HOLY CITY OF QOM, Iran: Big religious ceremonies, mejelis-e-aza nd mourning processions were held across Iran to commemorate the anniversary of martyrdom of Hazret Imam Ja’fer-e-Sadeq (a.s.) which falls on Shaval 25 every year according to some traditions.

These ceremonies were organized at mosques, hoseiniaat, shrines of the descendants of the prophet (s.v.) and Maraje’ offices and residences.

Millions attended these and performed marasem-e-azadary.

In holy city of Mashhad, the faithful thronged the shrine of the 8th infallible Imam Ali Ar-Reza (a.s.) to offer their respects to him on the martyrdom of his grandfather in 148 A.H. (765 A.D.) in the holy city of Medina.

Mourners also filled the shrine of the 8th Imam's sister, Hazret Fatimeh al-Masoumeh (a.s.) in the holy Qom on the sad occasion.

Speakers threw light on the pious life and times of the sixth infallible Imam (a.s.) from the progeny of Prophet Hazret Muhammad (s.v.) who was martyred by poisoning by the Abbassid Caliph, Mansour al-Dawaniqi.

They also dwelt on his role in reviving the practicability of the Sunnah of his great ancestor the prophet (s.v.) which had been repressed and distorted by the Omayyud usurpers.

Aware of the sensitivity of the times, Imam Ja'fer took up the task to save people from error and ignorance, and its height, his famous school in Medina contained 4,000 students.

He groomed several scholars and scientists of repute, who have left behind valuable works and are famous in Islamic history, among them the father of chemistry Jaber Ibn Hayyan (Gebr to Medieval Europe).

Despite enmity of Abbassids, the Imam, however, continued his enlightening task of reviving the Fiqh or jurisprudence of Prophet Muhammad (s.v.), which was after all a household affair for him, having received it as an inheritance through his father Imam Muhammad al-Baqer (a.s.), grandfather Imam Ali Ibn al-Hussain `Zain al-Abedin' (a.s.), great grandfather Imam Hussain (a.s.) the Martyr of Karbala and great-great grandfather the Commander of the Faithful Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.s.) who was the Prophet's legatee.

This is the reason the genuine Mohammadan Sunnah is also referred to at times as Ja'feri Fiqh, and unlike the other juri-consult schools, is opposed to Qiyas or analogy, and stresses on Ijtehad or rational approach to modern issues on the firm basis of the Qur'an and the Sunnah.

Ja'feri Fiqh is thus alive and invigorating today despite the futile efforts of the oppressors to ignore the genuine teachings of Islam.

Speaking of Imam Ja'far's personality, it would not be out of context to recall what Abu Hanifa, who for a while studied in Imam Ja'fer's school, and is regarded as the founder of the Hanafite school of jurisprudence, has said the following of the prophet's descendant after loosing a debate which the Abbassid Caliph had ordered him to hold with his great teacher:

"When I saw Imam Ja'fer, I felt that his personality commands more respect than that of the Caliph himself. Yet the Caliph was ruling the Muslim world, and Imam Ja'fer was an ordinary citizen." (Recorded by the Egyptian scholar Sheikh Abu Zohra in his book `al-Imam al-Sadeq).

No wonder Mansour was alarmed, and the only solution which appeared to him was to martyr the rightful heir of the prophet (s.v.).

Imam Ja'fer, who was 65 years of age at the time of his martyrdom, was laid to rest in the Baqie cemetery of Medina.

Noha-khwai and seena-zeni were performed to offer condolence to the last imam Al-Hojjah (a.s.).