THE INNOCENT ORPHAN, SAYYADA SAKINA BINT AL-HUSAYN (S.A.)

Sayyida Sakina was born on 20 Rajab 56 A.H. in Madinah. She was the most beloved daughter of The King of Martyrs, Imam Husayn (a.s.) and she in turn loved her father and used to sleep on his chest. Imam Husayn (a.s.) used to say: “A house without Sayyida Sakina would not be worth living in!” She loved all her brothers and sisters specially her younger brother Ali al-Asghar who was about six months old in Karbala. Moreover, she had a special relationship with her uncle, Abbas ibn Ali (a.s.) and he also loved his niece more than his own children.

She was very religious, enjoyed reading the Glorious Qur’an, would pray salaat (namaaz) regularly and was always dressed-up in Islamic attire including head-cover. She was 5 years old in Karbala.

In Karbala, after 7 Muharram, Yazid (l.a.)’s army did not allow the water inside Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s camp. Sayyida Sakina shared whatever water was left with other children. As the days passed, the desert heat made the children uncomfortable without water. On the Day of Ashura, when all the companions and the family members of Hashmi youths had attained martyrdom, Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali (a.s.), the Commander of the Imam (a.s.)’s band of warriors, sought permission for Jihad. Imam Husayn (a.s.) refused to grant permission saying that he was the Commander of Imam (a.s.)’s army. In the meantime, Sayyida Sakina, along with some 42 children, brought a dry water-bag (mashk) and Imam Husayn (a.s.) reluctantly permitted Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) only to get some water. Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) courageously fought his way and landed his horse in the River Euphrates. Neither he nor his faithful horse drank a drop of water. He filled the water-bag with water and was galloping towards the camp when the treacherous enemy cut-off both of his hands from behind but he still held tight the water-bag in his teeth but the arrows of the enemy pierced the water-bag and the water flowed away. Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) attained martyrdom. After that time, she never asked for water anymore!

After the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.), the accursed Shimer slapped Sayyida Sakina, forcibly snatched her ear-rings tearing her ear lobes. The barbaric Yazid (l.a.)’s army looted the sacred household of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and set the camps on fire. The sacred ladies were deprived of their head covers, the children ran out of the burning camps. Sayyida Sakina’s clothes also caught fire, and when one of the reporters tried to extinguish the flames, she warned the man not to touch her as she was the member of the sacred Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). She was running in the battlefield crying: “Father! O Father, where are you?” As the butchers of Karbala, had already severed the pious heads of the martyrs, the bodies in the battle field were unrecognizable.

As night fell, the “Sham-e-Ghareeban” became sorrowful and painful. The Sani-e-Zahra, Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) took charge of the caravan and along with her sister, Umme Kulsoom (s.a.), they started counting the children and could not find Sayyida Sakina. They went in the battle-field and searched her and at last found her sleeping on the trampled chest of Imam Hussayn (a.s.). She woke her up and Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) inquired as to how she recognized her father? Sayyida Sakina replied: “I was running around in the battle-field and calling my father, when a voice came from this trampled body calling me towards him” During the “Sham-e-Ghareeban”, the widow of Hazrat Hurr, the deflected commander of Yazid (l.a.) army, brought some water and food into AhlulBayt’s burnt down camp site, Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) gave some water to Sayyida Sakina. She took the water towards the battle field for her martyred baby brother, Hazrat Ali al-Asghar, who was the youngest in the family!

The children at Karbala were in no way connected to the “allegiance” to Yazid (l.a.). In any humane and civilized Muslim society, the survivors of this catastrophic carnage are pacified and offered kind words of consolations. In the tragedy of Karbala, the so-called Muslims did not stay even at the level of humanity! It was the height of barbarism and butchery, un-parallel in human history.

On the 11 Muharram, the daughters of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) were made captive, their hands were tight behind their backs and made to sit on the camels without seats and routed through the battlefield, where the bodies of their loved ones were scattered all over the battle-field. Imagine the sorrow and grief of the women who saw their loved-ones un-buried (against the dictates of Islamic customs). The caravan proceeded towards Kufa. In Kufa, the markets were decorated in celebration of the massacre at Karbala and the procession of Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s)’s captive family! Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) was made to go through the bazars without head-cover while her mother, Lady of Paradise, Sayyida Fatimah Zahra (s.a.)’s funeral was taken out at night and not seen by any one! On the way from Kufa to Damascus, at one point, Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s head will not move forward. On inquiry it was found that Sayyida Sakina had fallen from the camel and Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) walked back and saw that she was sitting in the lap of a sacred lady in black attire concealing her identity. When Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) tried to thank her, she disclosed her identity; she was the Lady of Paradise, Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) who was all along with the Holy Caravan from Madinah.

