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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Great Muslim Scientist and Philosopher Imam Jafar Ibn Muhammad Al-sadiq (a.s) Chapter 3: Saviour of Shi'ism When Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (A.S) was still in his infancy some people were following the example of the Christians spread the belief that the Holy Prophet, Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Imams had two natures - the nature of man and the nature of God. They were partly human and partly divine. This belief posed a great danger to their sect.

The Imam fought against this thought and saved Shi'ism from disintegration. He realised that it would create differences, split the people into factions, weaken the Shia movement and finally destroy it totally. The Imam knew the history of the Christians. He knew the origin of the Orthodox and Catholic churches and the main cause of differences among Christians and their division into so many sects.

In reply to those who propagated that idea, he said that all of them were human beings and had no essence or elements of God in them. But they were God's most favoured servants and were chosen by Him to lead and guide mankind. He announced that anyone who believed or confessed that they had an essence of God in them will be believing in many gods and would not remain a muwahid (monotheist). They would become a mushrik (polytheist).

Another great danger threatening Islam was Monasticism which the Muslims wanted to adopt from the Christians. The Imam fought against that tendency and saved Muslims from a great catastrophe. In the first half of the 2nd century Hijra, many Muslim sects were inclined to borrow Monasticism from the Christians and introduce it in Islam. They believed that one should give up worldly life and spend his time in seclusion and prayers.

The leaders of those sects had arranged some solitary places where they and their followers could go and spend their lives in prayers. Some of them said that in Islam there was nothing better than Salaat (Namaaz), while others said that fasting was better than prayers and if someone had withdrawn from the world he should fast everyday throughout his life and think of nothing but Allah. Shias also, like others, were also attracted to Monasticism.

This philosophy appealed to those who did not want to work and earn their own living. At the beginning of the 2nd century Hijra Muslims were attracted not only to Monasticism, but they also wanted to follow another Christian practice which was Baptism.