When is Martyrdom of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq?
In 2026, Martyrdom of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq falls on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. It is classified here as a Iranian public holiday.
History of Martyrdom of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq is the sixth Imam in Twelver Shi'a Islam and an influential teacher in the development of Shi'a jurisprudence and intellectual tradition. His death is commemorated on 25 Shawwal and is included among Iran’s statutory public holidays.
The day has a mournful, scholarly character. Mosques and religious institutions may hold sermons about his teaching, while families observe the day through prayer, remembrance and charitable acts. The Gregorian date changes every year with the Hijri calendar.
Imam Jafar al-Sadiq taught during the transition from Umayyad to Abbasid rule and is associated with the Ja'fari school of law followed in Twelver Shi'a Islam. Sunni scholarly traditions also remember him as a respected transmitter and teacher. Iranian commemorations therefore combine mourning with attention to religious learning, ethics and jurisprudence. The official 1405 calendar places the 2026 holiday on April 14, not April 13 as produced by the generic lunar conversion formerly used in this file.
How Martyrdom of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq is observed
A nationwide public holiday on 25 Shawwal; confirm the Iranian calendar’s official lunar date and any local mourning-programme arrangements each year.
Traditions of Martyrdom of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq
Prayer and reflection
Iranian mosques, shrines and homes mark the commemoration of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq with prayer, Qur'an recitation, sermons, praise or elegy appropriate to its character.
Community gatherings
Programmes for the commemoration of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq differ among Iranian cities and communities, ranging from neighbourhood assemblies to major shrine ceremonies and family observance.
Giving and care
Charitable food, donations and practical attention to neighbours or people in need express the ethical meaning associated with the commemoration of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Iranian official and legal guidance. Solar Hijri and lunar dates, plus annual public-service schedules, should be confirmed against official notices.
History sources: Iran: Law determining official public holidays, JICA Iran Office: 2026 holiday calendar, JETRO: Iran public holidays in 2026, ILO NATLEX: Labour Law of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian calendar 1405: official occasions and closures.
Continue exploring