MUHAMMAD AL‑BAAQIR
(a.s.)
(MUHAMMAD IBN ALI)
AL‑BAAQIR: Before his Imamah
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EVENTS AND
HAPPENINGS:
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Birth of Muhammad Al‑Baaqir
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Al‑Baaqir's grandfather, Al‑Husain, is slain in Karbala
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Al‑Baaqir's father, Zainul Abideen, prefers temporary seclusion at first
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Medina is looted and ransacked by Yazid's forces, 1,700 Sahaaba
killed. Mecca is the site of a battle
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After a few years of revolts Al‑Zubair is subdued, Mecca is the site of a battle the second time
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Father, Zainul Abideen, tutors Al‑Baaqir
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Hears about Abdul Malik's government, and Al‑Hajjaj
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Muslim expansion into Central Asia and Spain
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With father Zainul Abideen in schooling: Islamic Institute (University) of Ahlul Bayt
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In his twenties Al‑Baaqir marries Umm Farwa, the great‑granddaughter of Khalifa Abu Bakr
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Ja'far Al‑Saadiq is born
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Ja'far Al‑Saadiq is tutored by Zainul Abideen, Al‑Baaqir, and family.
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BIRTH
It was in
Medina, the year 57 H, when Al‑Baaqir was born. His father, Zainul Abideen, and his grandfather, Al‑Husain, were very delighted as was every member of the
family. As a young child Al‑Baaqir became closely attached to his grandfather, Al‑Husain, and great‑aunt, Zainab, but more so to his aunt
Sakeena.
Sakeena loved to take care of Al‑Baaqir and play with him.
When Muhammad
Al‑Baaqir was about 3½ years old he was taken on a long trip that would end in Karbala.
He did not understand what was going on, but could see the serious, somber looks on the face of everyone. As often children become insecure during travel,
during this trip Al‑Baaqir would persistently cling to his aunt Sakeena, and his attachment to her became even greater.
GRANDFATHER AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE SLAIN
At Karbala, the
scared, petrified Al‑Baaqir witnessed the savage butchery: he saw how his beloved grandfather, Al‑Husain, along with many of the family members were slain in
a brutal and barbaric way. He heard the cries, and witnessed the suffering, the fright, and the dread of that day. The images of Karbala would remain
indelible in his mind for the rest of his life, and even though he was too young to comprehend everything, he would never forget it.
As the
remainders of the family were taken from Kufa to Damascus, 700 miles across the hot desert, Al‑Baaqir saw ahead of him the head of his grandfather, Al‑Husain,
carried on the tip of a spear, by mean‑looking people. Frightened and apprehensive, Muhammad Al‑Baaqir clung even more to his beloved aunt, Sakeena. But to
his surprise, a few weeks later Al‑Baaqir suddenly lost his loving aunt—she died. He could not comprehend the loss, it was too much, and he would cry his
heart out, not knowing why Sakeena was not there any more—to love him and comfort him. He was told over and over again that Sakeena had suddenly died in
Damascus, that the trouble in Karbala which Yazid had caused was too much for her to take, she was too delicate. But how can a person make a three year old
child understand! The nightmares were too often to haunt young Al‑Baaqir from then on, repeatedly, for months if not for years.
Lineage
AL‑BAAQIR IS BACK IN MEDINA
At the Age of 3½ years:
When the family
finally returned to Medina,
this town turned into feverish activity, Al‑Baaqir was very bewildered. He saw his great‑aunt, Zainab, on a vigorous campaign, not only to explain what
happened in Karbala, but also expose the evil works of Yazid.
He also saw his father Zainul Abideen go into seclusion and cut off most contact with people. Al‑Baaqir also observed that the people of Medina were inflamed
and very angry. Everyone cried and mourned for Imam Al‑Husain. The mind of the young Al‑Baaqir could only absorb the scenes with further apprehension and
remorse.
At the Age of 5½ years:
As two years had
passed, by the time Al‑Baaqir was 5½ years old, Medina had agonized so much that the people revolted against the despicable Yazid. The outcry was for Yazid
and Benu Umayya to be removed, to be dismissed and done away with.