The oppressive armed men, to cause pain and misery, hurriedly completed the journey in two days, which normally takes sixteen days!

 The sacred members of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) were imprisoned in a prison without roof when the scorching sun light fell on them while they were exposed to the chill at night!

While in the court of Yazid (l.a.), he was desecrating Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s head by hitting his lips and teeth with a cane. At one time, he wanted to test Sayyida Sakina’s love for her father. He (l.a.) challenged Sayyida Sakina to call her father’s head to come to her lap. She responded and raised her little hands and called her father to come to her. Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s head rose from the big plate and flew in to the waiting arms of Sayyida Sakina.

Sayyida Sakina used to sit at the gate of the prison and witness that birds were returning to their nests in the evening. She would ask her aunt Sayyida Zaynab (s.a.) as to where those birds were going, she would reply that they were going to their homes. Sayyida Sakina would ask her aunt as to when they were going back to Madinah? Unfortunately, it was not destined that she will ever return to Madinah!

In the prison, one night, she woke up from her sleep and cried continuously. The family members tried their best to pacify and console her. She said: “O dear aunt, where is my father? A few minutes ago, I was with my father and he kissed me and said that “my dear Sakina you will soon be with me” But where is my father now?” When Sayyida Sakina described her dream, all the sacred ladies started to cry and when this noise reached Yazid (l.a.)’s quarters, he sent the severed head of Imam Husayn (a.s.) to the prison. As soon as she received her father’s head, she held it tight to herself and cried even more and said to her father: “Who cutoff my father’s head? Who martyred my father? Why we are kept as captives?” With these words of sorrow, she suddenly became quiet. Everyone thought that she might have slept again, but alas! Sayyida Sakina had gone into the eternal sleep. Imam Sajjad (a.s.) dug a grave in the prison and buried her little sister in her torn clothes as it was completely attached to her flesh after the burning of the camps on Ashura!

May Allah curse the oppressors of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.).

THE GUIDING STAR OF PEACE - THE LITTLE MARTYR, HAZRAT ALI AL-ASGHAR (A.S.)

After the second World War, the scholars and thinkers of Europe resolved in a conference to Appeal for Peace to all the powers in the world in the name of Hazrat Ali Asghar (a.s.), the Little Martyr of Karbala, Iraq. And they declared him as the “Guiding Star of The Peace”.

The great French poet, Alexander Ginil, composed a poem of 1500 couplets regarding the tragic event of Hazrat Ali al-Asghar (a.s.). This composition has also been translated in English. The poem was sent to all the government of the world in the name of The Little Martyr, Hazrat Ali al-Asghar (a.s.). Following are few of the couplets from the poem:

1.      Ali Asghar, celestial star of every child, Master of the bruised and hearts triumphant,

Towards thee rises, time without end, the unquenchable,

Flame of eternal love, which thou to our souls hast given.

2.      The martyrdom in the middle of the stifling desert,

of Karbala, held close in thy father’s arms,

Amid the thousands of sorrows,

In the desert which saw thy doom and thy victory,

Will exalt without end the love in our hours,

Thy young bloodshed in honor’s name,

Like a sun dying in its own purpled glory,

3.      The little innocents were refused a drop of water,

And the victims of the tyrant’s fury,

But the death, noble child, facing the armies,

Thy martyrdom among the deserts scorching stones,

Will, attest forever the wickedness of the tyrants,

Who left thee too perish of a terrible thirst,

And to thy dying lips, Refusing the charity of a drop of water,

The end in the scorching desert.

4.      Child: You have risen the tribes of the world,

You have risen like a star of stars,

In the arms of your venerated father.

Your death fertilized the desert sands,

And in every heart, you reached the pinnacle of love.

5.      At the day of judgement,

We too say: KARBALA!

Thy martyrdom, O our Master ALI-ASGHAR,

Has engraved thee in our hearts,

Thy name shall ever be on our lips!

From your place so high, pray with us,

For an age of Gold, so that justice,

Will open all paths!

Never can we think of Karbala,

Without remembering Thy glorious martyrdom,

Now we shall ever pray that a new era,

Of LOVE and JUSTICE and PEACE

Shall reign in our world forever.

Source: rizvanamrohvi.blogspot.com

SAYINGS OF THE KING OF MARTYRS, THE INFALLIBLE IMAM HUSAYN (A.S.)

