The Piety and Devotedness of Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS)

 Malik bin Ans says, "Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) was always busy praying to God and considered to be one of the great ascetic and devoted ones. "

Abdul Ala says: On a hot day of summer I saw Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) on one of the roads of Madina while he was going for a job. I said, "May I lay my life for you, why have you put yourself into inconvenience in such a hot weather, with all the faith upon God and association with the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?"He said, "I have come out for the job and to earn my livelihood, so that I must not remain needy towards others.

"Another one says, "I saw Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) wearing rough dress and he was working in a garden like an ordinary labor and perspiring all over." I said to him "Oh, the son of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) allow me to work for you."He said, "I love working for my livelihood and to taste the hardship of the burning heat of the sun like others.

"When Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) went out of the house he used to put on new, clean, valuable and costly dress and climb up a horse. A group of ignorant people thought this act negated the piety and asceticism. Therefore, they would come and object and when they heard the response they would be ashamed.

Working Hard for Livelihood:

 Imam Jafar as Sadiq’s (AS) talk with a deceitful pious looking man. One day a pious looking forgoer named Sufian stopped Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) and said, "You are from the family of Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), how is it that you put on such a precious dress? "Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said, "Oh Sufian, look there is a rough shirt underneath this dress and I have put on this shirt over it so that those whose minds are in their eyes do not think that I am a poor needy and distressed one. But you have put on a soft dress underneath this rough dress, so that you may deceive others that you are a devoted ascetic. Oh Sufian! Do not be so narrowing mind. "The next day, Sufian saw that Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) was working in an agricultural field besides the labors and was sweating. He went ahead and said, "I am surprised about you. Why are you so greedy about the world and perspiring in this old age and working? "Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said, "How happy I would be if I meet the God (die) in this condition that I am working hard and getting the expenditure of life by putting myself in inconvenience and I do not get myself loaded upon others. "What a miserable people are those who feed themselves upon the income of others and reach the seat of power through them and instead of service and love think all are indebted to them and are always demanding from others. Their outer form is obviously decorated and deceiving, like that of Sufian, but inwardly they are stinking and wicked.

Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) forbearance and fortitude:

The difficulties, which cropped up in the life of Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) and the patience and forbearance, which, he showed towards them, illuminated his personality and worth. Howsoever they (enemies) abused and teased him he showed patience and forbearance and admonished them. He never cursed or used foul language about them.

Learning the style of Propaganda from Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS)Shakrani was a young man who performed bad deeds stealthily. Since his grandfather was a slave freed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), therefore, people thought him to be associated to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). One day he learnt that "al-Mansur the second Abbasid Caliph" was distributing the wealth of State Treasury (Baitul Mal). He went there to seek some help. Since, he did not know anyone there he could not get a thing. During this span of time he happened to sight Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS). He went rushing towards him and requested him to become a medium for him and get him a share from the caliph. Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) accepted his request, and went to get his share and brought it. When Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) gave him the money, he (AS) said to him "A good deed is good from everyone but it is better to occur from you, who is associated to us. And a bad act is bad from every one, but it is worse from you who is associated with us."Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said it and went. Shakrani getting hold of the money started pondering deep and knew that Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) had come to know about his bad acts and by these words he meant to stop him from it. The wicked man got very ashamed by this conduct of Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) and decided to abandon his misdeeds and so he did.

Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) attends the Oppressed

One of the friends of Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) named Moally Bin Khunais says, "On a rainy and dark night I saw that Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) was carrying a heavy sack on his back in the streets of Madina. I followed him to find out as to where he was heading. He threw a quantity of bread on earth and I collected it and went towards Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) and saluted him and gave that to him. Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) took that kept it in the sack, and continued walking on. Not very long after that, he reached a point where a group of oppressed men were sleeping. Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) put two breads underneath the head of each one.

 Hisham Bin Salem another friend of Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) says, "Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) had a peculiar manner of action that he picked up food in the dark nights and carried it to the doors of the houses of the oppressed ones, delivered it to them and did not let himself be recognized. Long time passed and Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) passed away. Since his help was discontinued, the poor and afflicted ones got to know that the unknown man who came in the night and helped them was Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) for this reason they became very sad and miserable.

Other Related Links:

A short life history of Imam Sadiq(as)

The History of Imam sadiq’s Martyrdom

Some Wise Sayings of Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq

Imam Sadiq from Imam Khomeini’s point of veiw