Imam Jafer Al-Sadiq (AS): The Father of Modern Science and Philosophy
by Noor Youth Committee |
Articles #05 |
Submitted 5th April 2007
The grace and wisdom of Muhammad (SAW) emanates from his pure [1] household, who we are told to follow and love [2] to then succeed in this world3. It is therefore of no surprise to see that such a household comprises some of the greatest religious leaders, philosophers and scientists the world has ever seen. In this article, which concentrates more specifically on Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS), a direct descendent of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW), a few glimpses of his scientific and religious persona will be mentioned in order to paint a picture, albeit small, of such a great individual.
It is essential to discuss:
• An introduction to Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS)
• The political climate that led to Shia's being called Jafari's
• Glimpses of the scientific contribution of the Imam
• Aspects of the philosophical and religious persona of the Imam
The Imam was born on the 17th of Rabi Al Awaal 83AH to a father who was given the title "Al Baqir" due to how he split knowledge into the different categories not known or addressed before, whilst teaching in his University in the Mosque of Medina. The Imam, like his father was widely recognised for his scientific and philosophical thinking. To this end, the Research Committee of Strasburg, France, have compiled an entire thesis regarding this phenomenal individual entitled: "The Great Muslim Scientist and Philosopher - Imam Jafar Ibn Mohammed As-Sadiq (a.s.)." Muslims also revere him, and some of the poetry below can give an introduction to the Imam, which hopefully this article can elaborate upon. [4]
Considering the political climate during the time of Imam Sadiq's (AS) life (83AH- 148AH) is vital in understanding why such a period was the most fruitful timeframe for the spread of Islam's true teachings. The Imam lived through the rule of two political dynasties in his life. The first, Banu Ummayah, were, amongst other atrocities, responsible for the killing of the grandson of the Prophet (SAW), Imam Hussain (AS) and his family on the plains of Karbala; they ruled for 50 years during his life. Banu Abbass therefore used the corruption of Banu Ummayah as a guise and revolted against them, culminating in a period of political instability, which allowed to a greater extent, the preaching of the teachings of Ahlulbayt and Imam Sadiq (AS). For this reason, Shia Muslims are referred to as Jafari's.
To begin the discourse on the Imam's contribution to Science and Philosophy in this period it is important to note that his knowledge and wisdom was not obtained from others, but rather from God (Ilm Al Ladunni) and via the Prophet of Islam, as the Imams are inheritors of his knowledge [5]. It is recorded in the "History of Arabs", By Hitti, that the great library of Alexandria was burnt down as early as 48BC, and its daughter library was also burnt in around 389AD, meaning that Imam Sadiq (AS) had no access to such a wealth of knowledge. Furthermore, the translation of many prominent Greek, Coptic and Persian texts occurred following the Imam's period; bringing to the fore this idea of Godgiven knowledge.
Whilst still a youth and a student of the university of his father, Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) was able to question and disprove many of the cornerstones of the Science of the time and debate with many prominent scholars.
Three scientific concepts will discussed:
• The rotation of the Earth around the Sun
• The theory of the four elements
• The suckling of children
Ptolemy, the famous Greek philosopher, postulated in the 2nd century BC that the Sun rotated around the Earth. He said that the Sun has two movements; one which crosses the sign of the zodiac [6] and goes around the Earth in one year and the other which goes round the Earth in one night and one day leading to its rise in the east and setting in the west.
At the age of 11 the Imam refuted such a theory and said that the sun, during its course round the earth, would have to pass through the 12 constellations in one year and if it would remain in each constellation for 30 days why would it disappear from sight during the night? It should remain visible in each constellation for 30 days. He therefore negated these two ideas of movement. When the sun had to pass through the sign of the zodiac in one year and stay in each constellation for 30 days how could it change its course and go round the earth in 24 hours? He also remarked that the Earth rotates on its axis [7], a theory that can only be proved by observation, illustrating the wisdom that was given to this great individual.
Aristotle, another prominent Greek Philosopher, developed a theory that became the foundation of Physics for many centuries, and it was that everything was made up one of the four elements: Earth, fire, water and air. And yet, at the age of 12, Imam Sadiq (AS) rejected the theory of Four Elements. He remarked: "I wonder how a man like Aristotle could say that in the world there are only four elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. The Earth is not an element. It contains many elements. Each metal, which is in the earth, is an element." [8]
He postulated 1,100 years before the discovery of Oxygen by Laviosier that Air was not an element.
The third is an interesting concept referring to the suckling of a baby. Imam Sadiq (AS) advised mothers to suckle their babies and put them to sleep on the left side of their body though many people saw no meaning to this. Later on however, the Institute for the Research on New Born and Suckling Babies of Cornell University (founded by Ezra Cornell in 1865) found that babies who are put to sleep on the left side of their mothers sleep more soundly and peacefully; those on the right wake up more often and cry more. It was reported that for the first few days after their birth, babies would have no rest at all if they were not suckled on the left side of their mothers.
