Imam Baqir (a.s.) said:

An angel was once passing by a house, when he witnessed a man standing near its door. The angel questioned him, “Why do you stand here?”

“This is the house of my brother and I wish to greet him,” answered the man.

The angel asked, “Is he of your kith and kin or is it that you are in need of his help that you have come to pay him a visit?”

“The reality is not as you make it out to be. We are just brethren in faith and I only wish to meet him and greet him for the sake of God”.

“I am God’s messenger towards you,” the angel said. “He has sent you His greetings and has said: O’ My Servant! You have paid Me a visit and desired My pleasure and so, as a reward for upholding the rights and sanctity of religious brotherhood, I have made Paradise compulsory for you and have distanced you from My fire and wrath

Namunah-e-Ma’arif, vol. 1, pg. 81; Jaame’ al-Akhbaar, pg. 118.

A Mu’min is the Brother of Another Mu’min

Imam Baqir (a.s.) related:

Once, a group of Muslims had set off on a journey, but in the course of their travel, they lost their way.  Their supplies were soon exhausted and they were overcome by intense thirst.

(With no water in sight and imagining their end to be near) they put on their shrouds and sat down, resting themselves against the trees.

Suddenly, an old man in white apparels approached them and said:

“Arise, for you have nothing to fear.  Here is some water for you.”

They scrambled for the water and drank to their fill after which, turning to the old man, they said, “May God have mercy upon you!  Who are you?”

“I belong to the Jinn community, who had pledged allegiance to the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.).  I had heard him say: ‘A Mu’min is the brother of another Mu’min. He is his eyes and his guide (too).’ I could not allow you to die of thirst, while I was here.”

Al-Kafi, vol. 2, ‘The Chapter of Brotherhood of the Mu’mineen’, tr. 10.

Exercise Caution in Reconciliation

A’bd al-Malik says:

There arose a dispute between Imam Baqir (a.s.) and some of the children of Imam Hasan (a.s.). I approached the Imam (a.s.) and sought to intervene in the matter in order to reconcile them, but the Imam (a.s.) advised:

“Do not say a word in this dispute for our problem is like that of the old man from Bani Israel, who had two daughters. One of them was married to a farmer, while the other to a pottery-maker. Once he decided to pay them a visit. He first visited the daughter who was the wife of the farmer and reaching her house, he inquired about her health. The daughter said: “Dear father, my husband has cultivated a large area of land and if it were to rain, we would be the most prosperous of the entire Bani Israel.”

Then, proceeding towards the house of the other daughter, whose husband was a potter, he inquired about her health.

The daughter said, “Dear father, my husband has moulded pots in great quantity and if God were to withhold the rains till his pots dry up, we would be better off than the entire Bani Israel.”

As he departed from the house of his second daughter, he prayed:

“O’ God! Act as You deem fit for, in this situation, I cannot pray for either of them.”

The Imam then said to me, “You too cannot intervene in this matter. Be wary, lest you show disrespect to either of us. Your responsibility towards us, because of our relationship with the Holy Prophet, is to treat all of us with deference and esteem.

Daastaan-ha Wa Pand-ha, vol. 1, pg. 134; Raudhah al-Kafi, pg. 85.

Kindness towards Your Brother in Faith

One of Imam Baqir’s (PBUH) companions, Abi Obadiah, narrates:

I used to accompany Imam Baqir (PBUH) in journeys. During the journeys, I would always climb my mount first, and the Imam would climb his mount after I was seated (This act of Imam Baqir (PBUH) was out of utmost respect). 

Whenever our mounts were next to each other, he would converse with me and ask about my health in such a way that seemed as if he had just seen an old friend he had not seen for a long time, even though he had seen me just a few moments ago. 

I asked him: “O! Son of Prophet Muhammad, you act completely different from all others when you socialize with others.  Your kindness and amenity towards your companions and friends is quite different. Truly it would be appreciable if others did the same in their first contact with each other.”

