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Golden Sayings & Speeches of Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.
Assalamoalaka ya Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s.
The ink of the scholar is more Holy than the blood of the martyr.
For those unable to go for the ziyarat of Imam Husain (A.S.) on the day of A'shura, Imam Baqir (A.S.) mentions the manner of performing A'zadari as follows: He should mourn over Husain (A.S.), weep for him and instruct the members of the house to weep for him. He should establish the mourning ceremony in the house by exhibiting lamentions and grief over him; the people should meet one another in their homes and offer condolences and consolations to each other over the calamities which befell him.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) once said to one of his companions: "O Jabir it is not enough that a person says; I am a Shi'ah and I love the Prophet (Pbuh&hp) and the Prophet's family and the Imams. By Allah, a Shiah is the one who is perfectly pious and obedient to Allah's commands. Anyone else is not a Shiah no matter how much they say they love Hazrat Ali (AS) and no matter what they call themselves. O Jabir Our Shi'ahs are known by these signs:
a) They are truthful, trustworthy and loyal;
b) They always remember Allah;
c) They offer their prayers, observe fasts, and recite Qur'an;
d) They help their neighbors, take care of orphans, and say nothing but good of people;
e) They act nicely towards their parents;
f) They are worthy of peoples trust and confidence.
Imam said, 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, the more they suffer the more they shine.
Whenever Allah wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins are compensated. Ref Al Kaafi vol 2 pg# 444
The scholar who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than 70,000 devotees.
Man's tongue is the key to all good and evil. Therefore, a believer should lock his tongue like he would keep his gold and silver locked up. Ref- Biharul Anvaar vol 78 Pg# 178
If man knew the rewards for hardships and suffering, he would cut himself to pieces (to suffer)! Ref Biharul Anvaar vol 81 Pg# 192
Imam Muhammad Baqir (A.S.) issued a directive which gave a definite form to the keeping of the memory of Imam Hussain (A.S.) alive. He recommended that for those believers for whom it was possible and convenient they should go for the ziyarah of the grave of Imam Hussain. For those for whom it was not possible or convenient, they should gather together and hold mourning ceremony and weep. Ibn Qawlawayah p. 104
May Allah have mercy on a man who meets with another in order to remember our situation. There will be an angel with them who will seek forgiveness for them…………..If you gather together and occupy yourselves in remembering us, then our memory will be kept alive in your meetings and remembrances. The best of people after us are those who remember our situation and urge others to remember us. Ibn Qawlawayah p. 174/5
O Jabir, is it enough for one, to say that 'I love Ali (a.s.) and I have achieved his Wilayat,' whereas he does not act upon it?" the nearness of Allah is not achieved without His obedience . When our Shias do not have obedience and action (to their credit) we have no authority to free them from Hell. Merely a verbal claim, "I am a Shia" is not sufficient argument for Allah. " ...
One who does not cultivated patience for confronting
the troubles of life becomes weak. A famous saying of Imam Muhammad bin Ali Al-Baqir (peace be upon him) is “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.” It is as if that the people called him al-Ba`qir because of his great
knowledge and his many sciences. It was also said that he was given the
nick-name of al-Ba`qir because of his many prostrations (in worship). Thus, he
split open his forehead. (Mir'at al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-A'yan, vol. 5, p. 78).
An adherent of a revealed religion (kitabi) attacked the Ima`m, was
aggressive towards him, and addressed him with bitter words: "You are baqar
(cows). The adherent went on attacking the Imam, saying: "You are the son of the
cook. Still the adherent went on attacking the Imam, saying: You are the son of
the black woman.... His Alms to the Poor of Medina, The Ima`m, peace be on him, did a lot of
charity and favor for the poor of Medina (Yathrib). His alms for them were
counted. They amounted eight thousands dinars. ( Sharh Shafiyat Abi Firas, vol.
