Ahl al-Sunnah Scholars Considered Imam al-Sadiq as Worthy of the Imamate

Are there any scholars from amongst the Ahl al-Sunnah who have specifically considered Imam Ṣādiq (‘a) as being worthy of the Imamate?

Some of the scholars of the Ahl al-Sunnah have out rightly mentioned their belief in the Imamate of Imam Ṣādiq (‘a). They include the following individuals:

1- Abū Zakarīyā Muḥyī al-Dīn ibn Sharaf Nūrī (d. 676 Hijrī Qamarī): The scholars have consensus on his Imamate, his dignity, and his high rank over others. ‘Umar ibn Abī al-Muqadam has said: Whenever I would look at Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad, I would know that he is from the progeny of the prophets.[1]

2- Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad ibn ‘Uthmān Dhahabī (d. 748): Ja‘far Ṣādiq was a man of high rank from the leaders (Imams) of knowledge. He was more worthy for the caliphate than Abū Ja‘far Manṣūr.[2] In another place, he has said: Ja‘far possessed many excellent virtues, and he was well suited for the caliphate due to his greatness, his virtues, his knowledge, and his nobility.[3]

3- Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Ṣafadī (d. 724): Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī ibn al-Ḥusayn ibn ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may God be pleased with him) – he was famously known as Ṣādiq. He was an Imam, a guide towards guidance, and from the city of Medina… He possessed many excellent virtues and he was well suited for the caliphate due to his knowledge, his greatness, and his nobility.[4]

4- Muḥadith Muḥammad Khawājah Pārsāī Bukhārī (d. 822): Abū ‘Abdillah, Ja‘far Ṣādiq (may God be pleased with him) is from the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt…[5]

5- Mullā ‘Alī Qārī (d. 1014): Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad… there is a consensus on his Imamate, his honor, and his greatness over others.[6]

6- Aḥmad ibn Shihāb al-Dīn Khafājī (d. 1069): Ja‘far Ṣādiq Abū ‘Abdillah…the scholars have a consensus on his Imamate, his honor, and his greatness over others…[7]

7- Ṣāliḥ ibn Muḥammad Ḥijāzī: He has written the following in an article on Imam Ṣādiq (‘a) – He was a sign from the signs of Islam and a master from the masters of the Muslims… He was an Imam of the Muslims, who in spite of the differences found within the Muslims and all the different groups, was agreed upon as an Imam and his restraint in the face of desires and his trustworthiness were all well known. They have praised him and they love him due to his virtue, his asceticism, and his nearness in lineage to the Prophet of God (ṣ)… He was the head of teaching and spreading knowledge and a great number of scholars were taught by him…[8], [9]

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References

[1] Tahdhīb al-Asmā’ wa al-Lughāt, vol. 1, p. 155: «واتفقوا على امامته وجلالته وسیادته. قال عمر بن ابى المقدام: کنت اذا نظرت إلى جعفر بن محمّد علمت انّه من سلالة النبیین»

[2] Sayr A’lām al-Nubalāh, vol. 13, p. 120: «جعفر الصادق: کبیر الشأن، من ائمة العلم، کان اولى بالأمر من ابى جعفر المنصور»

[3] Tārīkh al-Islām, The events related to those who passed away during the years 141-160, p. 93: «مناقب جعفر کثیرة وکان یصلح للخلافة; لسؤدده وفضله وعلمه وشرفه»

[4] Al-Wafā Bil Wafīyāt, vol. 11, p. 126-128: «جعفر بن محمّد بن على بن الحسین بن على بن ابى طالب ـ (رضی الله عنه) ـ هو المعروف بالصادق، الامام العلم المدنى… وله مناقب کثیرة وکان اهلا للخلافة; لسؤدده وعلمه وشرفه»

[5] YanābīÝ al-MuwadaÞ, Qundūzī Ḥanafī, vol. 2, p. 457: «و من ائمة اهل البیت ابوعبدالله جعفر الصادق ـ (رضی الله عنه) ـ…»

[6] Sharḥ al-Shifā, vol. 1, p. 43 and 44: «جعفر بن محمّد… متفق على امامته وجلالته وسیادته»

[7] Sharḥ al-Shifā, vol. 1, p. 124: «جعفر الصادق ابوعبدالله… واتفقوا على امامته وجلالته وسیادته…»

[8] Al-WaḥdahÞ al-IslāmīyahÞ, Muḥammad Sa’īd Āl Thābit, p. 46, num. 7: «عَلَم من أعلام الإسلام وسیّد من سادات المسلمین… فهو الإمام الّذی اتفق المسلمون على اختلاف طوائفهم وتعداد مذاهبهم على امامته وورعه وتقاه، واثنوا علیه ومدحوه واحبّوه لفضله وزهده وعلمه وقرابته من الرسول، فهو الشریف نسباً أباً وأمّاً… تصدّر للتدریس ونشر العلم، فاخذ عنه خلق کثیر…»

[9] Ahl Bayt Az Dīdgāh Ahl Sunnat, Alī Aṣghar Riḍwānī, p. 109.