Jafar ibn Ali al-Hadi


Hazrat Jafar bin Ali bin Muḥammad who was known to Ja’far e Saani and he was the son of the tenth Imam, Ali al-Hadi. By great intelligence, actions and adventures, he established Ja’fariyyas of the sect.

Family

Jafar b. Ali b. Muḥammad was the son of the tenth Imam, Ali al-Hadi and the brother of eleventh Imam Hasan al-Askari. Also, he had one older brother, Muhammad who died before his father's death.

Challenge

After Ali al-Hadi of death

After the death of Ali al-Hadi, Jafar b. Ali claimed Imamate to distract the Authorities of the time to disengage them from searching the next Rightful Imam Hasan Askari as they wanted to harm them, hence, Jafar e Saani claimed imamate to safeguard his Brother from atrocities of the Rulers. The biographers attribute to him as Jafar e saani because of his religious knowledge, authority and intelligence. Muhammadyyas believes that he was immoral.
However, his claim to imamate was so unruly that most of the people thought of him to be a sinner, but the deep essence and reason of his claim was comprehended by a few, specifically those who were very near to him. For his followers in defense of him, said: "Jafar's personality changed comparison when he was young." He tried to be al-Askari in jail, though he always failed in his efforts. Jafar b. Ali's followers became famous Ja’fariyyas and al-Askari's followers were known Twelver.

After Hasan al-Askari of death

After the death of Hasan al-Askari, even though, al-Askari's mother was still alive, Jafar requested his property. He claimed that his brother never had a son to hide him from the tyrant hands of the rulers. On the other hand, according to the Mohammad-Baqer Majlesi, he hid his son, for fear of his brother apparently but the deeper fact was other way round.
Later, between Twelver, he became famous to Ja’far e saani and later on he revealed the facts of his claimant to imamate and repented to satisfy those who had turned against him and they titled him with Tawab..