2, p. 176) He gave them a dinar as alms every Friday. He said: "The alms on Friday is
better than it is on the other days.(A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/471). Imam Baqir (A.S.) said : Everyone
completing a recitation of the Holy Quran in Makkah won't die unless he sees the
Prophet (S.A.W.) and his own place in the Heaven. Someone asked Imam Baqir (A.S.): "Why Hajj has been named "The Hajj of
God's House"? "Imam said: It means that the pilgrim has reached salvation. Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: God does not accept
the Hajj and Umrah whose costs have been paid for through illegal means
property. (Religiously prohibited). Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: One prayer in the
Masjid-al-Haram is 100000 times more valuable than one prayer in any other
mosques. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Respect people who
had performed Hajj and Umrah, because you are obliged to respect them. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Hajj and Umrah are
two bazaars of the hereafter. The person who does Hajj and Umrah very often is
the God's guest. If God keeps him alive, he is kept forgiven and if God gets his
life, he will enter the Paradise. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: If someone dies in
one of these two sanctuaries (that is Makkah or Madinah), he will be appointed
without any fear in the resurrection day. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Someone who
prostrates in Makkah is like the person who sheds his blood in the way of God. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: There are three
things which their spiritual rewards include both afterlife and this world:
Hajj; which vanishes poverty, alms; which removes poverty, and goodness; which
makes life last longer. Imam Sadiq (A.S.) says: God has provided
120 types of blessings around Kaaba, 60 of these blessings will be given to
circumambulators, 40 of them will be given to prayers and 20 of these blessings
will be for people who look at Kaaba. Regarding settlement in Arafat Imam Baqir
(A.S.) says: None of good and wicked people would settle on the Arafat's
mountain unless God accepts their prayers ; the chaste benediction for the
mundane and afterlife matters will be accepted but the wicked prayers will be
accepted just for their mundane matters. Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: Begin your Hajj
from Makkah and finish it to us. Imam Baqir (A.S.): Hajj is peaceful for the
soul. Imam Baqir (A.S.): Having complete Hajj is
like meeting with the Imam.
Imam Baqir (A.S.): Whoever comes to pilgrimage this house is not
accepted if he/she doesn't have these three traits:1. Self-restraint from sinning.2. Forbearance to control his / her anger with.3. Treating his / her companions properly.
Imam Baqir (A.S.) says: There are three
things that are headed by God. His book, which is His order and light. His House
which is the Qiblah (that is the direction to which Muslims turn in praying) and
He just accepts full attention to this direction and the Etrat (that is the
household of the Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.) His Commandments to his Shi'ites (41-110) Speech of Hazrat
Imam Muhammad Baqir a.s addressed to His Shias (or Message to Shia ) fwd to all
... "O People of our Shi'ites, listen and understand our commandments and our
covenant to our followers. Be truthful in your talk. Fulfill your oath to your
friends and your enemies. Help each other with your properties.
Love each other
with your hearts. Give alms to your poor. Come together in your affairs. Do not have doubts after certitude.
Do not
escape out of cowardice after intrepidity. Do not turn away from the people whom
you love. Your desire should not be for the love of other than you nor should
your love be for other than you nor should your act be for other than your lord
nor should your faith and purpose be for other than your Prophet. Ask for the help of Allah, be patient. Indeed the earth belongs to Allah.
He
gives it to His servants whom He wants. And the final result is for the pious.
He, peace be on him, added:
Indeed, our Shi'ites, the friends of Allah and the friends of His Apostle, are
those who tell the truth when they speak. They fulfill (the promise) when they
promise. They pay (the deposit) when they are deposited.
They endure with
justice when they are forced to endure. They give when they are asked for the
obligation. And do justice when they are asked (to do it).
Our Shi'ites are
those whose ears do not pass over their knowledge. Our Shi'ites are those who do not praise those who find fault with us, nor do
they make friends with those who hate us, nor do they associate with those who
betray us. When our Shi'ites meet a believer, they honor him.