But despite that
turmoil and as strange as it may be, Al‑Baaqir also saw his father, Zainul Abideen, to have taken on his shoulder the feeding and protection of 400 of Benu
Umayya people, though they were the very ones who had caused the agonizing trouble for him. (Rabi'
Al-Abraar, Zamakh'shari.) When Al‑Baaqir questioned him, his father Zainul Abideen
explained that the righteous Muslim is the very one who is to befriend even his adversary, that this was a very honorable Muslim duty.
A few weeks
later, young Al‑Baaqir learned that numerous people had been killed by the forces of Yazid, they were people of Medina; many of them Sahaaba (Companions), very
important people to Islam. As if this was not enough, Al‑Baaqir also witnessed the many atrocities inflicted on Medina itself, and how for 3 days Yazid's
soldiers wounded, killed, and destroyed much in Medina.
With Al‑Ansaari:
It was not long
afterwards that Al‑Baaqir had a unique talk with an old man, whose name was Jabir
Al‑Ansaari. The old man had been told 57 years earlier [by the Prophet (pbuh)] that he would live to meet a grandson of Imam Al‑Husain by the nick‑name of
Al‑Baaqir. The Prophet (pbuh) requested this Sahaabi, Al‑Ansaari, to express his love and convey his salutations to the boy on his behalf.
As Al‑Ansaari
became old he lost his eye-sight, and he was often seen sitting in the Prophet's Mosque persistently calling for Al‑Baaqir. The people at the time, not
knowing of any Al‑Baaqir around, thought Al‑Ansaari to be out of his mind. When Al‑Ansaari finally met Muhammad Al‑Baaqir and conversed with him, he hugged
Al‑Baaqir, kissed his hand, and joyfully expressed the love and conveyed the salutation of the Prophet (pbuh) to the boy. (Noor
Al-Absaar, Shiblinji, Page 143. Also Taareekh Al-Ya'qoobi, Vol. 3, Page 61.)
At
the Age of 7½ years:
Within about 2 more
years, when he was 7½ years old, Al‑Baaqir started to hear about the many revolts and uprisings in Iraq against the ruling Benu
Umayya—to avenge the blood of Imam Al‑Husain. Since Al‑Baaqir was older by this time he could comprehend better the intensity of love and deep feeling of the
people for Imam Al‑Husain and the Islamic implications of his martyrdom.
AL‑BAAQIR TUTORED
By now Al‑Baaqir
had a few younger brothers with whom he played and studied. Father, Zainul Abideen, became more active in teaching them Islam. First he concentrated on
teaching them the Holy Quran, then its Tafseer,
followed by the Hadith
and Al‑Ah'kaam.
This took time, but Al‑Baaqir was extremely receptive. He not only showed an unparalleled brilliance of mind but also the eagerness to absorb the Islamic
knowledge. As young as he was, Al‑Baaqir showed readiness to learn equal to people several times his age—he craved for this knowledge. It was not only his
father who tutored him, it was also the collective effort of the whole family. His great‑aunt Zainab, great-uncle Ibn
Al‑Hanafiyah, or others, they all participated. They appreciated Al‑Baaqir's brilliance, awareness, and enormous capacity to absorb the knowledge. He asked
numerous questions, the kind asked by mature people, many times older than he:
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Why did
Muslims kill my grandfather Al‑Husain?
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Were the killers really Muslims?
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Why did these people put us on bare‑back camels in the desert to go to Damascus?
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Why did they put the heads of many people on tips of spears?
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Why did Sakeena die, my wonderful Sakeena?
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Why is my father in seclusion?
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Why are all the spies and undercover agents about my family?
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Why are we under surveillance?
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What wrong did we do?
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Who is Yazid,
is he truly Muslim?
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Why is the
city of the Prophet (pbuh) destroyed by Yazid's people, are they Muslims?
Such questions
went on and on. They were answered in detail, from a) the historical, b) humane, and c) Islamic point of view.
► Ever since he was young, and more so through tutoring, Al‑Baaqir developed a singularly superb character. Like his predecessors, Al‑Baaqir's psychology was
molded by the Islamic ideals. Goodness of character was his norm, and his high integrity was discernable very early.