Imam Baqir (PBUH) replied: “Do you not know the value of Musafihah (shaking hands kindly with friends and believers)? Every time believers do Musafihah, and squeeze the hand of a friend, their sins fall (are forgiven) similar to how the leaves of a tree fall.  And they are under Allah’s grace until they separate.”1

In addition, many other sayings by the Imam have been recorded about kindness towards friends and brothers in faith:

“A prayer that is more likely to be answered, and more quickly to be granted, is a prayer for a brother in faith in his absence.”2

He also said: “A pious believer is the brother of a pious believer. One does not insult the other, does not refuse the other, and does not falsely suspect the other.”3

And he advised his companions: “Be lenient when talking to a hypocrite (Munafiq), love the believers with all your heart, and behave well even if you are sitting with a Jew.”4

And finally, he considered one of the most important duties of a believer helping his brother in faith financially.5

(Selected from: “The Political Life of Imam Baqir (PBUH)” by Ahmad Torabi, and “The Family of Infallibles” by Sayyid Taghi Dawoodi)

ON RECITATION OF THE HOLY QURAN

Imam Ja’ffar as-Sadiq (as) has said, “Imam al-Baqir (as) was the best recitor (of Quran) during his time. Whenever he (as) was engrossed in worship at night and recited the Holy Quran loudly, the passer-bys would stop (near the house) and get absorbed in his recitation”.

                                                                                (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

Imam al-Baqir (as) used to urge the people to recite the Holy Quran for it is the abundant source that guides people to righteousness, enlivens their hearts, and supplies them with abilities of light and awareness. He (as) has said, “The Apostle of Allah (saww) has said: ‘Whoever recites ten verses on a night is not written among the heedless. Whoever recites fifty verses is written among those who praise (Allah). Whoever recites a hundred verses is written among the obedient. Whoever recites two hundred verses is written among the humble. Whoever recites three hundred verses is written among the successful. Whoever recites five hundred verses is written among the strivers. Whoever recites a thousand verses, a hundred weight of gold is written for him”.

                                                                                         (Al-Bayaan)

Abu Baseer came to Imam al-Baqir (as) and said, “When I recite the Quran loudly, Shaytan comes to me and says: ‘You simply want to please your family and the people through recitation’.” Imam (as) said, “Recite the Quran in intermediate recitation. Let your family listen (to that). Read the Quran with a good voice. Indeed Allah likes recitation of the Quran with good voice”. (Al-Kaafi)

Maymoon Qadaah has reported that:

[Imam al-Baqir (as) once told me, “Recite the Quran”. I asked, “Where should I begin from?” Imam (as) answered, “From the ninth chapter”. As I began to search the chapter, Imam (as) said, “Recite Surah Yunus”. I started reciting this chapter and when I reached the verse that reads: ‘Those who are virtuous shall receive the best reward and an enhancement. Neither dust nor abasement shall overcast their faces..’ (10:26) Imam (as) said, “The Holy Prophet (saww) has said: ‘I am extremely surprised as to why I do not turn pale when I recite the Holy Quran’.”]

                                                                                     (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

Shaykh Ali Karimi states:

It should be noted that according to the present arrangement of Quran, Surah Yunus is the 10th Chapter. However, if Surah al-Baqarah is considered as the first Surah of the Holy Quran (as stated by some scholars) or if Surah al-Tawbah (9th Chapter) is considered as part of Surah al-Anfaal (8th Chapter) (as some scholars strongly believe) then Surah Yunus shall be considered as the 9th Chapter.     (Quran-o-‘Itrat)

HIS KNOWLEDGE OF QURAN

One of the titles of the fifth Imam of Ahlul-Bayt (as) is that of al-Baqir. Al-Baqir in Arabic has its roots from Baqr, which means ‘to split open’ or ‘to rip open’ or ‘to cut open’. Imam (as) was called al-Baqir because of his profound knowledge of everything including the Holy Quran, which he (as) had inherited from his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah and which, he (as) split open to impart to others.

Imam al-Baqir (as) himself has been quoted saying: “We have been taught the language of the birds and bestowed with knowledge of everything”.

                                                                          (Manaqib Aali Abi Talib)

Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari (r.a.) has narrated:

[The Holy Prophet (saww) had told me, “O Jabir! I hope you be alive till you meet a son from the progeny of my grandson al-Husayn whose name shall be Muhammad. He will split open the knowledge of religion and impart it to others. O Jabir! When you meet him, convey my salutation to him”.