When they meet an
ignorant person, they leave him. Our Shi'ites are those who do not growl as the
dog does, nor are they greedy as the crow is, nor do they ask anyone (for alms)
except their brothers even if they die of hunger. Our Shi'ites are those who
believe in our doctrine, separate themselves from their beloved ones for us,
approach the strangers who love us, and turn away from the strangers who hate
us. One of those who were sitting with the Ima`m admired these words concerning the
Shi'ites. Thus, he asked the Ima`m:
Where are such as these (people)? It is they whose livelihood is easy, who are
delighted. When they are present, no one knows them. When they become ill, no one visits
them. When they propose (marriage), no one marries them.
When they enter a way,
they do not deviate from (it). When the ignorant ones address them, they say :
peace. And they pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and
standing. One of those who were sitting with the Ima`m blamed the Shi'ites who were
contemporary to the Ima`m, saying:
"Oh son of Allah's Apostle, what about those who follow you with their tongues
while their hearts are contrary to that?
Thus, the Ima`m replied:
The tribulation will bring about droughts against them to destroy them utterly,
spites to ruin them completely, and disunion to kill them. By Him Who supported
us at the hands of His angels, no one except Allah will kill them at their
hands. Therefore, cleave to acknowledgment when you speak (to people).
Leave
quarreling, for it divides you. Beware, He (Allah) will raise you from the dead
before the fixed time. So, your blood will appear, your souls will go, those who will come after you
will dispraise you, and you will be an example to the beholders. Indeed the best
of the people in action is the one who leaves the people of the world- such as
the father, the friend, and the adviser- and associates with his brothers in
Allah even if they are Abyssinians or Negroes. No one of the believers will be
raised a Negro from the dead. Rather they will be as white as hail.
They will be
washed with the water of the gardens. They will win immortal Paradise. They will sit with the close angels, and
accompany the prophets. No servant is more honorable with Allah than the servant
who is rendered homeless for Allah till he meets Allah. Such are our Shi'ites
who are the warners in the earth. They are lamps, signs, and light for those who
seek what they seek. They are the leaders of the people of obedience to Allah.
They bear witness against those who oppose their summons.
They are tranquility
for those who come to them. They are kind to those who follow them.
They are
generous, forgiving, and merciful. So, such are their attributes in the Torah,
the Bible, and the Holy Qur'an. The learned man is from our Shi'ites when he keeps his tongue, obeys his
leaders, shows enmity towards his enemies with his heart, knows their defects,
does not show them what is in his heart, looks at their bad deeds with his own
eye, and hears their offenses with his own ear. Those who hate his enemies are
his friends. And those who love his enemies are his enemies. So, one of those who were present asked the Ima`m: "May my father and mother be
ransom for you, what is the reward of the one whom you have described when he
walks peacefully, gets up peacefully, and spends the night protected? What is
his rank and his reward? Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "The Sky commanded him to be protected,
the Earth commanded him to be honored, and the Light commanded him to be
believed. So, it was said to the Ima`m:
What is his attribute in the world?" He, peace be on him, replied: "When he is asked (for alms), he gives.
When he is
invited, he accepts. When he seeks (something), he obtains (it). And when he
supports an oppressed person, he strengthens him.(Ayun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar,
pp. 223-225) I think that no commandments were reported on the authority of the Ima`ms of the
pious such these commandments that raise man to the level of the righteous and
the pious. For they summon man to cleave to high moral standards and to refrain
from bad manners. If Moslems put them into effect, they would be the lords of
nations and leaders of people. Indeed these commandments are among the treasures of Islam.
They contain the aspects and essence of Islam.
They denote that Islam has good, mercy, and guidance for all people.
