By: Seyyed Ali Shahbaz
      
“Then We made Heirs to the Book those whom We chose from Our servants...” Holy Qur’an 35:32
Yesterday on Rabi al-Awwal 17 we celebrated the 1500th birth anniversary of the Messenger of Mercy to whom the Almighty Creator revealed the Holy Qur’an as the Final Scripture for the guidance of mankind. 
At the end of his universal mission of Islam Prophet Muhammad (SAWA), as the Last and Greatest of all messengers, bequeathed to the Ummah on Divine commandment the lasting legacy called “Thaqalayn” (Two Invaluable Things) in order to prevent Muslims from veering off the straight and unwavering path to paradise.
“I am leaving behind among you Two Invaluable Things (Thaqalayn), the Book of God and my progeny the Ahl al-Bayt. Hold fast to them and you will never go astray, for the two never separate with each other even when they return to me at the Fountain (of Kowthar on Judgement Day). You will be questioned about your behaviour towards them.”
Divine Providence immortalized these words of the Prophet by decreeing that his 6th Infallible Heir and the Reviver of his “Sunnah” and “Seerah” (behaviour and practice), be born on the 136th anniversary of the birthday of his illustrious forbear.
Rabi al-Awwal 17 is thus a day of double joy in whose blessings we continue to bask, and toke the opportunity today to briefly focus on the life and times of Sixth Infallible Heir to the Book of God. 
Named Ja’far and born in Medina in the year 83 AH to the Prophet’s great-great grandson Imam Muhammad al-Baqer (AS) – the grandson of the Prophet’s two Immaculate Grandsons Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS) and Imam Husain (AS) – he grew up to acquire the Prophet’s famous epithet “as-Sadeq” or the “Most Truthful”.
In 114 AH, the mantle of Imamate came to rest on his shoulders, and for 34 years he so profoundly enlightened minds, strengthened spirits, uplifted hearts, and succored souls, that the code of genuine “Muhammadan Shari’ah” promulgated by him, has forever known as the “Fiqh al-Ja’fariyya” (Ja’fari Jurisprudence).
In this regard, this authentic hadith related by Isma’il Ibn Jaber from Imam Ja’far Sadeq (AS.) says: “Allah the Exalted sent Muhammad (SAWA) as the Prophet and will send no other prophet after him. He revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) the Book (Holy Qur’an) and will not reveal any other books after it. In this Book, Allah has decreed certain deeds “halaal” (lawful) and certain “haraam” (unlawful). The “halaal” and “haraam” deeds will remain so forever. This Heavenly Scripture refers to the accounts of the people of the past, of the present time, and of the future.”
Then Imam Sadiq (AS) pointed to his own chest and said, “We do know all these facts.”
A brief newspaper column cannot do justice to the virtues and God-given merits of Imam Ja’far as-Sadeq (AS), who lived at a very critical period of history, when the Godless Omayyad dynasty was falling apart and a new dynasty of usurpers, the Abbasids, was emerging. The Imam utilized this breathing space to expand the academy of Medina, which was founded by his grandfather Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS) following the heartrending tragedy of Karbala, and developed by his father Imam Muhammad al-Baqer (AS).
The Sixth Imam took this academy to such a great height to the extent that at one time, 4,000 scholars used to sit at his feet, learning the different branches of science. Among them was Jaber ibn Hayyan the Father of Chemistry.
This means Imam Sadeq (AS) possessed the keys of Divine knowledge that was beyond the imagination of the pseudo scholars of his time, including certain self-styled jurisprudents who resorted to “qiyas” or analogy in religious matters, despite the warnings of the Prophet’s 6th Infallible Heir that Iblis the Outcast was the first one to disobey God and indulge in such self-destructive habit.
Here us one such example of the Imam’s knowledge as the Heir of the Holy Qur’an. It is related that once when he was only 11 years old, he entered a class of scholars discussing the subject of astronomy. To the surprise of everyone, he said: “The Earth cannot be flat, because of the way the sun rises in the east and sets in the west and day and night change in 24 hours, it cannot be possible.”
The Imam’s own uncle, Zayd Ibn Ali (the Martyr), has said, “In every age there is someone from us, the Ahl al-Bayt, who is the “Hujjat” (Argumentation) of the Almighty Allah for the people. The “Hujjat” of this age is Ja’far Ibn Muhammad, my brother’s son. Whoever follows him will not go astray and whoever disobeys him will not be guided.”