Thereafter, I always searched for this young man. Finally, when I met him, I witnessed the attributes in him, which the Messenger of Allah had described to me. I conveyed the salutation of his grandfather to him and said, “O Baqir (Splitter)! You are the Baqir in truth. You are for certain the one who will split open the knowledge”.] (Ahsan al-Muqaal)

DO NOT INTERPRET QURAN WITH YOUR OPINION

Qutadah bin Da’amah visited Imam al-Baqir (as) and the following conversation ensued between them.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Are you the scholar of the people of Basra?”

Qutadah: “This is what the people say”.

Imam (as): “Do you interpret the Quran with knowledge or with ignorance?”

Qutadah: “Ofcourse I interpret it with knowledge”.

Imam (as): “Alright then, if you are interpreting the Quran with knowledge, I will ask you a question”.

Qutadah: “Please do so”.

Imam (as): “Tell me what does Allah (SWT) mean in the following verse: ‘…And We had ordained the course through them: Travel through them in safety, night and day’.?”

Qutadah: “This refers to one who departs from his home with the intention of visiting the sacred mosque (Masjidul-Haraam). He gathers his provision for the journey and hires his transport all through Halaal means. Such a person is in safety until he returns to his family”.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Take the oath of Allah and tell me. Do you know of any person who has departed from his home for the House of Allah and arranged for his provision and paid for his transportation all through Halaal means yet robbers attacked him, took away his possessions and physically injured him?”

Qutadah: “Yes! Indeed I know of such a person”.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Woe unto you! (In such a case) if you are interpreting the Quran with your own opinion then you are misled and have misled the people. And if you are interpreting it from what you have heard from others, then again you are misled and have misled the people. Woe unto you O Qutadah! This verse refers to one who departs for the House of Allah after arranging his provisions and paying for his transportation from Halaal means and in addition, he is also cognizant about our rights (the rights of Ahlul-Bayt) then Allah (SWT) will most certainly incline his heart towards us, just as He (SWT) says: ‘So make the hearts of a part of the people fond of them…’ (14:37) By Allah! We are the answered prayer of Ibrahim (as). Whoever inclines his heart towards us, his Hajj shall be accepted otherwise not. O Qutadah! If one performs Hajj in this manner (as stated) then on the Day of Judgement he shall be safe and protected from the Hell-fire”.

When Qutadah heard this, he said, “By Allah! I will henceforth interpret the Quran as you have taught”. Thereupon, Imam al-Baqir (as) added, “O Qutadah…only he truly understands the Quran whom the Quran addresses”. (Rawdhat al-Kaafi)

AN INTERESTING INCIDENT

Hisham bin Abdul-Malik called Imam al-Baqir (as) to Shaam. When the Imam (as) arrived at the doorstep of Hisham’s palace, he (as) was made to wait outside while Hisham talked to his courtiers and the members of Umayyad clan saying, ‘When you see me stop after abusing him, I want each and everyone of you present here to abuse him’. Thereafter, Hisham allowed Imam (as) to enter.

Imam al-Baqir (as) entered the court of Hisham and after greeting everyone loudly at once; he (as) took a seat. Hisham was very disappointed that the Imam (as) neither took his permission to sit nor had he (as) addressed him as Khalifa, so he looked towards him and abused him. Hisham also accused Imam (as) saying, ‘O Muhammad son of Ali! Someone or the other from amongst you (Ahlul-Bayt) keeps disuniting the Muslims and inviting them towards him. And because of ignorance and insanity, he keeps considering himself as the Imam.’ After saying all that he wanted, Hisham fell quiet and as instructed, all those present began to verbally abuse the Imam (as). Finally, when everyone had spoken, Imam al-Baqir (as) said, “O people! Where are you heading to? And where are you being dragged to? It is through us that the Exalted Lord guided your predecessors and it will only be through us that people after you shall be guided. If in the present time you have the leadership then know that in future we shall be the leaders – and ours shall the final and exceptional leadership – because we are the outcome mentioned by Allah: ‘…And the outcome will be in favour of the Godwary’. (28:83)

Hisham imprisoned Imam al-Baqir (as). There was not a single prisoner who did not immensely benefit from Imam (as)’s knowledge. When Hisham was made aware of Imam (as)’s popularity in the prison and cautioned about its consequences, he ordered the Imam (as) to be returned to Madina. He also insisted that Imam (as) should be treated roughly and denied water and food during the journey. No one should entertain him in any way.

