The way of learning from al- Sadiq and discussing for evidence was not as the way we find today in the Islamic theological centers. Rather, his students, except some of them, believed in his Imamate. As we have mentioned earlier, the Imamis believe that the knowledge of the Imam did not depend on the idea and ijtihad (capability for issuing a verdict according to Islamic Law). So, the Imam was asked about the reference. Rather, his knowledge was inherited and divine. Yes, he was sometimes asked about the reason for the rule. Such questions were asked for learning and advantage, not for discussion.

The way of learning from al- Sadiq and discussing for evidence was not as the way we find today in the Islamic theological centers. Rather, his students, except some of them, believed in his Imamate. As we have mentioned earlier, the Imamis believe that the knowledge of the Imam did not depend on the idea and ijtihad (capability for issuing a verdict according to Islamic Law).

So, the Imam was asked about the reference. Rather, his knowledge was inherited and divine. Yes, he was sometimes asked about the reason for the rule. Such questions were asked for learning and advantage, not for discussion.

The non- Imamis learned from al- Sadiq because they believed in his greatness, his excellency, and his Imamate.(163) They regarded their learning from him as a virtue.(164)

Ibin Abu al- Hadid attributed the knowledge of the four juristic doctrines to him.(165)

The questioner came to al- Sadiq to ask him about the difficult matters he met. Most of al- Sadiq’s students brought sheets of paper and ink pots to write what al- Sadiq dictated to them to report it carefully.

If you want to know the degree of al- Sadiq’s knowledge, then think about the great number of those who learned from him. Their number was over four thousand students. Why did they all reported from al- Sadiq and did not report from other than him though there were many scholars during his time? Imam al- Sadiq, from whose school that great number graduated, did not teach those sciences for reputation and boasting and honor.

In the mean time, his students learned those sciences to serve religion and the Islamic Law. Whoever broke these aims, al- Sadiq dismissed him from his school.

His Teaching for His Students:

Al- Sadiq had many teachings, lessons, and advice. We will devote special chapters for them. The following are teachings, lessons, and advice for the students of knowledge.

Amru b. al- Muqdam(166) said: "When I came to him for the first time, Abu Abd Allah peace be on him, said to me: "Learn truthfulness before the speech."(167)
I (the author) say. How valuable this advice is!

He (al- Sadiq) advised his followers to adopt truthfulness and to pay the trust. These things are important for the person to live happily in this world, to be rich and famous. And people will trust him and accept him for judgment among them.

As for seeking knowledge, al- Sadiq has many directions. He, peace be on him, sometimes said: "I like to see the young men of you following two states: either a scholar or a learner. If he does not do (these two states), then he wastes (his time); if he wastes, he loses; and if he wastes, he commits a sin."(168)

And he sometimes said: "Seek knowledge and with it adorn yourselves with clemency and respect."(169) Al- Sadiq not only urged his students to seek knowledge, but also urged them to adopt clemency and gravity." Concerning humbleness, he, peace be on him, said: "Be humble for him whom you teach knowledge, be humble for him from whom you seek knowledge, do not be haughty scholars, so, your falsehood removes your right."(170)

I (the author) say: How exact this advice is! And how high for teaching it is! That is because knowledge does not avail its owner nor people unless it is accompanied by humbleness, whether the person who has knowledge is a teacher or a learner. And men abandon the haughty person, then haughtiness removes his right.

Advising those who seek knowledge, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "And do not seek knowledge for three (things): for dissembling, for boasting, and for disputing.

And do not seek it (knowledge) for three (things): for seeking ignorance, for abstaining from knowledge, and for feeling shame of people. And preserved knowledge is like the lamp."(171)

I (the author) say: Indeed, al- Sadiq, peace be on him, wanted seeking knowledge for knowledge and for advantage of the nation. If the person seeks knowledge for hypocrisy or boasting or argument, he will not avail himself nor people. Rather, he will harm himself and people. And if the person leaves knowledge for ignorance and abstaining from knowledge, he will show his foolishness. Also there is no need in shamefulness which leads you to the vice and prevents you from getting the virtue. And people do not avail themselves with knowledge unless it is spread.

