JAʿFAR AL-ṢĀDEQ, ABU ʿABD-ALLĀH, the sixth imam of the Imami Shiʿites. He was the eldest son of Imam Moḥammad al-Bāqer (q.v.) and, on the side of his mother, Omm Farwa, a descendent of Abu Bakr by four generations (Ṭabari, III/IV, p. 2509; Yaʿqubi, II, p. 458; Ebn Qotayba, p. 215). He spent most of his life in Medina, where he built up a circle of followers primarily as a theologian, Ḥadith transmitter, and jurist (faqih).

i. Life

ii. Teachings

iii. And Sufism

iv. And Esoteric sciences

v. And herbal medicine

vi. And Shiʿite jurisprudence (See SHIʿISM. Forthcoming, online.)

(Multiple Authors)

Originally Published: December 15, 2008

Last Updated: April 5, 2012

This article is available in print.
Vol. XIV, Fasc. 4, pp. 349-366