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Birth
and Imamate
Imam
Muhammad Baqir(a.s) was born in the 57th year of the
Hijra, on Friday the first day of the month of Rajab, in
the city of Madina. His honoured father is Imam
Sajjad(a.s.) and his revered mother, Fatema, daughter of
Imam Hasan(a.s.). He was the only Imam who was Alawiite
from both the side of the Mother and the Father. Imam
Sajjad(a.s.), according to the command of Allah(swt) and
the decree of the Prophet(pbuh&hf), appointed his son,
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir(a.s.), to Imamate and leadership
of the people in the 95 A.H. He remained Imam for the
rest of his life until 114 A.H. and the total period of
his Imamte is 19 years. Allama Hajr Makki writes in
Sawaeq-e-Moharaqa (Page 120) that He was the true copy
of his father Imam Sajjad(a.s.) in knowledge, piousness
and prayers & supplications.
Meaning of Baqir
Baqir
is a derivate of the word 'Baqara' which means to open
up or to expand. Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) was named as
such since he introduced and spread the knowledge and
teachings of various dimensions and implemented the
knowledge streams in a manner which had never been seen
earlier. Allama Noor Allah Shostri says in
Majalis-al-Momineen (Page 117) that Prophet
Mohammad(pbuh&hf) said that Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.)
will introduce, spread and open up knowledge just like
the ground is opened up for cultivation. Imam Muhammad
Baqir(a.s.) instructed people in percepts of religion,
taught tafseer-e-Quran, taught them the ethics of life,
and used to strive very hard to educate, culture and
guide the people. During the course of his life, he
taught the people thousands of theological and religious
principles, as well as scientific subjects, and his
teachings have been handled down to us.
Imam
Muhammad Baqir(a.s.), like the other Imams, in knowledge
and science had no equal. Great learned men benefited
from his knowledge and science and used to ask him to
solve their problems.
Presence in Karbala
Imam
Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) was about two and a half years old
when he had to accompany Imam Hussain(a.s.) and the rest
of his family members on the journey to Karbala. After
the tiring journey from Madina to Karbala, he witnessed
the shocking and tragic events of Karbala and then the
heart rapturing events in Syria and Iraq. After one year
of detention in Damascus he returned in 62 A.H. to
Madina whe he was 4 years.
Meeting with Jabir ibn-e-Abdullah Ansari(r.a.)
It is
a proven fact that Prophet Mohammad(pbuh&hf) had
informed about the birth of Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.)
about 64 years before his birth. Sheikh Saduq(a.r.)
states in his book Amali (page 353) - Imam Jafer
Sadiq(a.s.) narrates that one day Prophet
Mohammad(pbuh&hf) said to Hazrat Jabir ibn-e-Abdullah
Ansari(r.a.) "you will stay alive untill you meet my son
Mohammad bin Ali bin Hussain bin Ali ibn-e-Abi
Talib(a.s.) who is mentioned in the Torah as Baqir. Give
him my salutation (salam) when you meet him". One day
when Jabir visited Imam Zain-ul-Abideen(a.s.), he saw
the young boy sitting next to the Imam(a.s.). He
addressed the young boy and asked him to come closer and
show his back. Then he proclaimed that by God, that
young boy had the features and traits of the Prophet
Mohammad(pbuh&hf). Then he asked Imam Sajjad(a.s.) who
the young boy was and Imam(a.s.) replied that he was his
son and the successor to the Imamate and his name was
Mohammad Baqir(a.s.). Hearing this, Jabir(r.a.) rose up
and kissed the young Imam and said "Son of Rasool
Allah(pbuh&hf), may I be taken ransom for you, accept
the salutation (salam) of Rasool Allah(pbuh&hf). He
asked me to convey it to you". Imam Jafer Sadiq(a.s.)
states that his father burst into tears on hearing this
and said "Jabir my salutation to my grand father until
this sky and earth survives. You conveyed the salam of
my grand father to me so I convey my salam to you as
well".
Imam
Mohammad Baqir and Abu Hanifa
The
founder of the Hanafi School of thougth, Imam Abu Hanifa
was a disciple and student of Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.)
for a long period. He used to study fiqh and
ilm-e-hadees and other branches of knowledge from the
Imam(a.s.) and both Shia and Sunni Ulema agree that most
of his knowledge was derived and obtained from Imam
Mohammad Baqir(a.s.). Allama Shabrawi Shafaee writes
that on several occassions Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.)
tested Abu Hanifa on matters of fiqh and Abu Hanifa
could not answer them and then Imam Baqir(a.s.)
explained the reasoning and logics to him.
Abu
Hanifa was also an associate of his son Imam Jafer
Sadiq(a.s.) and benefitted a lot from his knowledge as
well.
His
Death and burial
In 100
A.H. Hashsham bin Abdul Malik became the Caliph. He was
a known enemy of the Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.) and he did not
waste any opportunity to bring hardship to the
Ahl-e-Bait(a.s.). Allam Majlisi writes that during the
last days of his caliphate, Hashsham came to Makkah for
Hajj. Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) and his son Imam Jafer
Sadiq(a.s.) were also present. Hashsham was informed
that Imam Jafer Sadiq(a.s.) delivered a sermon among the
Hajis that he and his father were the Allah's vicegerent
and His command on earth and whoever was their friend
and well wisher will go to heaven and whoever is thier
enemy will be destined to hell. This infuriated Hashsham
and when he reached Damasacus, he ordered the governor
of Madina, Ibrahim bin Walid to send the two Imams(a.s.)
to his court. Hashsham had planned to malign the Imams
in his court but the Imams(a.s.) overturned his plans
which further ignited his enmity and he orderd the
Imams(a.s.) to be jailed. While in the jail, Imam
Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) gave sermons to the other prisoners
which created an atmosphere of great enthusiaism and
devotion towards the Imam(a.s.) and against Hashsham and
sensin the gravity of the situations and the risk of a
revolt, Hashsham ordered the release of the Imam(a.s.).
He then ordered the governor of Madina that Imam
Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) should be poisoned as he is
becoming a constant threat (Jala-ul-Ayoon Page 262). The
governor of Madina - Ibrahim bin Walid carried out the
orders and poisoned the Imam(a.s.) in 114 A.H.
Imam
Muhammad Baqir(a.s.), lived in this world for a period
of 57 years, and in the 114th year of the Hijra, on the
seventh day of the month of Zil-Hijjah, in Medina he
left this world. His body was buried in Baqi cemetry
alongside the graves of Imam Hasan(a.s.) and Imam
Sajjad(a.s) in Medina.
His
last will and instructions
Before
his martyrdom, Imam Mohammad Baqir(a.s.) instructed his
son Imam Jafer Sadiq(a.s.) about several issues and said
to him that he is hearing the voice of his father who is
calling him(Noor ul Absar Page 131). He gave special
instructions for his kafan and burial since only an Imam
can say the prayers of an Imam (Shawahi-un-Nabowah page
181). Allama Majlisi states that in his will, he also
mentioned that 800 Dirhams should be spent on his
azadari and mourning and arrangement should be made that
the Hajj pilgrims would commamorate his martyrdon in
Mina for the next 10 years. Ulema also mention that in
his will, the Imam(a.s.) also mentioned that his kafn
should be opened after his burial and his grave should
not be higher that 4 fingers. |
