Muhammad ibn Ali popularly known as Muhammad al-Baqir, Abu Ja’far, or simply al-Baqir is one of the descendants and a member of the pure Household of the Messenger of God (peace be upon him and his household). His birth to the noble Prophet’s Household was a source of joy to the family, as the personalities of the two grandsons of the Prophet (i.e., al-Hasan and al-Husain) combined in him. In Shia Islam, Muhammad ibn Ali was the fifth Imam, succeeding his father, Imam Ali al-Sajjad, and succeeded by his son, Ja’far al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon them).
His Lineage
His father was the best of all the Muslim figures in jurisprudence, knowledge, and religious piety, the Chief of the prostrators (Al-Sajjad), the ornament of the worshipers (Zayn al-Abidin), the fourth Shia Imam; Ali al-Sajjad, the son of the third Imam; Imam Husain, the son of the successor and the vicegerent of the Messenger of God who was the first Imam; ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them). His mother was a pure chaste woman; Fatimah, the daughter of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba. She was given the teknonym of Umm ‘Abd Allah (the mother of ‘Abd Allah)[1]. She was among the Hashimite women. Imam Zayn al-‘Abidin, peace be on him, called her al-Siddiqa (the very truthful one)[2]. While describing her unique personality Ja’far al-Ṣādiq (peace be upon him) said: “She was very truthful. No one in the family of al-Hasan looked like her[3].”
Hence, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was the first person who was a Fāṭīmī [a descendant of Lady Fatimah az-Zahra] and an ‘Alawī [a descendant of Ali ibn Abi Talib] from both the paternal and maternal sides. Therefore, Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir is called Hashimite among Hashimites, ‘Alawī among ‘Alawīs, and Fāṭīmī among Fāṭīmīs.
His Birth
According to a report, Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (PBUH) was born in Medina on Friday Rajab 1, 57 (equivalent to May 10, 677)[4]. Some have reported his birth to have been on the third day of the month of Safar, in the year 56 A. H (equivalent to December 16, 676) in Medina[5].
The Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (PBUH) resided in Medina throughout his life. He did not leave it for another city. He was the first teacher and great pioneer for scientific cultural movements in Medina, as he used the Prophetic Mosque as a school where he taught and trained thousands of students on different Islamic Sciences.
His Epithets and Teknonym
His epithets are Al-Amin (the trusted one); Al-Shabih (the one who resembles the Prophet); Al-Shākir (the grateful one); Al- Hādi (the one who guides); Al-Ṣābir (the patient one); Al-Shāhid (the proof) and Al-Bāqir (the one who split open knowledge) is the most famous of his epithets. His famous teknonym is Abu Ja’far [the father of Ja’far], which was given after the name of his son, Ja’far al-Ṣādiq. However, he is mostly referred to as Abu Ja’far al-Awwal in hadith references.
The Prophetic Prediction
Almost ten years before the birth of Muhammad al-Bāqir, his great grandfather, the noble Prophet of God (peace be upon him and his family) named him Muhammad and also gave him the epithet al-Bāqir. That is to say, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) had not only given the good news of the birth of al-Baqir, but he had also given him a name and epithet. Therefore, the members of the Prophet’s Household (peace be on them) had waited for the birth of Muhammad al-Bāqir.
Based on the most authentic Hadith narrated by both Sunni and Shia historians, it is documented that one of the companions of the Holy Prophet, Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari was in the presence of the Holy Prophet. He asked the Prophet about the names of descendants from his daughter Lady Fatimah Az-Zahra and ‘Ali (peace be upon them). The Prophet told him: “O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, you will meet the fifth in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me and who will be the fifth 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. Thus, Jabir was impatiently waiting for his birth to give him the message of his grandfather. When the Imam was born and became a grown-up, Jabir met and recognized him, then, he kissed him and told him the message from the Holy Prophet and that the Prophet sent his salaams to him. Imam al-Baqir took him to his home and asked his friends to gather as many people as they could. 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 Imamate of the fifth Imam and also the names of the other seven Imams in his lineup to the twelfth Imam.
