In the last days of the Umayyad rule...

In the last days of the Umayyad rule, their Empire was tottering and was on the verge of collapse, and a most chaotic and demoralized state of affairs prevailed throughout the Islamic countries. The ‘Abbasid exploited such an opportunity and availing themselves of this political instability, assumed the title of “Avengers of Banu-Hashim”. They pretended to have stood for the cause of taking revenge on the Umayyad for shedding the innocent blood of the Holy Imam Hussain (PBUH).

The common people who were groaning under the yoke of the Umayyad were fed up with their atrocities and were secretly yearning for the progeny of the Holy Prophet to take power. They realized that if the leadership went to the Ahlul-Bayt, who were its legitimate heirs, the prestige of Islam would be enhanced and the Prophet’s mission would be genuinely propagated.

However, a group of Abbasid secretly dedicated their lives to a campaign for seizing power from the hands of the Umayyad on the pretext that they were seizing it only to surrender it to the Banu-Hashim. Actually, they were plotting for their own ends. The common people were thus deceived into supporting them and when these Abbasids did succeed in snatching the power from the Umayyad, they tuned against the Ahlu ‘l-Bayt.

Religious Condition The downfall of the Umayyad and the rise of the Abbasid constituted the two principal plots in the drama of Islamic history. This was a most chaotic and revolutionary period when the religious morals of Islam had gone down and the teachings of the Holy Prophet were being neglected, and a state of anarchy was rampant.

It was amidst such deadly gloom that the virtuous personage of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq stood like a beacon of light shedding its luster to illuminate the ocean of sinful darkness around. The world got inclined towards his virtuous and admirable personality. Abu Salamah al-Khallal also offered him the throne of the caliphate.

But the Imam keeping up the characteristic tradition of his ancestors flatly declined to accept it, and preferred to content himself with his devotional pursuits and service to Islam. On account of his many debates with the priests of rival orders like Atheists, Christians, Jews, etc.

Teachings The versatile genius of Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq in all branches of knowledge was acclaimed throughout the Islamic world, which attracted students from far-off places towards him till the strength of his disciples had reached four thousand.