►
Al‑Baaqir was taught early on that he and his family were of the Prophet's lineage, purified by the Almighty, the Ma'sooms, and he discerned
that, they, Ahlul Bayt, were of unique status and standing.
►
At an early age Al‑Baaqir surmised that what he was taught was unique, and of
exceptionally standard.
►
Yet, Al‑Baaqir also observed, that many people did not fully apply what was being prescribed and decreed, as if Islam was only to be talked about. This was
especially true of Yazid's people.
AL‑BAAQIR AS A TEENAGER
The politically
turbulent times during Al‑Baaqir's childhood continued under Al‑Zubair's rulership, for Al‑Zubair was striving very hard to seize the Khilaafah from, and
destroy, Benu Umayya. (Noor Al-Absaar, Shiblinji, Page 143. Also Taareekh Al-Ya'qoobi, Vol. 3,
Page 61.) Al‑Baaqir noticed the many military clashes between Benu Umayya on the one
hand, now headed by Abdul Malik, and Ibn
Zubair on the other hand. Ibn Zubair was supported by much of the Islamic world by this time, in particular in Hijaz, Yemen, Iraq, and southern Syria.
Al‑Baaqir was
very grieved, as were his family members, when they learned of the awful bloodshed that took place in Mecca, and how the Ka'ba, of all things, was wrecked by
the forces of Abdul Malik in their clash with Ibn Zubair. The Ka'ba, in Mecca, the center of Islam, no less!
Politics aside,
Al‑Baaqir continued to absorb the enormous amount of knowledge made available to him. His father, Zainul Abideen, was ever ready to offer, and Al‑Baaqir was
ever ready to absorb. Now that Zainul Abideen is in the public's eye, a) teaching Islam, b) excessively worshipping, c) helping people, and d) regularly
crying about Imam Al‑Husain, his reputation infiltrated deep in the hearts of people. Zainul Abideen attracted hordes of people, and was teaching an ever
enlarging body of students. Tutoring students was with the aim of:
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producing high
quality scholars,
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who were to
teach others about true Islam,
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thus spread
the word to the general public about the motive of and the principles which Imam Al‑Husain had given his life for, and
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at the same
time uncover the offenses of Benu Umayya.
The aim was clear to
Al‑Baaqir, Islam as Muhammad (pbuh) had taught it was to be the very focus now. The aim was to popularize piety and righteousness, to make them the very
foundation for Islamic fabric, and at the same time never to compromise with the ruling class (Benu Umayya or others) if Islam was ever jeopardized.
Al‑Baaqir and
his father were busy in the educational process, the discourses, which were active and dynamic. The teenager Al‑Baaqir raised so many thought‑provoking
questions that people nick‑named him Al‑Baaqir. Al‑Baaqir means the one who penetrates deeply, or delves into any problem and extracts its high
value, its treasure. (Tadh'kirat Al-Khawaas, Ibn Jawzi. Also Al-Shatharaat, Ibn Imaad, Vol.
1.) Religious problems that seemed too difficult to solve by many people were easy
for him to come out with wonderful answers.
Al‑Baaqir's
brothers also participated in the discourses, the ones father Zainul Abideen was conducting. Hasan
Al‑Basri, Al‑Thamali,
Al‑Zuhri,
Ibn
Tawoos, and many other erudite scholars were the students in these discourses. The dean, the tutor, and the professor, was Imam Zainul Abideen, and as Al‑Baaqir
and his brothers participated regularly, their store of knowledge became ever so large. That of Al‑Baaqir was immense.
The foundation
for establishment of the Islamic Institute or University was being laid by now, quietly, imperceptibly, without fanfare, lest the ruling classes destroy
it. The institute was a simple one by now, the number of students not very large, and the emphasis was always on quality. The scholars increased in number
gradually, and the Masjid
Al‑Nabawi (Mosque of the Prophet) was usually the seat for their meetings.
AL‑BAAQIR IN HIS TWENTIES:
When Al‑Baaqir was in his twenties many divergent ideologies emerged in the Islamic world and had to be dealt with and corrected. There appeared:
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the
Jabriah
(Emphasizers
of Absolute Predestination),
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the Qadariyah
(Emphasizers
of Absolute and unlimited free will),
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the Khariji
(deviators),
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the people of Al‑Raa'y
(Emphasizers
of personal point of view or: the opinionated),
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the people of
Al‑Qiyas,
(Emphasizers
of analogy), and
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the Murji'ah,
(people
who subscribed to the legitimacy of Benu Umayya, but holding to the right to criticize them), among others.