His Features and Personality
Allah singled out the Imams of the members of the Prophet’s Household (peace be on them) with distinguished features and outstanding merits. He bestowed upon them absolute perfection which He had granted to His Messengers and Prophets.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to mention that the qualities and features of Imam al-Baqir (peace be on him) were similar to those of his great grandfather, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family). While describing his features, Jabir ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Ansari said that his features were similar to those of Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family[6]. His morals were also similar to the Prophet’s high morals which distinguished him from the other Prophets.
Another attribute of Imam al-Baqir is his immense knowledge and wisdom since his childhood. The proof of this fact is the innumerable traditions recounted from him and the large number of illustrious men of science and Shiite scholars who were trained by him in different Islamic sciences. The historians have unanimously agreed that he was given the epithet al-Bāqir was given to him by the Prophet because he splits knowledge in detail so that it can be spread to all people truly and correctly. Imam al-Rida (PBUH) was reported to have said the following in this regard: “O (you) who split open knowledge (making it available) to the people of piety and the best of those who seek to answer the call of the Exalted[7].”
Sheikh al-Mufid in his al-Irshād while describing the personality of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH) writes: “Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) was superior to all his brothers in knowledge, piety, and dignity. He had a higher position in relation to his siblings. Everyone praised him with glory and he was respected by the Sunni and Shi’a scholars. He (PBUH) had knowledge of religion, the Qur’an, ethics, and morals to such a great extent that even these had not been formerly taught by any of the children of al-Hasan and al-Husain (peace be upon them). The rest of the companions of the Prophet (PBUHH), the noble ones among the Followers (Tābi’ūn), and the highest-ranking jurists have narrated from him. His position in merits and nobility reached a level of being exemplary among the people of knowledge. They wrote works and composed poems to praise his personality[8].”
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the outstanding personality of Imam al-Bāqir (PBUH) is not only restricted to the Shi’a scholars but his unique personality has been praised and exalted by the Sunni scholars as well. Here are a few examples of Sunni viewpoints on Imam al-Bāqir (PBUH):
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami in his al-Ṣawāʿiq al-Muḥraqah, writes: “Abu Ja’far Muhammad al-Bāqir (PBUH) had disclosed so many hidden treasures of sciences, truth behind rulings, and points of wisdom that are not hidden except to ignorant or ill-wishers and thus they have called him Baqir al-‘ilm [splitter of knowledge]. He is a great source and the one who establishes knowledge. He (PBUH) spent his life in worship of God and in the ranks of mystics, he reached a status beyond description. He (PBUH) has many words in the journey towards God and Islamic teachings[9].”
Similarly, al-Dhahabi in his Sīyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ, writes: “He [Imam al-Baqir] is among those who have gathered knowledge, its observation, dignity, honor, reliability and serenity and he was qualified for caliphate[10]“.
His Imamate
Muhammad al-Bāqir (PBUH) was 39 years old at the time of the martyrdom of his father, Imam Ali Zayn al-‘Abidīn (PBUH). Thus Imam al-Bāqir (PBUH) succeeded him to become the fifth Imam in 95/713 and had the responsibility of leading the Shi’a until his martyrdom in 114/733 (or 117/735).
References
[1] . Al-Ya‘qubi, Tarikh, vol.2, p.60; A‘yan al-Shi‘a, 1/4/464.
[2] . Abu al-Hasan al-‘Amili, Diya’ al-‘Amilin, vol.2. Al-Dur al-Nazim, serial 2879
[3] . Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, p. 469.
[4] . Ṭabarī, Dalāʾil al-Imāma, p. 215; Ṭabrisī, Iʿlām al-wara, vol. 1, p. 498.
[5] . Ibn Khullakan, Wafayat al-A‘yan, vol.3, p.314. Tadhkirt al-Huffaz, vol.1, p.124. Nazhat al-Jalis, vol.2, p.36
[6] . Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, p. 469.
[7] . Jawhart al-Kalam fi Madh al-Sada al-A‘lam, p.133
[8] . Mufīd, al-Irshād, vol. 2, p. 157.
[9] . Ibn Hajar, al-Ṣawāʿiq al-muḥraqah, p. 201.
[10] . Dhahabī, Sīyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ, vol. 4, p. 402.