So, the Moslem must follow them throughout his life. It has been narrated that Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S) was passing along with
his companions and saw a group of people waiting for a Christian priest who was
to come out from a cave after his meditation of one whole year. Imam Baqir (A.S.)
also waited with other people; as soon as the priest came out he addressed
everybody present there and addressed the Imam ‘you are not among these people’;
the priest then asked ‘Are you among the educated or illiterate?’ The Imam
replied ‘I am not amongst the illiterate.’ The Imam was the treasure of
knowledge (Bakir al-Uloom). The Imam was carrying the same torch from Imam Ali (A.S.)
of (Salooni) ASK ME? I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF SKIES MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE OF EARTH. We
as the followers of the Ahlul-Bait should acquire knowledge and part with
knowledge whatever we can.
Rewards in this world:To pray for Imam-e-Zamana (a.t.f.s) is in fact a way of being attached with
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a). Imam Baqir (a.s) narrates
'Joining relations (Sil-e-Rahm) purifies the
actions, increases wealth, wards off calamities, makes accounting easy and
postpones death.' (Beharul Anwaar vol. 47, p. 111)
Fadl Ibn Yasar heard Imam Baqir (عليه سلام) saying: "When our
Qa'im rises he will face so much difficulty from the people, that even An-Nabi
during the period of Jahiliyah did not face." Fadl asked: "Why should that be
so?" The Imam said: "When An-Nabi was appointed people worshipped stones and
wood. However, when our Qa'im arises, people will interpret the ordinances of
Allah against his interpretation, and will argue with him and dispute by means
of Qur'an. By Allah, the justice of the Qa'im will enter inside their homes,
just as the heat and cold enter them." Reference: Ithbat al-hudat, Vol. 7, p.86.
Then, Imam Baqir
[a] asked his father who they were and might he introduce them to him. He
responded: "Beware of and do
not associate with the one who tells lies. He is as a mirage which makes near
for you what is far, and makes far to you what is near."
"Beware of and do
not associate with an immoral person, because he will sell you at the price of
a morsel or less than that."
"Beware of and do
not associate with a miser because he will deprive you of his wealth when you
are seriously in need of it."
"Beware of and do
not associate with a fool, because he wants to be of avail to you but he harms
you."
"Beware of and do
not associate with the one who disregards his kinfolks, because I found him
(such a person) cursed in the Book Allah, Almighty and Glorious, in three
occurrences."
Whenever Allah
wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does
not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does
not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins
are compensated. Ref Al Kaafi vol 2 pg# 444 Ima`m Abu`
Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked about the ranks of faith, saying:
"Indeed the believers have various ranks: one of them has one (rank); one of
them has two (ranks); one of them has three (ranks); one of them has four
(ranks); one of them has five (ranks); one of them has six (ranks). If you
impose two (ranks) on the possessor of the one (rank), he cannot bear them. If
you impose three (ranks) on the possessor of the two (ranks), he will not bear
them. If you impose four (ranks) on the possessor of the three (ranks), he will
not bear them. If you impose five (ranks) on the possessor of the four (ranks),
he will not bear them. If you impose six (ranks) on the possessor of the five
(ranks), he will not bear them. If you impose seven (ranks) on the possessor of
the six (ranks), he will not bear them. Such are the ranks (of faith). Surely,
the ranks of faith (in Allah) and knowledge of Him vary. Thus, Allah, the
Exalted, informed some of His prophets of the secrets of the universe and
existence, and the events that occurred in the world. However, He did not inform
some other prophets of that, for they were unable to bear that. Ima`m 'Ali, the
Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, was the gate of the city of the
knowledge of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and the store of
his secrets and maxims. He, peace be on
him, said: "The pious are the easiest of the people of the world in provision,
and most of them in help. When you forget, they remind you. When you mention
your (need), they help you. They believe in the right of Allah. They undertake
the affairs of Allah.( Shadharat al-Dhahab, vol. 1, p. 149) He, peace be on
him, said: "When the believer is pleased, his pleasure does not make him enter
sin and falsehood. When he is indignant, his wrath does not drive him out of
saying the truth. When the believer is strong, his strength does not take him
out to exceed what is right.(Al-Khisal, p. 101) He, peace be on
him, said: "Riches and glory wander about the heart. When they reach the place
where the trust (in Allah) is, they settle in it.(Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p.