For three days, Imam (as) and those who had accompanied him were denied food and water. When they arrived at Madyan, the gates of the city were shut to disallow them an entry. The companions complained of extreme hunger and thirst. Thereupon, the Imam (as) climbed a nearby mountain and called out loudly, “O the unjust inhabitants of the city! I am BAQIYYATULLAH (what Allah has left behind for you as a clear proof). Allah, the Exalted says: ‘That which is left to you by Allah is better, should you be faithful, and I am not a keeper over you’. (11:86)

In the city of Madyan lived a very old man. When he heard this call, he said, “O people! By Allah! This call is of Shu’ayb – the Prophet of God. By Allah! If you do not respond to his call, Allah will punish you from the heavens and the earth…” Hearing this, the inhabitants rushed in aid of Imam al-Baqir (as) and his companions. Later on when Hisham was informed about what had transpired, he ordered the arrest of the old man and nobody knows what happened to him thereafter.] (Al-Kaafi)

Name: Muhammad.

Title: al-Baqir.

Agnomen: Abu Ja'far.

Father's name: 'Ali Zaynu 'l-'Abidin.

Mother's name: Fatimah bint al-Hasan, known as Umm Abdillah.

Birth: In Medina, on Tuesday, 1st Rajab 57 AH.

Death: Died at the age of 57, in Medina on Monday, 7th Dhi'l-hijjah 114 AH; poisoned by Hisham ibn 'Abdi 'l-Malik; buried in Jannatu 'l-Baqi ', in Medina.

The holy Imam Muhammad al-Baqir is the Fifth Apostolic Imam. His epithet was Abu Ja'far and he was popularly titled "al-Baqir". His mother was the daughter of Imam Hasan. Thus, he was the only Imam who was connected with Hadrat Fatimatu'z-Zahra', both from his paternal and maternal sides. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was brought up in the holy lap of his grandfather Imam Husayn, for three years. For thirty-four years he was under the gracious patronage of his father, 'Ali Zaynu'l-'Abidin.

The Holy Imam was present in Karbala' at the time of the gruesome tragedy of the wholesale massacre of his grandfather Imam Husayn and his companions. He also suffered with his father and the ladies of the House of the Prophet (Ahlu'l-Bayt) the heartless captivity and imprisonment at the hands of the devilish- forces at the command of Yazid ibn Mu'awiyah. After the tragedy of Karbala', the Imam passed his time peacefully in Medina praying to Allah and guiding the people to the right path.

The downfall of the Umayyads had begun since Yazid, the son of Mu'awiyah, had slaughtered Imam Husayn. Yazid himself had completely realized the evil consequences of his deeds even during the short period of his rule. His son Mu'awiyah, the second, refused to accept the caliphate saying: I cannot favour such a throne which has been erected on the basis of oppression and tyranny. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, a famous scholar belonging to the Sunnite School says: "Imam Muhammad al-Baqir has disclosed the secrets of knowledge and wisdom and unfolded the principles of spiritual and religious guidance. Nobody can deny his exalted character, his God-given knowledge, his divinely-gifted wisdom and his obligation and gratitude towards spreading of knowledge.

He was a sacred and highly talented spiritual leader and for this reason he was popularly titled 'al-Baqir' which means 'the exponder of knowledge '. Kind of heart, spotless in character, sacred by soul and noble by nature, the Imam devoted all his time in submission to Allah (and in advocating the teachings of the Holy Prophet and his descendants). It is beyond the power of a man to count the deep impression of knowledge and guidance left by the Imam on the hearts of the faithful. His sayings in devotion and abstinence, in knowledge and wisdom, and in religious exercise and submission to Allah are so great in number that the volume of this book is quite in- sufficient to cover them all." (as-Sawa'iqu 'I-muhriqah, p. 120)

