Between two empires: Imam al-Sadiq (as) lived in a time of great change. The Umayyad government was falling, and a new family, the Abbasids, was taking power. For a few years, the rulers were busy fighting each other and did not watch the family of the Prophet (saww) as closely as before.
Teaching openly in Madina: Imam al-Sadiq (as) used this time to teach openly in Madina. Thousands of students came to him from all over the Muslim world.
Imam for 34 years: He became the Imam after his father's passing, around 114 AH, and led the community for about 34 years. He passed away in Madina, around 148 AH, and is buried in Jannat al-Baqi, next to his father, his grandfather and his uncle Imam Hasan (as).
Example
A quiet opening: Sometimes, in the middle of big changes in the world, there is a quiet opening for good work. Imam al-Sadiq (as) saw the opening and used it to teach, not to fight for power.
Key Terms
- Umayyads (بنو امیہ) — the ruling family whose power was falling
- Abbasids (بنو عباس) — the new ruling family that followed them
- Jannat al-Baqi (جنت البقیع) — the historic graveyard of Madina
- Imamate of 34 years — from about 114 AH to about 148 AH
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Timeline — 83 AH birth → about 114 AH becomes Imam → teaching in Madina → about 148 AH passing away.
- Imam al-Sadiq (as) lived between the fall of the Umayyads and the rise of the Abbasids.
- He used that time to teach openly in Madina.
- He led the community for about 34 years, from about 114 AH to about 148 AH.