61) The difference
between faith and Islam: Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, talked about the
difference between faith and Islam. He said: "Faith is in the heart. Islam
regulates marriage, inheritance, etc. It prevents blood from being shed. Faith
is the partner of Islam, while Islam is not the partner of faith.(Tuhaf al-'Uqul.
p. 297) In another
tradition, al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, mentioned the difference between faith
and Islam. He, peace be on him, said: "Faith is acknowledgment and action; Islam
is acknowledgment without action. (Tuhaf sl-'Uqul, p. 297) Jaber Ibn
Abdullah Ansari said: "I said to Abu Ja'far (Al-Baqir (A)): `May I be your
sacrifice son of Allah's Messenger; narrate to me a hadith in regard to the
noble traits of your grandmother Fatima, so that if I report it to your Shiites (followers), they
would rejoice at (hearing) it!' Abu Ja'far (A) said: `My father told me that my grandfather reported that
Allah's Messenger said: Allah will then say: Deliver a speech,' so I will deliver a speech that
none of the prophets or messengers have ever heard. Then for the successors (of
prophets) shall be erected Minbars of light, and in the middle of these Minbars
one shall be erected for my successor, Ali Ibn Abu Talib, which will be higher
than all their Minbars. Allah will then say:
"Ali, deliver a speech.' So he will deliver a speech like no successor has ever
heard before. Then for the children of the prophets and messengers shall be
erected Minbars of light; among them shall be a Minber of light for my two sons,
grandsons and the two flowers of my life (Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain).
Then it
shall be said to them: "Deliver speeches." So they will deliver two speeches
like none of the children of the prophets and messengers have ever heard before!
"A caller-Gabriel-shall then call: 'Allah, the blessed and exalted is His Name, shall say: So Muhammad, Ali, Hassan and Al-Hussain (A) will say: 'Allah the Exalted will say: Allah will then
send 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her right side; and 100, 000 angels to
accompany her on her left side; and 100, 000 angels to lift her onto their wings
until they bring her to the gate of Paradise. When she is
near the gate of Paradise, she will look to her side. Allah will then say:
"Daughter of My beloved, why did you look to your side after I gave the command
that you enter my Paradise?" She will say: "My Lord, I wished that my position would be realized on such a
Day!" Allah will say:
"Daughter of My beloved!
Go back and look for everyone in whose heart was love for you or for any of your
progeny; take their hand and lead them into paradise!" Abu Ja'far (A)
said: "By Allah; Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who love
her just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds. So that when her Shiites
are near the gate of Paradise, Allah will inspire their hearts to look to their
sides; when they do--- Allah, The Almighty, will say: My beloved ones, why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved
one, interceded for you?' They will answer: `Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a
day!' Allah will then say: `My beloved ones, go back and look for everyone who loved
you for your love for Fatima; Look for everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima;
Look for everyone who clothed you for the love of Fatima; Look for everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima;
Look for everyone who prevented (Gheeba) backbiting from being done against you
for the love of Fatima... Take their hands and lead them into Paradise... "'
Bihar v.10, on the
authority of Amali (by Saduq) reports that Imam Baqir (A) said: "Then shall no prophet, messenger, truthful one, or martyr remain without
casting their eyes down until Fatima passes... Then a call shall come from the
side of Allah, the Exalted: My beloved one and the daughter of my beloved one; ask Us and you shall be given
(whatever you wish), and intercede, your intercedence shall be accepted. By my
Honor and Exaltation, the oppression of no oppressor shall pass My (judgment)
today. She (Fatima) will then say:
"O Allah, My Master; She will then hear a call from Allah's side, may His Name be exalted:
"Where are Fatima's progeny, her Shiites, those who love her, and those who love
her progeny? " They will then come
forward, surrounded by angels of mercy, and Fatima will lead them into
Paradise." It was natural for the
Prophet (S) who knew and foretold the future events, to reveal to his family,
especially his beloved daughter Fatima (A), the events which they would face in
the future. He (S) undoubtedly informed Fatima (A) that she was going to suffer
from the harsh treatment of some so called Muslims after his death and that she
would be the first to follow him to the blessings of Paradise after his
departure.