Al‑Baaqir
noticed that his father, Zainul Abideen, took special pains to answer back against these emerging but extreme thoughts. This indicated to him the importance
of the matter.
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Besides, Al‑Baaqir also noticed that a special class of people who specialized
in the reading of the Holy Quran had evolved, which soon matured to have several branches, each with its followers. This led to the development of
deciphering the Arabic grammar.
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Just as important, Al‑Baaqir also noticed, was the growth of the number of
people reciting Al‑Hadith, or claiming their recitation of correct Hadith. This was like a new industry. But, unfortunately, as father Zainul
Abideen had stressed, many of those Hadiths were forgeries, for they soon discovered that the official rulers, Benu Umayya, were encouraging people to come up
with such forgeries if the new Hadith suited their policies or wishes. People with such manufactured Hadiths flocked to Benu Umayya, mainly for the sake
of gaining rewards or making money. (Seerah
of the twelve Imams, Hashim M Al-Hassani, Vol. 2, Page 188. Also Shar'h Al‑Nahj.)
►
Thanks to the treasure Imam Ali had left behind, the Corpus of
Knowledge, he quoted the Hadiths exactly as said by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). These Hadiths were clear, to the point, and unadulterated. Since these
Hadiths were put in the volumes called Saheefa of Ali, Zainul Abideen and Al‑Baaqir could refer to them whenever needed. They were to bring about
these correct Hadiths, popularize them, and put them in focus, so people can utilize them.
Al-Baaqir in his Mid‑twenties:
Muhammad Al‑Baaqir
got married in his mid‑twenties. His wife was Umm
Farwa, the great-granddaughter of Khalifa Abu Bakr. More than a year later, in the year 83H, a boy was born to him. They called him Ja'far.
Muhammad Al‑Baaqir
continued his ongoing participation in the educating process. He became very experienced, and having gathered such enormous knowledge, it made him sought
after by people. By now he was known all over. People endearingly called him Al‑Baaqir, to indicated his measureless ability for the in‑depth analysis of any
religious problem, the one who discloses treasures of wisdom underlying various Islamic laws. His knowledge of the Quran, its Tafseer, and quotes of
the Hadith were exceedingly large.
The Currency:
Even though the
contemporary ruler, Khalifa Abdul Malik, kept haughtily detached from Ahlul Bayt, he needed advice of exceptional importance to the Islamic nation. None in
his court was able to come out with a reasonable answer. Desperate, Abdul Malik sent for Muhammad Al‑Baaqir to take his advice. Al‑Baaqir left Medina and
after several weeks arrived at Damascus. He was ushered in the plush palace where the Khalifa, the court officials, and ruling class were seated.
It was explained
to Al‑Baaqir that the Byzantine
emperor was making it dangerously difficult for the Muslims, since he threatened to withdraw the dominant Byzantine currency, unless untenable concessions
were made by the Muslims. Till those days the currency in the Muslim world was predominantly the Byzantine currency.
Once the matter
was explained, Al‑Baaqir answered with emphasis that it was absolutely essential to be fully and permanently independent monetarily. He suggested:
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to cut off and sever dealing with the Byzantine currency,
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build Muslim currency
(coins) instead,
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inscribe on
one side La Ilaaha Illa Allah,
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inscribe on
the other side Muhammad Rasool Allah,
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stamp the edge of the coin with the date and locality, and
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have special scales to weigh the gold currency pieces to make sure its accurate worth.
Al‑Baaqir's
suggestion was immediately and unanimously agreed upon, and within a few months new coinage of gold with the insignia became the new currency. Inscribing on
coins was unheard of before, it was a daring innovation, an iconographic stroke of genius. (The
Venture of Islam, Marshall Hodgson, Vol. 1, Page 247.) This also meant that the
Islamic nation could by this time stand on its own and not kowtow to any blackmail from the Byzantines.