Further evidence following the innovation of holographic imagery of unborn babies revealed that the mother's heartbeat reached the baby in the womb. Whilst in the womb, the baby becomes accustomed to this heartbeat and becomes restless and agitated when there is a stop in heartbeat as they feed on the nutrients from the blood. A newborn recognises its mother's heartbeat and thus sleeps more comfortably when it is on the left side of the mother [10]; the side of the mother's heart [11]. Again, this re-affirms the depth of wisdom open to the Imam centuries ahead of the development of the scientific world.
The Imam used this vast knowledge to teach some of the most prominent scholars of his time, engaging in religious and philosophical debates. Such examples include that will be discussed include:
• The Imam's debates with Abu Hanifa
• The Imam's debates with Abu Shakir
Imam Abu Hanifa, the leader of the Hanafi School of Fiqh (jurisprudence) studied under Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) to the extent that the poet and cleric Sheikh Abd al Mon'im al Fartosi comments in his poetry saying:
This is based on the comment that Imam Abu Hanifa himself makes, saying that if it were not for the two years he studied with the Imam, his efforts would be in vain. This can be illustrated through a debate between Imam Jafer al Sadiq (AS) and Imam Abu Hanifa:
Abu Hanifa said to Imam Sadiq (AS) that he is a person of Qiyas [13] and the Imam responded with some questions to test whether his Qiyas was sufficient, some of which are shown below:
1. Which is worse: adultery of killing someone?
2. Which is greater: prayer or fasting?
3. Which is dirtier: semen or urine?
In response to the first question, Abu Hanifa answered killing. The Imam replied and said why does the punishment of adultery necessitate 4 witnesses whilst that of killing requires 2? For the second, Abu Hanifa answered prayer. The Imam replied and said why is it that women on their menstrual cycle must repeat the fasts they miss, but not their prayer? Abu Hanifa answered urine for the third question. To which the Imam replied that semen requires the ghusl (a shower of purification) whilst urine does not. The Imam thus showed that Qiyas only uses a superficial understanding and implements analogies, whilst Ijtihad for example uses sound jurisprudential foundations to then implement a ruling.
Abu Shakir was one of the opponents of the Imam who always used to attack his ideologies, yet the Imam always responded with patience and was ready to debate with him. Abu Shakir approached the Imam one day and said anything that cannot be seen, touched, tasted or heard does not exist thus concluding that God does not exist.
Imam Jafer Sadiq (AS) replied by asking a few questions such as:
1. Do you see the blood circulating in your body?
2. Do you see the tiny creatures on your body?
3. Is there movement in a stone?
4. Do you see air?
In response to the first question he replied no and following the explanation of the Imam he refused to acknowledge the circulation of blood, something we now, centuries later, are convinced of. The Imam, regarding his second question, said that it is because of these small creatures and their wonderful work that you are kept alive: "They are so small that you cannot see them. Since you are a slave of your senses, you do not know about their existence?These small creatures are born in your body, multiply in your body, work in your body and die in your body. But you never see them, touch them, taste them or hear them in your lifetime" [ 14].
The Imam then motioned towards a stone on the floor and asked Abu Shakir regarding its motion and carried on saying how there is motion inside the object despite we see it to be motionless. This is of course in accordance with the particle nature of matter, consisting randomly moving particles, which in the 21st century we are very accustomed with. The Imam said that you only feel air when it moves, and he added: "Can you refuse to believe in the existence of air? Can you deny that to grow and get green the grass needs many things like seeds, soil, water, air, a suitable climate and above all a strong managing power, which may co-ordinate the action of these different elements. That Managing and Co-ordinating Power is Allah." [ 15]
And thus, we see such a great mind both on the religious and scientific level manifested in Imam Jafer bin Muhammad Sadiq (AS); a lantern to many.
REFERENCES:
1 33:33
2 42:23
3 Sahih Muslim, the book of the merits of the household of the Prophet (SAW), page 881, Summarized version, Darrussalam publishers.
4 Translation: "O Jafer you are above any praise, and praise cannot do you justice / Surely the noble people are the ground and to them you are the sky / the limit of praise must be exceeded for those descended from Prophets"
5 Imam Ali (AS) says the Prophet (SAW) taught him 1000 gates of knowledge, and he was ordered to document such knowledge, which have been inherited by the Holy Imams.
6 In 1BC Babylonian astronemers divided the cliptic intwo twelve equal zones of "celestial longitude" to creat the first known co-ordinate system. The zodiac is understood as a region of the celestial sphere that includes a band of eight arc degrees above and below the ecliptic and therefore encompasses the paths of the Moon and the naked eye planets.
7 The Great Muslim Scientist and Philosopher - Imam Jafar Ibn Mohammed As-Sadiq (a.s.), the Research Committee of Strasburg
8 Ibid, page 59
9 Ibid, page 60
10 Ibid, page 200
11 Ibid, page 201
12 Translation: Abu Hanifa found from him, his Fiqh in the best of ways / He said that if it was not for these two years that he fed me, his immense knowledge / Abu Hanifa would have become, like the other ignorant ones / And he Jafar, we have known him to be the most knowledgeable / And his knowledge, benefited Malik in the best of ways / And he is his student without any doubt, on corroboration of them all
13 Deriving law based on anological deduction
14 Ibid, page 214
15 Ibid, page 215
|
KHUMS: 