Allah's gift for the
believers: Allah granted the believers many of His favors. Ima`m al-Ba`qir,
peace be on him, talked about these favors of Allah, saying: "Indeed Allah has
given the believers three qualities: glory in his religion in the world, success
in the hereafter, and dignity in the hearts of people. (Al-Khisal, p. 133)
The Necessity of
Improving Livelihood
"Whoever strives hard to seek livelihood, becomes
tranquil, his provision becomes light, and his family leads a life of ease and
comfort.
He, peace be on him, said: "Through wide morals livelihood is good.
Indeed, if man strives hard to seek livelihood, he is able to secure an economic
life full of welfare, blessings, tranquility, and stability.
Warning from
Laziness
He, peace be on him, said:
"Laziness damages the religion and the world.
Laziness damages the religion, for
it prevents man from mentioning the Lord's name and His obligations and His
duties.
Rather, the lazy
person neglects religious obligations. So, which harm is greater than this harm?
Laziness damages
the world, for the lazy person always inclines to inactivity and wishes for a
miserable life full of needs and poverty.
He does not enter
the fields of work that secure for him welfare and happiness.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir,
peace be on him, warned one of his children from laziness.
He said to him:
"Beware of laziness and boredom, for they are the key for all evil things.
Whoever is lazy,
does not carry out a right (work).
Whoever is tired,
is impatient toward a right (work).
Surely, Islam
wants man to work, produce, respect people's rights, associate with them, and
perform the obligations imposed on him.
However, when the
person is afflicted by the disease of laziness, he neglects Allah's and people's
rights.
Al-Ba`qir detested
those who left Work
He
thought that leaving work would weaken production, increase unemployed, and
spread economic crises in the country.
He, peace be on him, said: "I hate the
jobless person who lies on his back and says:
O Allah, give me. He asks Allah to
do him a favor, while the small ant comes out of its society to seek its livelihood.(Al-'Amal wa Huqquq al-'Amil fi al-Islam, p. 139)
Work is Obedience
to Allah
So, he himself cultivated his own land. Mohammed b. al-Munzir said: "I
went out to one of the suburbs of Medina.
There I met Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir)
Mohammed b. 'Ali, peace be on him. He was a well-built man and he leaning on two
servant boys. Either they were black slaves of his or they were retainers of
his.
So, I said to
myself: Glory belongs to Allah. Here is a venerable leader (shaykh) of Quraysh
out at this time and in these conditions seeking worldly (advantage).
I must
warn him. So, I approached him and greeted him. He returned my greeting with
anger.
The sweat was pouring down him. I said to him: May Allah make you
righteous, does a venerable leader of Quraysh go out at this hour for worldly
(advantage)? What would you do if death came upon you at this hour?
However, the Ima`m
answered him with Islamic words: "Let death come upon me when I am obedient to
Allah, the great and Almighty.
I work to prevent
my soul and my family from you and the people.
I fear death when
it comes upon me and I am disobedient to Allah.
So, Mohammed felt
shame. He was unable to answer the Ima`m. Thus, he said to him: "You are right.
May Allah have mercy on you.
I wanted to warn
you, but you have warned me.
Indeed work is obedience to
Allah, as the Ima`m said. For work prevents the soul and the family from asking
people for alms.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far
(al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked very much about the importance of
knowledge. He urged Moslems to seek knowledge, for it is the first pillar on
which the lives of nations and peoples depend.