The Holy Imam managed to collect the teachings and reforms of the Holy Prophet and his Ahlul-Bayt in the form of books. His pupils compiled books on different branches of science and arts under his instructions and guidance. In the excellence of his personal purity and godly traits, the Holy Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was a model of the Holy Prophet and his great grandfather, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib. His admonitions created a spiritual sensation among the Muslims in general. He was not only hospitable even to his worst enemies but also used to continually exhort them to the right path. He urged people to earn their livelihood by their own hard work. The Holy Imam gave much importance to convening majalis (meetings) in commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn. Kumayt ibn Zayd al-Asadi, one of the most famous and highly talented poets of that time, used to recite the elegy of Imam Husayn in those majalis. Such type of majalis were also greatly encouraged by Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq and Imam 'Ali ar-Rida, the Sixth and the Eighth Imams. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir continued his preaching peacefully till 114AH.

On the 7th Dhi'l-hijjah when he was fifty-seven years olds Hisham ibn 'Abdi 'I-Malik ibn Marwan, the then ruler, got him martyred through poison. The funeral prayers for this Holy Imam were conducted by his son Imam Ja'far as.-Sadiq, the Six Imam, and his body was laid to rest in Jannatu'l-Baqi' in Medina.

Imam Muhammad ibn 'Ali al-Baqir (the word 'Baqir meaning he who cuts and dissects, a title given to him by the Prophet) was the son of the Fourth Imam and was born in 57/675. He was present at the event of Karbala' when he was four years old. After his father, through Divine Command and the decree of those who went before him, he became Imam. In the year 114/732 he died, according to some Shiite traditions, he was poisoned by Ibrahim ibn al-Walid ibn 'Abdillah, the nephew of Hisham, the Umayyad caliph. During the Imamate of the Fifth Imam, as a result of the injustice of the Umayyads, revolts and wars broke out in some corner of the Islamic world every day.

More- over, there were disputes within the Umayyad family it- self which kept the caliphate busy and to a certain extent left the members of the Household of the Prophet alone. From the other side, the tragedy of Karbala' and the oppression suffered by the Household of the Prophet, of which the Fourth Imam was the most noteworthy embodiment, had attracted many Muslims to the Imam. These factors combined to make it possible for people and especially the Shi'ites to go in great numbers to Medina and to come into the presence of the Fifth Imam. Possibilities for disseminating the truth about Islam and the sciences of the Household of the Prophet, which had never existed for the Imams before him, were presented by the Fifth Imam. The proof of this fact is the innumerable traditions recounted from the Fifth Imam and the large number of illustrious men of science and Shi`te scholars who were trained by him in different Islamic sciences. These names are listed in books of biographies of famous men in Islam. (Shi'ite Islam) Imam al-Baqir, peace be Upon him, said: The height of perfection is excellence in the understanding of the religion, endurance in hardships and administration of the affairs of life according to one's means, in the right measure. The scholar (`alim) who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than seventy thousand devotees ('abid ). One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of Him.

On the evidence of the most authentic Hadith narrated by Sunni and Shia historians, one of the companions of the Holy Prophet Jabir Ibn Abdallah Ansari was in the presence of the Holy Prophet. He asked the Prophet about the names of descendants from his daughter Hazrat Fatima and Ali (AS). The Prophet told him,

“O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, but you will meet the 5th in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me and who will be the 5th Imam of the time. When you will meet him, give my salaams to him”.

As predicted by the Holy Prophet Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari had a long life and became blind in his old age. But he devoutly waited for the time when he would meet the 5th Imam. Each morning he would come out from his house, sit by the road side and wait for the sound of the footsteps to recognise the 5th Imam. One such day while he was waiting in the street of Madina, he heard someone walking towards him, the sound of footsteps reminded him of the way Holy Prophet used to walk. Jabir stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied,”Muhammad”, Jabir asked, whose son?, he replied “Ali Ibnul Hussain”. Jabir immediately recognised the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam. He kissed his and told him the message from the Holy Prophet and that the Prophet sent his salaams to him. Imam took him to his home, asked his friends to gather as many people as they can. When they all assembled in his house, the Imam asked Jabir to tell the whole story again. Jabir narrated the story, they all cried and attested in unison of the Imamat of the Fifth Imam and also the names

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