The Infallible Imam Husayn (a.s.) was the son of the Gateway of Knowledge, the Gateway of Wisdom, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.). His sayings are numerous, some of the selected ones are:

1.      Wisdom never attains perfection except by following the truth (obeying the commandments of Allah).

2.      One who loves you prevents you from all evils, while your enemy persuades you to commit wrong and evil.

3.      Act in this world like a person who knows that he will be rewarded for virtuous deeds and punished for sins and crimes.

4.      One who annoys Allah to please people, Allah leaves him to the people.

5.      One who accepts your gift has really helped you in attaining generosity.

6.      One who removes troubles from a believer, Allah expels troubles from him in this world and in the Hereafter.

7.      Do not seek help from anyone except the one who is religious, or generous, or of noble descent (parentage)

8.      One who is generous may attain greatness and he who is miser becomes miserable.

9.      The most generous person is one who helps the despondent, who does not expect any help from others.

10.  Compete for virtuous deeds and hasten to seize opportunities for honorable deeds.

11.  The most forgiving person is the one who forgives despite his ability to punish.

12.  Don’t speak about your brother behind his back except you like to be spoken about you behind your back.

13.  A salaam (greetings) has seventy virtues, sixty-nine of which are for the one who is first to greet, whereas only one award is for the one who replies (to your salaam).

14.  Do not allow anyone to enter or speak to you if he does not greet you or wish you salaam.

15.  A miser behaves miserly even in greeting salaam to others.

16.  What has he obtained who lost You O God? And what has he lost who found You?

17.  People are slave of this world. They revolve around religion if their materialistic needs are well provided; but when they face difficulties, tests and trials, very few people prove to be steadfast.

18.  God initiated commanding the good and forbidding the evil as a compulsory duty for us, as He knows that if these two duties are well performed and established, then all other Divine duties whether difficult or easy, shall be established as well; and this this commandment and forbiddance shall invite people to Islam, and secured the rights of the wronged people as well as arouse opposition against tyrants and transgressors.

19.  A nation, which buys the goodwill of the people at the cost of annoying the Creator, can never be happy and fortunate.

20.  To argue with one who is unable to think reasonably, is an indication of one’s ignorance.

21.  Beware of oppressing a person, who finds no one to revenge against you except the God the Mighty and Majestic.

Source: imamreza.net

LEADER OF THE OPPRESSED, INDIGENT AND FREEDOM FIGHTERS

The Infallible Imam Husayn (a.s.) was born on 3^rd Sha’ban 4 A.H. His father was the Conqueror of Khyber, the Lion of Allah, the Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.). His mother was the Lady of Paradise, the Chief of the women of the world, Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.), the daughter of the Chief of the Prophets of Allah (s.w.t.), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). After the birth, Jibra’il descended on earth with greetings from Allah s.w.t.) to him (s.a.w.a.s.) and directed to name the new born as “Husayn” and conveyed the news that he will be mercilessly martyred by the so called, in the desert of Karbala, depriving him water for three days. The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) cried and his daughter also cried upon hearing the impending tragedy. On inquiry from Sayyida Fatima (s.a.), the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) forecasted that Allah will create a nation who will cry on her son Husayn (a.s.). She promised that she will not enter the Paradise until every mourner of her son enters the Paradise.  There is a famous tradition of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) which says, “Husayn is from me and I am from Husayn”

When the people interfered in the Divine scheme of leadership and elected their own leaders, the deviation started and the leadership settled in the arch-enemies of Islam and the Prophet of Allah, the hypocrites Bani Umayyads. Muawiya, after breaking the truce with the grandson of the Prophet of Allah, the Infallible Imam Hasan (a.s.), appointed his son Yazid to be the caliph of Muslims. Yazid openly ridiculed Islam and Islamic tenets. After he became the caliph, he demanded the grandson of the Prophet (s.a.w.a.s) to pay allegiance to him, to get the seal of approval for all his anti-Islamic actions from Imam Husayn (a.s.).

Imam Husayn (a.s.), who was one of the Pure ones in the Qur’anic Ayah of Purity (Surah al-Ah’zab Ayah 33) and included in the “Truthful” according to Ayah 61 of Surah Al-Imran, could never pay allegiance to a vicious, immoral and tyrant person.

Imam Husayn stood for and defended the human rights, human dignity, freedom of speech, justice, the rights of the oppressed, compassion and mercy to even his enemy, forgiveness and clemency, chivalry and bravery, faith and sacrifice.