He, peace be on
him, praised the virtue of scholars, for they are the source of culture and
guidance for the community. The following are some of what has been reported on
his authority in this respect:
Ima`m Abu`
Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, limited the essence of faith when he said:
"Faith is steadfast in the hearts, and certitude is notions. Then certitude
passes through the heart, so it becomes (as strong) as the lumps of iron. And it
goes out of the heart, so it becomes (as worn) as the worn rag.(Hulyat al-Auliya',
vol. 3, p. 180) The Virtue of
Knowledge He said: "Learn, for learning is protection.
Seeking knowledge is worship,
studying it is glorification (of Allah), looking for it is jihad, teaching it
(to others) is alms, and giving it to those who are appropriate for it is
proximity (to Allah). Knowledge is the signpost of the garden.
It is an intimate in lonesomeness, a
companion in exile, a friend in estrangement, a guide to ease, a help against
affliction, adornment with friends, and a weapon against enemies.
By it Allah
promotes some people to make them Ima`ms (leaders) for good. So, (people) follow
their example and report their works. All wet and dry things, the whales and
vermin of the see, and the animals and livestock of the land ask (Allah) to
bless them.(Ibn Hamadun, al-Tadhkira, p. 26) The Virtue of
the Scholar He, peace be on
him, said: "The scholar of whose knowledge (people) make use is better than
seventy thousand worshipers.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa Fadlah, vol. 1, p. 32)
He, peace be on
him, said: "Whoever teaches a door of guidance, will have the same reward of
those who put it into practice. Nothing of the rewards of those (who put
guidance into practice) will be decreased. Whoever teaches a door of error, will
have the same burdens of those who put in into effect. Nothing of the burdens of
those (who put error into effect) will be decreased. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p.
34) He, peace be on
him, said: "The servant who goes early in the morning to seek knowledge goes
into mercy thoroughly.(Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p. 205) Associating
with Scholars and the Pious Discussing
Knowledge Rules for the
Student Proclaiming
Knowledge He, peace be on
him, also said: "Whoever learns knowledge will have the same reward of him who
teaches it, and will be better than him. Learn knowledge from scholars. Then
teach it to your brothers as the scholars have taught it to you. (Nasikh al-Tawarikh,
vol. 2, p. 205) The Ima`m urged
Moslems to learn Understanding
the Religion Putting
Knowledge into effect Surely, the
deception of Satan is weak. "Ibn Abu` Layla asked him: "What is the thing which
we know?" So, he, peace be on him, replied: "Dispute with Satan through the
manifest strength of Allah, the Great and Almighty. Action coupled
with knowing Allah is accepted Imam al-Baqir
said, "By Allah Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who
love her, just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds. So that when
her Shiites are near the gate of Paradise, Allah will inspire their hearts to
look to their sides; when they do, Allah the Almighty, will say: My beloved one,
why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved one, interceded
for you. They will
answer Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a day! "Allah will
then say: My beloved ones go back and look for everyone who loved you for your
love for Fatima. Look for
everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima. Look for
everyone that clothed you for the love of Fatima. Look for
everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima. Look for everyone who
prevented backbiting from being done against you for the love of Fatima….
Take their
hands and lead them into Paradise…" The Ima`m
dispraised Boasting of Seeking Knowledge. He, peace be on
him, said: "He who seeks knowledge to vie with the scholars for glory or to
dispute with the foolish or to know the prominent figures, then he shall occupy
his place in the Fire. Indeed leadership is inappropriate for anyone except
those who are appropriate for it.(Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 47) Surely, these
corrupt ambitions invalidate the reward which Allah has prepared for the
religious scholar, who is the propagator of Allah in the earth. Therefore, if
the religious scholar wants success in this world and happiness in the next
world, then he should seek knowledge to please Allah. Giving
Religious Opinions without Knowledge He, peace be on
him, said: "Say what you know. When you do not know, say: Allah knows best. If
the person singles out a verse from the Koran (to misinterpret it), he falls
down as far as the sky is from the earth. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)
Zara`ra asked
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him: "What is Allah's right against
the servants?" The Ima`m, peace be on him, replied: "They should say what they
know and refrain from saying what they do not know. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)
He, peace be on
him, said: "If the scholar is asked about a certain thing and he does not know
that thing, he should say: Allah knows more. Other than the scholar has no right
to say that. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 297) The Qualities
of the Scholar Indeed the
servant is a scholar when his soul is free from envy, which is among the
greatest psychological catastrophes. It is envy that
throws people into the tribulation, for it brings about misfortunes.
