Imam Ja’far ibn Muhammad, also known Sadiq or Aba-Abdellah, was born on the 17th of Rabi’ al-Awwal in the year 83 Hijri in Medina. His birthday coincides with the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The title of Sadiq, which means truthful, was originally given to him by the Prophet to distinguish him from another Ja’far from the Imam’s lineage, who would later claim Imamat. Imam Sadiq was the oldest son of Imam Baqir (AS). Imam Sadiq’s mother was Um-Farwah, who was the most pious among the other ladies of her time. She was very knowledgeable in Islamic studies, and had recorded narrations from Imam Sajjad (AS) and Imam Baqir (AS). Her father, Qasim ibn Muhammad, was one of the renowned Islamic scholars of Medina during his time, and trusted by Imam Sajjad. She was from the descendants of Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr, who had grown up in the house of Imam Ali (AS) since childhood. Muhammad ibn Abi-Bakr had always been loyal to Imam Ali, and was finally martyred during Imam Ali’s government as his representative in Egypt. Imam Sadiq was brought up under the care of his father, Imam Baqir. He participated in Imam Baqir’s classes from early childhood. His intelligence and superior knowledge were well recognized amongst the students and companions of Imam Baqir. There are historical records indicating the Imam’s gifted ability in responding to questions about Islamic sciences, as well as the other sciences including natural sciences, history, and astronomy from a very young age. The Imam would challenge the established theories of his time with new theories, providing clear logical reasoning for them. One of the wide-spread theories that he disproved was that the sun and the moon rotate around the earth. The Imam also rejected Aristotle’s 1,000 year-old theory that this world is made from four basic elements of soil, water, wind, and fire. The Imam instead stated that soil is not one element, but rather, it is composed of many other elements itself. He elaborated on the Quranic verses that state a human is made from soil, by mentioning that the human body is made from the elements that are found in soil but in varying proportions.