He saved not only Islam but all the Abrahamic faiths revealed by Allah from beginning of time. Before the tragedy of Karbala, the world knew only the rule of “Might is Right” The Day of Ashura introduced even more powerful rule to this world; “The Right is the Might”

Mahatma Gandhi of India said, “I learned from Husayn, how to achieve victory while being oppressed.” The first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Nehru said, “Imam Husayn (a.s.) ‘s sacrifice is for all groups and communities, an example of the path of Righteousness.” Former President of India Dr. Radha Krishna said, “Though Imam Husayn gave his life 1300 years ago, but his indestructible soul rules the hearts of the people even today.”

There is a saying that, “Every land is Karbala and every day is Ashura”

Most of the freedom movements in the world draw inspiration from Imam Husayn (a.s.)’s powerful sacrifice.

When this small band of freedom fighters left Makkah, and was travelling towards Iraq, Yazid’s army commander Hurr leading an army of about one thousand soldiers met Imam Husayn (a.s.). They were thirsty. Imam Husayn asked his brother Abbas ibn Ali (a.s.) to let the enemy be provided with water even to their horses. While travelling in the desert, water is a precious commodity but the son of “Saqi-e-Kusar” offered his water resources to the enemy.

The famous Urdu poet Josh Malih’abadi said, “Insan ko bedar tu holane do Har qaum pukaregi hamare hain Husayn.” It may be translated as, “Let the human beings be awakened, every nation will claim to own Imam Husayn” 

THE GREAT SACRIFICE

Eid al-Azha is the Divine order to remember the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim and his son Prophet Is’mail. Prophet Ibrahim saw in a dream that he was slaughtering his son. He saw this dream for two nights. Prophet Ibrahim prayed for a son for many years and Allah granted him Is ‘mail at the age of 90 years. When Prophet Is ‘mail was of the age of 11 or 12 years, then Prophet Ibrahim saw the dream.

The Glorious Qur’an describes the event in the following manner in Surah al-Sa’ffat Ayahs 102 to 108, “When his son was old enough to work with him, he said, “My son, I have had a dream that I must sacrifice you. What do you think of this?” He replied, “Father, fulfill whatever you are commanded to do and you will find me patient, by the Will of Allah.” When they both agreed and Ibrahim laid down his son on the side of his face (for slaughtering), We called to him, Ibrahim! you have fulfilled what you were commanded to do in your dream. “Thus, do We reward the righteous ones. It was certainly an open trial. We ransomed his son with a great sacrifice and perpetuated his praise in later generations.” After Prophet Ibrahim opened his eyes, he saw that a ram was slaughtered and his son was standing nearby smiling!

There are many interpretations for what the “great sacrifice” was. Some commentators suggested that the ram was the “great sacrifice”. There is no comparison between a Prophet and a ram. Yet some others say that the “King of Martyrs” the Infallible Imam Husayn ibn Ali (a.s.)’s sacrifice in Karbala was the “great Sacrifice”. Imam Husayn (a.s.) cannot be the ransom for Prophet Is ‘mail as it is universally accepted that the Infallible Imams (a.s.) are superior to all the Prophets except the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The martyrdom of Imam Husayn (a.s.) was known to the Prophets Adam, Nuh, and Ibrahim. At the time of the sacrifice of Prophet Is ‘mail, the seeds of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), the Chief of the Women of the world Sayyida Fatima Zahra (s.a.) and all the Infallible Imams (a.s.), were in the loins of Prophet Is ‘mail and if he would have been slaughtered at that time, the seeds of all Imams would have destroyed. 

The famous companion of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari inquired from the Infallible Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s.) about it and he (a.s.) replied, “O Jabir, there is an interior of the Qur’an and an interior of the interior. And it has an exterior and an exterior of the exterior of the Qur’an.” There are many meanings of the Ayahs of the Qur’an. If one believes in the apparent meaning, it does not mean that one denies the inner interpretations.

   

According to Jabir ibn Abdullah al-Ansari that Fazal narrates that Imam Ali al-Reza (a.s.) said, “Prophet Ibrahim wished that if he would have been allowed to slaughter his son with his own hands, he would have been eligible for the rewards of grief-stricken people. Thus, Allah revealed to him, “O Ibrahim! Who is more beloved to you among all the creatures? Ibrahim replied: O My Lord! None among your creatures is as much beloved to me as Your beloved, Muhammad.” The revelation asked: Is he more precious to you or your own self? He said that he was more beloved to him than himself. Then he was asked whether Muhammad’s son was more beloved to him or his own son (Ismail). Ibrahim replied, “His (Muhammad’s) son is more beloved to me.” At that time Allah informed Ibrahim, “Would you be more aggrieved upon his oppressive slaughter or upon the slaughter of your son by your own hands under My orders?” Ibrahim replied that he would be more aggrieved on the slaughter of Prophet’s son at the hands of the enemies. Then the Almighty informed him that a group would think that they are from nation of Muhammad and after Muhammad they would unjustly slay his son like a ram is slaughtered. And those people would be eligible for the divine wrath due to this act. Hearing this incident, Ibrahim (a.s.) became restless and his heart became aggrieved and began to weep.” At that time, Almighty Allah revealed: O Ibrahim! The grief you would have suffered due to slaughtering Ismail with your own hands, We have ransomed it with this restlessness that you experienced due to Husayn and his slaying and I have bestowed you with the highest position of the grief-stricken people; and that is the aim of the divine saying, “And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.”

