THE MARTYRDOM OF THE INFALLIBLE IMAM MUHAMMAD AL-BAQIR (A.S.)

The Infallible Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) was the fifth divinely appointed leader (Imam) of the Muslims. He (a.s.) was the son of the Infallible Imam Ali Zain-al-Abidin (a.s.), son of the Infallible the King of Martyrdom Imam Husayn (a.s.), son of the Conqueror of Khyber, the Gateway of Knowledge, the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (a.s.). His mother was Sayyida Fatima Umm Abdullah, daughter of the Infallible Imam Hasan al-Mujtaba (a.s.).

The Divine scheme was to appoint Infallible Imams after the termination of Prophet hood. It started with the birth of Imam Ali (a.s.) in the Holy Ka’ba, a unique distinction not accorded to any human being, not even a Prophet. Imam Ali was raised by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and was formally appointed a vicegerent at the “Feast of Zul’Ashirah” when young Imam Ali (a.s.) vowed to support him and complied with that promise throughout his life. He (a.s.) defended Islam and the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). When the Prophetic mission was nearing completion, at the Pond of Khum, the Divine reminder was communicated by the Ayah 67 of Surah al-Ma’idah, “O Messenger, proclaim what is revealed to you from your Lord…”. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) responded and appointed Imam Ali (a.s.) his vicegerent in front of more than 120,000 pilgrims.

The members of this “Golden Chain” never sought the worldly position. Allah has provided the option to the human beings and the mankind has to pick up the right and virtue as mentioned in Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 256, “There is no compulsion in religion. Certainly, right has become clearly distinct from wrong.” The worldly kings were all along jealous and afraid of the divinely appointed Imams as the Muslims were attracted towards them and they in turn continued to guide the Muslims.

During the period of Walid bin Abdul Malik, the Byzantine currency was in use and they decided to issue a new currency with a phrase which was considered derogatory to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The Infallible Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) advised the king to issue a new coin with a statement “La Ilaha Illallah” on one side and “Muhammad Rasool Allah” on the other side of the coin. It was unanimously approved by all and for the first time an Islamic coin was minted.

During the period of Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, he stopped the tradition started by Muawiya ibn Abu Sufiyan of cursing Imam Ali (a.s.) from the pulpits of Muslim empire! It is an irony of fate that the person who was treated as “Nafse Rasool” in Surah al-Imran Ayah 61, “If any one disputes after knowledge has come to you, say, “Let us bring our sons and you bring your sons, bring our women and you bring your women, bring ourselves and you bring your selves and curse the liars.” He was cursed by the order of Muawiya bin Abu Sufiyan!

Similarly, Umar ibn Abdul Aziz wept in the presence of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) for the injustice inflicted upon Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) and returned the Territory of Fadak to him. It was from the revenue of the lands and orchards of Fadak that the Imam opened schools in Madinah wherein thousands of students came to learn the Glorious Qur’an and its true and correct meaning along with the Hadiths. It is reported by many historians that during the life time of the Imam (a.s.) about 25,000 students graduated from these schools and about 400 books of Hadiths were compiled under the Imam (a.s.)’s guidance.

As it happened with other divinely appointed leaders (Imams), the Umayyad king Hisham bin Abdul Malik skillfully arranged to poison the Imam in the saddle of the horse he was riding. He was martyred on 7 Zilhijja 114 A.H. and was laid to rest in Jannat-ul-Baqi in Madinah al-Munawara.

SAYINGS OF IMAM MUHAMMAD BAQIR (A.S.): “Our followers are of three kinds, one who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections, but the best are those who are like gold, they more they suffer the more they shine.”

“I admonish you regarding five things; if you are wronged, do not commit wrong doing to others, if you are betrayed, do not betray anyone, if you are called a liar, do not be furious, if you are praised, do not be jubilant, if you are criticized, do not fret and think of what is said in criticism, if you find in yourself what is criticized about you, then you are falling down in the eyes of God; when you are furious about the truth, it is much greater calamity then your falling down in the eyes of the people. And if you are opposite of what is said (in criticism) about you, then it is a merit you acquired without having to tire in obtaining it.”

Source: Story of the Holy Ka’ba and its people by S.M.R.Shabbar