Martyrdom of Imam Jafar in Iran
Iran’s official-holiday law lists the passing of Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādeq on 25 Shawwal. He is remembered as the sixth imam of Imami Shiʿite Islam and an important authority in its religious law.[1][2]
A national holiday on 25 Shawwal
Iran’s law on official holidays names “the passing of Hazrat Sadiq” on 25 Shawwal among the country’s official holidays. The date is set by the Islamic lunar calendar, so its Gregorian equivalent shifts from year to year.[1]
The law lists this day as a public holiday but does not specify a substitute day if it coincides with a weekly rest day.[1]
Who Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādeq was
Jaʿfar al-Ṣādeq was the sixth imam of the Imami Shiʿites. He studied and taught in Medina, and his sayings and actions became important sources in Imami hadith and jurisprudence. The legal school associated with Imami Shiʿism is known as the Jaʿfari school.[2][3]
Most historical sources date his death to 148 AH, or 765 CE. Encyclopaedia Iranica says he was supposedly poisoned by the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur, while noting that the political motive is unclear. The poisoning account should therefore be treated as a reported tradition, not a settled detail.[2]
Commemoration and practical planning
The holiday’s legal name marks the passing of Imam Sadiq, giving the day its character as a religious commemoration. The cited law establishes its holiday status but does not prescribe particular ceremonies, foods, clothing, or regional customs; those details should not be assumed to be the same throughout Iran.[1]
The law also does not give a shop-by-shop or transport schedule for this specific day. It says the government may arrange essential services when it declares additional public holidays, but that provision does not set a routine service plan for every holiday. Travelers should check directly with the offices, banks, shops, and transport providers they plan to use.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Is Martyrdom of Imam Jafar a public holiday in Iran?
Yes. Iran’s official-holiday law lists the passing of Imam Sadiq on 25 Shawwal as an official holiday.[1]
When is the holiday?
It falls on 25 Shawwal in the Islamic lunar calendar. Its Gregorian date changes from year to year.[1]
Is there a substitute day if it falls on a weekly rest day?
The cited holiday law does not specify a substitute day for this observance.[1]
Will banks, shops, and public transport be open?
The law does not set specific opening hours or transport schedules for this holiday. Check with individual providers before travelling or making an appointment.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Martyrdom of Imam Jafar in Iran:
- لایحه قانونی تعیین تعطیلات رسمی کشور- Nezamat legal database
- JAʿFAR AL-ṢĀDEQ i. Life- Encyclopaedia Iranica
- HADITH ii. IN SHIʿISM- Encyclopaedia Iranica