Imam Al-Sadiq’s Interaction with Sunnis, Model for Islamic Unity

Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hassan Zamani added that the 6th Imam had over 4000 students including the leading Sunni figures.

“Imam Sadiq (AS) was in better political and social conditions in his time than other Imams (AS) and, thus, he managed to present Islamic teachings in the best possible way.”?

He referred to the Imam’s (AS) teaching method, saying that sometimes he presented his teachings to a number of students and at other times to individuals. “The number of his students has been documented in historical books. For instance, Najashi (in his book Rijal) and Sheikh Tousi have cited some 4000 students. Many of his students were the Sunni Hadith narrators and scholars who benefited from Imam Sadiq’s (AS) scientific and ethical vestures.”?

Member of Al-Mustafa University’s academic board added that when it is said Imam Sadiq (AS) had 4000 students, it does not mean he taught such a large number of people in a large building. “Actually, these students went to Imam’s (AS) house, whose door was open to everyone, one after the other to acquire knowledge and ask their questions.”?

He noted that the students had different scientific tendencies and most of them went to Imam Sadiq (AS) to acquire religious knowledge and learn about jurisprudential rules. “That is why the majority of Hadiths narrated by these students from Imam Sadiq (AS) feature Fiqhi (jurisprudential) issues. The second part of the Imam’s (AS) teachings were about ideological and theological issues, some of which have remained for us in the form of Hadiths.”?

Hojat-ol-Islam Zamani said while most of the Hadiths from Imam Sadiq (AS) are in the fields of Fiqh, theology and ethics, there are also Hadiths on natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, anthropology, botany, etc.

“Imam Sadiq (AS) entered various fields of knowledge,”? he stated, adding that in the open, tolerant atmosphere created by the Imam (AS), different subjects would come up or, he, himself, would raise a topic based on the scientific-cultural needs of his students and their aptitudes.

He referred to the book “Tawhid of Mufazzal”? and said the book reveals four wonders of creation from different aspects including anthropology, zoology, botany and geology. Mufazzal, a student of Imam Sadiq (AS) had asked about these to debate with the Zanadiqa (heretics) and Imam Sadiq (AS) in four sessions presented teachings about the issues and they later became a book.

The Al-Mustafa University scholar said each of the Imams (AS),presented teachings in different forms based on the circumstances and conditions of their time, “for example, Imam Ali (AS) through his precious sermons, Imam Sajjad (AS) with his supplications, and Imam Sadiq (AS) through teaching students and narrating Hadiths.”?

He said in their confrontation with the ruler of the time, the Imams (AS) also had different approaches according to the conditions of the time, noting that the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) decided to stay away from the government and stay at home, Imam Hassan (AS) chose peace (with Moawiya), Imam Hussein (AS) rose up against the oppressive ruler of his time and Imam Sadiq (AS) promoted Islam’s views about a real Islamic government.

Hojat-ol-Islam Zamani further pointed to Imam Sadiq’s (AS) interactions with scholars of different schools of thought and said many Shia scholars have followed the same path and interacted with Sunni thinkers in the best way, referring to Sharafeddin Ameli, grand Ayatollah Borujerdi, Imam Khomeini (RA) and Imam Musa Sadr as some of them.

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Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Hassan Zamani added that the 6th Imam had over 4000 students including the leading Sunni figures. “Imam Sadiq (AS) was in better political and social conditions in his time than other Imams (AS) and, thus, he managed to present Islamic teachings in the best possible way.”? He referred to the Imam’s (AS) teaching method, saying that sometimes he presented his teachings to a number of students and at other times to individuals. “The number of his students has been documented in historical books. For instance, Najashi (in his book Rijal) and Sheikh Tousi have cited some 4000 students. Many of his students were the Sunni Hadith narrators and scholars who benefited from Imam Sadiq’s (AS) scientific and ethical vestures.”? Member of Al-Mustafa University’s academic board added that when it is said Imam Sadiq (AS) had 4000 students, it does not mean he taught such a large number of people in a large building. “Actually, these students went to Imam’s (AS) house, whose door was open to everyone, one after the other to acquire knowledge and ask their questions.”? He noted that the students had different scientific tendencies and most of them went to Imam Sadiq (AS) to acquire religious knowledge and learn about jurisprudential rules. “That is why the majority of Hadiths narrated by these students from Imam Sadiq (AS) feature Fiqhi (jurisprudential) issues. The second part of the Imam’s (AS) teachings were about ideological and theological issues, some of which have remained for us in the form of Hadiths.”? Hojat-ol-Islam Zamani said while most of the Hadiths from Imam Sadiq (AS) are in the fields of Fiqh, theology and ethics, there are also Hadiths on natural sciences such as physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, anthropology, botany, etc. “Imam Sadiq (AS) entered various fields of knowledge,”? he stated, adding that in the open, tolerant atmosphere created by the Imam (AS), different subjects would come up or, he, himself, would raise a topic based on the scientific-cultural needs of his students and their aptitudes. He referred to the book “Tawhid of Mufazzal”? and said the book reveals four wonders of creation from different aspects including anthropology, zoology, botany and geology. Mufazzal, a student of Imam Sadiq (AS) had asked about these to debate with the Zanadiqa (heretics) and Imam Sadiq (AS) in four sessions presented teachings about the issues and they later became a book. The Al-Mustafa University scholar said each of the Imams (AS),presented teachings in different forms based on the circumstances and conditions of their time, “for example, Imam Ali (AS) through his precious sermons, Imam Sajjad (AS) with his supplications, and Imam Sadiq (AS) through teaching students and narrating Hadiths.”? He said in their confrontation with the ruler of the time, the Imams (AS) also had different approaches according to the conditions of the time, noting that the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (AS) decided to stay away from the government and stay at home, Imam Hassan (AS) chose peace (with Moawiya), Imam Hussein (AS) rose up against the oppressive ruler of his time and Imam Sadiq (AS) promoted Islam’s views about a real Islamic government. Hojat-ol-Islam Zamani further pointed to Imam Sadiq’s (AS) interactions with scholars of different schools of thought and said many Shia scholars have followed the same path and interacted with Sunni thinkers in the best way, referring to Sharafeddin Ameli, grand Ayatollah Borujerdi, Imam Khomeini (RA) and Imam Musa Sadr as some of them. The End