Sources: The Glorious Qur’an, Bihar-ul-Anwar by Allama Majlisi, Understanding Karbala by Allama Saeed Akhter Rizvi 

THE KING OF MARTYRS - IMAM HUSAYN (A.S.)'S MIGRATION FROM MADINAH TO MAKKAH

In the history of Islam, there is no instance when any Infallible Imam (a.s.) had ever attacked first on any suspected enemy in either open encounter or from a hiding place. The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali (a.s.) never attacked an enemy who was disarmed or unable to defend himself. He gave clear instructions to the Muslims in the light of the Glorious Qur’an, never to attack women, children, disabled, sick or one who run away from the battlefield. This principle saved the lives of Abu Sufiyan and Muawiya who ran away from the battlefield during their fight against the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.). The King of Martyrs Imam Husayn (a.s.) followed his grandfather and father during the entire course of events leading to the greatest tragedy in human history-Karbala. During this period, many of his friends offered to accompany him, the Imam dissuaded them saying that Yazid was after his blood.

The Makkans received him with great love and reverence and gathered around him for guidance. The Imam’s chief aim was to train people to be pious and God-fearing and strictly follow the Islamic practices. While he was still in Madinah, he had received hundreds of letters from Kufans, which increased to 12,000 after the death of Muawiya. They complained about the oppressive, vicious and merciless killing of innocent people by the governor of Basra, Ibn Ziyad. The letters emphasized that they were left without an Imam, and as the Imam of the time it was incumbent upon him to come to the rescue of the oppressed and to render justice, and if he failed to do so, he would be responsible before God.

Imam Husayn (a.s.) replied to their appeals and told them that he was sending his trusted cousin Muslim bin Aqil to let him know the real affairs in Kufa and that the people were unanimously petitioned that they were without an Imam for guidance. Further he was not planning to come as a conqueror but as an Imam fettered by the chains of Divine laws to act justly and righteously. He was not an opportunist to empower himself with the support of the disgruntled and impatient masses.

At Mina, Imam Husayn (a.s.) gave a sermon: “You are fully aware of the tyranny and oppression of Mu’awiya and Yazid. By God and the close relationship between me and the Messenger of Allah, I ask you to bear witness to what I shall say, and to write it down and propagate my speech to everyone in your city. I apprehend that the truth will be buried and falsehood will be made to prevail. Is not Muhammad the Messenger of Allah? Is not Fatima the only child of the Prophet and Chief of the women in Paradise? Is not Ali the cousin and deputy of the Prophet? Have you not heard that the Prophet say, when he created brother hood between his followers that Ali was a brother to him like Aron was to Moses? Am I not the son of Ali and Fatima? Have you not heard that the Prophet say that I and my brother Hasan are the masters of the youth in Paradise? Is it true that when the Prophet constructed the mosque, he had all the doors closed except the one leading to the house of Ali and Fatima, and when Umar wanted to open a chink in the wall of his house so that he could peep into the mosque, the Prophet sternly forbid it? Is it true that on the day of Mubahaila with the Christians, the Prophet took my mother Fatima to represent women, my father Ali to represent men and I and my brother Hasan to represent the children of the Prophet? This the Prophet did in accordance with what was revealed to him by God. Have you not heard the Prophet say that ‘Fatima, Ali, Hasan and Husayn are from me and I am from them’ and ‘they are my Ahlul Bayt’? Have you not heard the Prophet say that’one who loves my Ahlul Bayt loves me and one who loves me loves Allah, and he who opposes my Ahlul Bayt opposes me and one who opposes me oppose Allah’?” The people said, “We affirm the truthfulness of what you said.”

The Imam (a.s.) said, “I make it obligatory on all of you gathered here to repeat all what you have heard from me now, to your kith and kin, friends and acquaintances, in villages, towns and cities and wherever you find two believers gathered in one place.” 

  

            Source: The Hidden Truth about Karbala by A.K. Ahmed

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