of the differences, leading Abu Hanifah to say, “The most knowledgeable of people is the one who knows the disagreements of people.”
His Views on Abu Bakr and ʿUmar رضي الله عنهم
He frequently expressed loyalty to Abu Bakr and ʿUmar, saying, “Whoever says I dissociate from Abu Bakr and ʿUmar, then I am free of him.” He said, “I seek the intercession of the Prophet if I do not show loyalty to Abu Bakr and ʿUmar.”
His Aqeedah
He was asked about the Quran and said, “It is not created, nor a creator, it is the speech of Allah.” He denied the extremist views attributed to him, such as infallibility or claims to being an imam by divine appointment. He openly rejected such claims and declared disassociation from anyone who said he was an infallible imam.
Asceticism and Character
He was known for his generosity, sometimes feeding others until nothing was left for his own family. He said, “The one who is content with what he is given will be rich,” and warned against falling into blameworthy rivalry or arrogance. He emphasised gratitude, patience, and avoiding disputes in religion.
Advice to His Son Musa
He advised his son Musa, saying: “Whoever is content with what he is given will be rich… whoever digs a pit for his brother will fall in it… associate with the righteous and do not associate with the wicked, for the wicked are like barren trees.”
Sayings and Wisdoms
He said, “Prayer is the closeness of every pious person,” and, “The supplicant without action is like an archer without a string.” He said, “Whoever makes his living moderate will be provided for by Allah.” He also said, “Avoid arguing about religion. It corrupts the heart and leads to hypocrisy.”
Stories of His Piety and Miraculous Protection
When al-Mansur intended to kill him, he entered saying a duʿa for protection and was greeted instead with honour and respect. He later told what he had recited, invoking Allah’s help and relying on His mercy and protection.
His Statements on Haj and Rituals
He explained why one cannot fast during the days of Tashriq, saying, “They are Allah’s guests; the guest should not fast.” When asked why people cling to the Kaʿbah’s cloth, he said it is like someone begging pardon from the one he wronged.
Transmission of Hadith From Him
He transmitted hadith such as: “The people of pictures will be punished on the Day of Judgement…” and the hadith about belief in qadar (predestination), which although authentic in meaning, came through narrators considered weak in some instances like ʿAbdullah ibn Maymun al-Qaddah.
His Children
His oldest son was Ismaʿil, who died before him in 138 AH. He had other children like Musa, Ali, Muhammad, Fatimah, and others. His descendants included many figures of religious and scholarly repute, especially in Egypt and Syria. Abu al-Husayn al-ʿĀbid traced the lines of descent in detail and rejected the lineage of the Fatimid ruler ʿUbayd Allah al-Mahdi.
Death
He died in 148 AH. His birth was in 80 AH, making him 68 years old. This was agreed upon by al-Madāʾinī, Ibn Manjūyah, al-Lalakaʾī, and others.
Siyar A’lām al-Nubalā By Ad Dhahabi (6/255-270)
