Imam Sadiq (A.S), Malik ibn Anas and Abu Hanifa
Imam Sadiq (A.S) and Malik ibn Anas
Malik ibn Anas is one of the highly distinguished jurisprudents who have enjoyed the lessons of Imam Sadiq (A.S). He was always present in his classrooms.
He once said: “I used to meet Jafar ibn Muhammad now and then and every time I saw him he was doing one of these three things: performing prayers, reciting the Holy Qur’an or fasting. Never ever I saw him narrating a tradition without ablution.”
Imam Sadiq (A.S) and Abu Hanifa
Abu Hanifa Ne’man ibn Sabet was one of the renowned students of Imam Sadiq (A.S) who is known to have scientific discussions with the Imam. He was asked “who is the most learned jurisprudent you have ever met?”, he replied that he had never met a religious jurisprudent more knowledgeable than Jafar bin Muhammad.
Following is one of his remarks: “Once Mansour, the Abbasid caliph, summoned Jafar bin Muhammad, he told me people are greatly fascinated by Muhammad. He asked me to provide the most complicated scientific questions. I provided 40 most complicated questions I knew. When I stepped into the hall, I saw Jafar ibn Muhammad sitting on the right. His dignity and greatness caught me while I was not moved at all by the royal grandeur of the caliph. I said hello and sat in front of them. Mansour addressed Jafar ibn Muhammad and said: “Do you know him?” He said “Yes”. Then he turned to me and said: ask your questions from Abi Abdullah. I began asking my questions. In each case Imam Sadiq (A.S) gave the views of Medina and our thinkers on those issues and in the end he gave his own opinion on those scientific matters. His views were sometimes close to our views, sometimes to Medina thinkers’ viewpoints and sometimes he rejected both the viewpoints. I finished my questions and said he who knows all about differences of professional ideas in religious jurisprudence is the most learned one among us.”
The above event in the first place shows the very high scientific eligibility of Imam Sadiq (A.S) and secondly his influence on ordinary people and the fear of the unjust rulers regarding his influence among the people. Imam Sadiq (A.S) used to discuss science and religious jurisprudence with Abu Hanifa.
The above stories attest to the scientific competence and superiority of Imam Sadiq (A.S) over contemporary scientists and jurisprudents.
Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi
Other links:
The History of Imam sadiq’s Martyrdom
Imam Sadiq (A.S) and his Social Behaviour
Why Shiaism is named Jafri religion?
The scientific rank of Imam Sadiq (A.S)
