The exact date of birth of Shaykh As-Saduq is not known. However, the year of his birth can be determined from the fact that his father Ali Ibn Babway had requested the 12th Imam through his emissary - Hazrat Husayn Ibn Ruh to appeal to Allah to grant him a son. Hazrat Husayn Ibn Ruh had passed his request to the Imam, who had replied in writing that God would grant him with a son in the near future, who will be of great benefit to the people. Shaykh As-Saduq thus, came to this world after Imam’s intercession.

Hazrat Husayn Ibn Ruh started as Imam’s emissary in 305 Hijrah. Therefore, Shaykh As-Saduq’s birth may be ascertained as around 306 Hijrah. He was born in the city of Qum and his birth is considered as one of the miracles of the Twelfth Imam.

His initial education started under the patronage of his father, Ali Ibn Babway Al-Qummi, whose piety, God-fearing qualities and knowledge were well known to the people. Thus, the depth of knowledge and capabilities a child who was born with the intercession of Imam, can be easily imagined. Within the first twenty years of his life, he had memorized thousands of traditions from the Prophet and his Holy Progeny along with their levels of authenticity and chains of narration. He became the grand leader of Shi’as at the age of twenty-two or twenty-three, after the death of his father.

Although several Ulama (Scholars) travelled to Qum to meet the Shaykh, he himself journeyed to other parts of the Islamic world to gain knowledge from other grand masters. He extracted Ahadith from both Shi’a and Sunni sources and also removed many misunderstandings that existed in their minds about the Shi’a school of faith. This provided him with a golden opportunity to extend Shi’a points of view amongst the other schools of Islam.

Even though the Abbassids were no less cruel to the followers of Shi’a faith, God had willed that his message would spread. Therefore, the rulers failed to suppress the message of Shaykh As-Saduq, in line with that of the great Imams.

During this period the Abbassid’s reign weakened in Egypt and other African territories and as a result several independent dominions evolved, which helped Shaykh As-Saduq to spread the message of Ahl al-Bayt within those territories.

Shaykh spent his entire life in propagating the teaching of Ahl al-Bayt, and in this capacity, he wrote several books on every aspect of Shi’a faith. According to Shaykh at-Tusi, he had written around 300 books but Shaykh Najashi counts his books to be around 200. His greatest achievement is a remarkable book called Man La Yahduruhu Al-Faqih, which provides guidance on Islamic law. His other great work is a book called Al-I’tiqadat Al-Imamiyyah whose English translation and commentary is being provided for your reading.

Shaykh As-Saduq died in 381 Hijrah and was buried in Tehran. His grave was reopened in 1238 Hijrah and to the astonishment of the people his body appeared to be freshly laid down, while his shroud was completely worn out. May God send His blessing upon his soul.