Pars Today

Pars Today- Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "Anyone who takes over one of the people's affairs, maintains justice, opens the door of his house to people, does not do evil and tackles people's problems, it is incumbent upon Almighty God to make him safe from the fear on the Day of Resurrection and admit him into paradise."

Ja'far ibn Mohammad, known as Imam Ja'far Sadeq (PBUH) [83-148 AH corresponding with 702-765 AD] is the 6^th Imam of the Twelver Shias after his father, Imam Baqer (PBUH). He was the Imam of Shias for 34 years (114-148 AH corresponding with 732-765 AD) concurrent with the caliphate of the last 5 Umayyad caliphs, that is, from Hisham ibn Abdul Malek onwards and the two first Abbasid caliphs, namely, Saffāh and Mansour Dawaniqi. Imam Sadeq (PBUH), due to the weakness of the Umayyad government, had more scientific activities compared with other Shia Imams. His pupils and narrators have been said to be 4,000. Most of the narrations of the Ahl al-Bayt (Peace be upon them) are from Imam Sadeq. That's why the Shia School is called Ja'fari School, too.

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) enjoys a high status among the Sunni jurisprudential leaders, too. Abu Hanifa and Malek ibn Anas have narrated from him. Abu Hanifa has considered him as the best scholar among Muslims.

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) is quoted as saying, "We Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet are the family whose manliness is to pardon he who has wronged us."
Sheikh Saduq has made it clear that Imam Sadeq (PBUH) was martyred upon the order of Mansour Dawaniqi as a result of poisoning.

Here, on the occasion of his martyrdom anniversary, we will have a look at 11 ethical and social recommendations from this Imam:

1. Mind your own defects

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "Do not look at the defects of others like a lord and look at your own defects like a humble servant". (Tuhaful-Oqul, p295)

2. Keep aloof from lie, breaching promise and betrayal

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "There are three characteristics that whoever has them is a hypocrite even if he prays and fasts: telling lies, breaching of promise and betrayal of trust." (Tuhaful-Oqul, p229)

3. Be either a scholar or a student

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "I do not like to see a youth among you unless in one of these states: either a scholar or a student." (Amali Sheikh Tusi, pp303 & 604)

4. Be generous and good-tempered

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "Stick to generosity and good tempers, as they indeed adorn man just like the bezel of a necklace adorns it." (Mizan-ul Hikmah, p2300 quoting from Behar-ul Anwar v71, p391)

5. Be just and solve people's problems

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "Anyone who takes over one of the people's affairs, maintains justice, opens the door of his house to people, does not do evil and tackles people's problems, it is incumbent upon Almighty God to make him safe from fear on the Day of Resurrection and admit him into paradise." (Mizan-ul Hkmah, p 7122 quoting from Behar-ul Anwar, v75, p340)

6. Don't get bored of supplication

Seif Tammar quotes from Imam Sadeq (PBUH) as saying, "Stick to supplication as you will not get God's proximity with any other thing like it; and never give up demanding a small need due to its smallness because the Owner of small needs is indeed the Owner of big needs, too." (Amali Sheikh Mofid, Majlis 2, p31)

7. Shake hand with people kindly

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "The Messenger of God never shook hand with a man then to take his hand back unless the man was the first to take his hand back." (Behar-ul Anwar, v16, p269)

8. Be humorous but tell only the truth

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "The Messenger of God (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) used to tell jokes but said nothing except truth." (Behar-ul Anwar, v16, p244)

9. Speak in a way for people to understand

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "The Messenger of God (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) never spoke with people at the level of their intellects. The Messenger of God (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) said, 'We, group of Prophets, have been ordered to speak with people at the level of their intellects'." (Sonan al-Nabi, p57)

10.   Always be good-smelling

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "The Messenger of God (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny) would spend on perfume more than food." (Behar-ul Anwar, v16, p248)

11.  Live simple life but venerate guests

Imam Sadeq (PBUH) said, "The Commander of the Faithful [Imam Ali] (PBUH) was the most similar person to the Messenger of God (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny). He used to eat bread, vinegar and olive oil, while he would entertain people with bread and meat." (Al-Kafi, v6, p328)

Key phrases: Who is Shia, what are the beliefs of Shias, who is Imam Ali, who is Imam Sadeq, Iran's Shias

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