AL‑BAAQIR IN HIS THIRTIES
By the time
Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was in his early thirties, his son, Ja'far, was a few years old. Al‑Baaqir's brother, by the name of Zaid, was two years older than Ja'far,
and both Ja'far and Zaid were over fond of religion. Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was actively teaching them according to their age and level of understanding. Both
children were brilliant and took to this store of knowledge eagerly.
► Zainul Abideen and Al‑Baaqir shunned politics completely, yet they held to the Shari'ah viewpoint that
the contemporary rulers and their administration were
not valid nor were they legitimate. Khilaafah by now had been rendered a more mundane imperial power, no longer based on Islam. Therefore, instead of
being involved in politics, Zainul Abideen and Muhammad Al‑Baaqir concentrated on educating the public about Islam the way the Prophet (pbuh) had taught it,
which was of far reaching importance in the long run.
► Zainul Abideen and Muhammad Al‑Baaqir also knew that too many unusual ideology had crept in and many interests were being served at the expense of Islam. They
knew that Islam was violated in the name of Islam. Therefore, they were in a race against time to deliver as much Islamic knowledge as possible to the
people. Yet, one must take into consideration the technology of the day with its lack of the easy means of communication available to later generations.
► Medina evolved into an
intellectual center of learning (like a university town), students of various ages were coming from far away, often in groups, dispatched by various provinces.
They became scholars after completing their studies and returned home to educate the local people, the common man, by means of sermons and discourses about the
genuine and pure Islam. In the mean time the scholars exposed also the inequity, discrimination, and injustice of the ruling class. They did this
in Iraq, Persia, and Yemen, among many other areas.
► The growth of this endeavor was so enormous that a great power center inside, the Piety‑minded community, seemed to have been established and well
entrenched, and the Piety‑minded success was astonishing and undeniable. It became like a government inside a government, with Muhammad Al‑Baaqir's brother
the one in charge of finance, collecting Zakat and Khums, to be distributed justly and in fair manner to the needy and disadvantaged.
► When Imam Zainul Abideen died Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was 38 years old, and that was the start of his Imamah. Imamah is designation (Nass) by the
Almighty sent down to Muhammad (pbuh) through Jubra'eel, then passed down from one Imam to the subsequent one. When Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was named to be the
Imam, Zainul Abideen gave him the trust of the Corpus of Knowledge that came from Ali down to each Imam. Though beforehand he referred to them and guarded
them protectively, Imam Muhammad Al‑Baaqir was in possession and in charge of them now.
QUESTIONS
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Name the Hijrah year in which Al‑Baaqir was born.
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Discuss the lineage of Al‑Baaqir.
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Describe the conditions of Al‑Baaqir as a child when he was in Karbala.
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Explain the trip Al‑Baaqir took to Damascus and the effect of the death of Sakeena on him.
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On returning to Medina from Damascus what did Al‑Baaqir notice his father and great aunt doing?
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Describe the happenings in Medina when Al‑Baaqir was 5½ years old.
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Explain about Al‑Ansaari's message to Al‑Baaqir.
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Explain about what Al‑Baaqir was hearing when he was 7½ years old.
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Give samples of the questions Al‑Baaqir was asking when he was a child.
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Define the experiences Al‑Baaqir had when he was a teenager.
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Give the meaning of the word Al‑Baaqir.
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Evaluate the 6 ideologies that were hotly disputed when Al‑Baaqir was in his twenties.
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Name four scholars who attended the Institute of Ahlul Bayt.
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Give the name of the wife of Al‑Baaqir and her lineage.
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Give the name of Al‑Baaqir's first son.
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Abdul Malik the Khalifa could not solve the currency crisis, whom did he consult?
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Describe the 6 points Al‑Baaqir presented to solve the currency crisis for the Ummah.
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Give 2 points that impressed you the most about the solution to the currency crisis?
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Name two of Al‑Baaqir's relation who were most active in Islamic matters.
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What degree of involvement in politics did Al‑Baaqir have?
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What is meant by saying that Islam was violated in the name of Islam?
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Explain how Medina evolved to be the intellectual center.
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Explain about the Piety‑minded community and its far‑reaching influence.
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What did Zainul Abideen give to Al‑Baaqir before he died?
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How old was Al‑Baaqir when Zainul Abideen died?