Religious scholar; sixth Imam in Twelver Shi‘i Islam
Family and setting
Ja‘far al-Sadiq was the son of Muhammad al-Baqir. His lifetime spanned the fall of the Umayyads and the establishment of Abbasid rule. He died in 148 AH / 765 CE.
A life of teaching
Based principally in Madinah, he is remembered for religious teaching rather than leadership of a political revolt. His authority is important in both Imami and Ismaili traditions; Sunni scholars also respected him as a transmitter and learned figure.
Legacy
Ja‘fari jurisprudence takes its name from him. This does not mean that every later statement attributed to him has the same historical status. Study of his legacy involves examining transmission, legal development and the different succession traditions that emerged after his death.
Sources and further study
Encyclopaedia Iranica — Ja‘far al-Sadiq: life
An introductory, source-attributed profile. Dates and disputed reports are qualified where necessary. The linked works represent their authors’ historical or religious approaches; linking a source does not endorse every interpretation it contains.