Because knowledge is very dear, al- Sadiq urged people to seek it at any cost. In this respect, he said: "Seek knowledge even if you sacrifice your hearts and cover the depth of the sea." As knowledge maybe taken from various people, so al- Sadiq prevented his students from taking it from inappropriate people. He, peace be on him, said:

"Seek knowledge from the origin of knowledge. And beware of those who intrude upon knowledge because they prevent you from Allah."

I (the author) say: We see with our own eyes that the learner adopts the thoughts of his teacher. So, if the teacher is deviated from what is right, surely he will mislead his student. And if the teacher is righteous, he will
lead his student to righteousness. That is because the student imitates his teacher by nature.
Al- Sadiq not only urged his students to seek knowledge, rather he wanted them to apply it, peace be on him said: "Learn whatever you want of knowledge, indeed Allah does not avail you with knowledge unless you apply it, because the concern of scholars is to protect (knowledge) while the concern of the foolish is to report (it)"(172) Also he said: "The knowledge which is not put into practice is like the treasure from which (nothing) is spent. (The person) makes himself tired through collecting it (the treasure) while he does not avail himself of it."(173) He said:

"The person who knows good but does not apply it is like the lamp which giveslight for people while it burns itself."(174)

He (al- Sadiq) said: "If the scholar does not put his knowledge into practice, his preachment slips from the heart as rain slips from the rock."(175)

Al- Sadiq showed his students how to memorize what they learned. He, peace be on him, said: "Write (what you learn) down because you do not memorize (it) unless you write (it) down."(176)

Some of what he said to al- Mufaddal b. ‘Amr is: "Write and spread your knowledge among your brothers. If you are about to die, let your children inherit your books because the time of commotion will come, when they will not like to be with anything except their books."(177)

He said: "Keep your books because you will be in need of them." Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, did not want the virtue of knowledge for the people of his time only.
Rather, he wanted it for every generation and time. Also he advised his students to add all virtues to knowledge. You will know this through his commandments. Also you will know this through his following words: "If the man of you becomes pious in his religion, becomes truthful in his speech, pays the trust, behaves in a good manner towards people, it will be said that such a person is Ja’fari. Such qualities of his please me; otherwise displeases me. And it will be said that these are Ja’far’s manners."(178)

Indeed, al- Sadiq, his grandfathers, and his children did their best to urge the Muslim community to adopt virtues and to prevent them it from practicing vices with various means. But people refused to follow the righteous way.

Al- Sadiq urged Muslims to take care of scholars and have pity on them. So, he, peace be on him said: "Surely, I have mercy on three (persons) and people should have mercy on them: the dear (person) whom abasement has hit, the rich (person) whom need has hit, and the scholar whom his people and the ignorant have scorned."(179)

Al- Sadiq, peace be on him, said: "Three (persons) complain to Allah, the Great and Almighty. the empty mosque where its people do not pray, the scholar among the ignorant, and the hanging Koran on which dust has fallen, and which no one reads."(180)

Ishaq b. ‘Ammar al- Sayrafy(181) said: "I said to al- Sadiq, peace be on him: What about standing up for the man?’ He, peace be on him, said: ‘It is reprehensible except for the man in the religion.’ And he, peace be on him, said: ‘Whoever respects a Muslim juriseprudent, Allah will be pleased with him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever insults a Muslim juriseprudent, Allah will be angry with him on the Day of Judgment."(182)

163 Tahdhib Al- Asma’ wa Al- Lughat. Yanabi’ Al- Mawada.

 164 Matalib Al- Sa’ul.

 165 Sharh Nahj Al- Balagha.

 166 We will mention him with his famous reporters.

 167 Al- Kafi.

 168 Shaykh al- Saduq, al- Majalis, Majlis no. 11.

 169 Al- Kafi: 1/36/1.

 170 Shaykh al- Saduq, Majlis no. 17, Bihar Al- Anwar 2/41/2.

 171 Al- Kafi: 1/35/5.

 172 Bihar Al- Anwar: 17/270.

 173 Ibid: 2/37/55.

 174 Ibid: 2/38/56.

 175 Ibid: 2/39/68.

 176 Al- Kafi: 1/52/9.

 177 Ibid: 1/52/11.

 178 Ibid: 2/636.

 179 Al- Saduq, al- Khisal, 87.

 180 Bihar Al- Anwar: 92/195.

 181 We will mention him in the chapter: The Famous Reliable Reporters of Al-Sadiq.

 182 Bihar Al- Anwar: 47/44/13.

Source: aimislam