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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. |