Imam Sadiq took full control of the Islamic university that his father, Imam Baqir, had established in Medina. The Imam brought this university to the height of its prosperity by training thousands of students. In this university, the Imam emphasized to his students that they document his teachings. The names of around 4,000 of the Imam’s students who have narrated his teachings have been recorded in history. Each one of them recorded many narrations from the Imam and spread them amongst the Muslims all over the Islamic world. As a result, the Imam became very well-known among the Muslims, and many referred to him to benefit from his knowledge. The Imam trained many distinguished scientists of his time who were experts in one or more scientific fields. They not only spread what they learned from the Imam in his university, but also authored books and conducted research in different fields. The Imam had full trust in the knowledge of these individuals. He would frequently refer people who wanted to ask him questions, or to debate with him on a particular subject, to his distinguished companions who were experts in that subject. Aban ibn Taqlib was one such scholar whose knowledge was exceptional in Islamic law, Arabic literature, interpretation of the Quran, and traditions of the Prophet. Imam Baqir had asked him to sit in the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina to answer questions regarding Islamic laws. Aban alone recorded 30,000 narrations from Imam Sadiq. Muhammad ibn Muslim was another scholar who recorded 16,000 narrations from the Imam, and was known as one of the most knowledgeable scholars amongst the Shias. Hisham ibn Hakam was another scholar who was a master in Ilm al-Kalam, which is the study of Islamic doctrine that involves defending Islamic principles against skeptics. It is said that no one could defeat him in a debate, despite his young age. He also authored many books related to Islamic sciences. Zurarah ibn A'ayan was yet another scholar who was an expert in Islamic law. His narrations from Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq on various topics of Islamic law are still available today. The majority of authors of the famous 400 Usul (principles) books are also the companions of Imam Sadiq. These 400 books are the most authentic narrations in the Shia school of thought, which were dictated by the Shia Imams to their companions for documentation. The narrations from these books were classified by Shia scholars in the centuries later, and generated the top narration books for the Shia school of thought. Imam Sadiq laid down the foundation for all Muslims, including non-Shias, to benefit from his teachings. Among them were the famous Islamic scholars, Abu-Hanifa and Malik ibn Anas, the founders of the Hanafi and Maliki schools of thought, respectively. Abu-Hanifa was a student of the Imam for two years. He had said, “If it wasn’t for those two years, I would have perished.” Malik ibn Anas was another student of the Imam in Medina. He had said th