However, the
servant is not a scholar when he scorns those who are inferior to him.
This means that
he does not make use of knowledge, which summons him to respect people and treat
them with high morals. Surely, the
Prophet, may Allah bless him, was sent to complete high moral standards.
So, when the
scholar follows bad manners, he deviates from the laws and morals of the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family. He, peace be on
him, said: "The true jurist is he who renounces this world, wishes for the
hereafter, and cleaves to the sunna (practices) of the Prophet, may Allah bless
him and his family.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 70) He, peace be on
him, said: "If you see the scholar love the rich, then he loves (the life in)
the world. If you see him associate with the Sultan (ruler) without a necessity,
then he is a thief. (Abi Zahra, al-Imam al-Sadiq, p. 24) When the scholar loves the
rich, he wishes for their properties and to make use of them.
This is not among
the morals of the scholars whom Allah has commanded to wish for what He has, not
for what the others have.
As for association with the Sultan without a
necessity, it proves that the scholar is not true and that he is a thief, as the Ima`m said. Mahmu`d al-Warraq satirized the religious scholars who made friends
with the Sultan, saying:
They rode their horses
and went in groups to the Caliph's house. They arrived there in the
early morning and stayed till evening to obtain high ranks. When they got the nice
condition they requested, (When) the Caliph became
glad with what the leaf contained, (When) they harmed those
who were inferior to them through oppression and violent conduct,
they broke the Caliph's
promise through the oppression of fearful ways. They sold truthfulness
for treason and bought carrion for safety. They hoard fat and
weakened those absurd deposits. The graves of the people
became narrow. And their high palaces became wide. From the possessors of
politeness, knowledge, and wise opinions to the analogy of Abu` Hanifa are in
agreement on the gathering of the tradition. When the fascinating world charms
a person, the person does not make use of knowledge.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa
Fadla, vol. 1, p. 201) He forgets Allah and
takes shelter in the world through weak means. With this we end our talk about the traditions reported
on the authority of the Ima`m, peace be on him. They concern the virtue
of knowledge.
They praise scholars.
Moreover, they are about the high moral standards which scholars should follow
to be an example to the community.
So often a
person is greedy for one of the affairs of this world which he had gained and
this caused his wretchedness and trouble , and so often a person dislikes an
affair of the affairs of the Hereafter that he has attained , however , this
caused his happiness . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi ,
Vol . 75 , P . 166) I admonish
you of five things : If were oppressed , don't oppress ; if others were
treacherous to you , don't be treacherous ( to others ) ; if were disclaimed ,
don't get angry ; if were praised , don't get happy ; Take the
good speech from whoever said it even if his practice was not accordingly . (Behar
Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 170) Nothing is
mixed with another better than meekness with knowledge .(Behar Al - anwar ,
Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 172) The utmost
perfection is understanding in religion , patience in affliction , and
moderation in life's spenditure .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al -
arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 172) Three are of
the good traits of this world and the hereafter : forgiving the one who
oppressed you , having relations with the one who interrupted their relations
with you , and having forbearance when behaved God dislikes
people's insisting in requisting from each other , however , he likes
insisting in requesting from himself .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath
Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173) A scholar
whose knowledge can be benefited from is better than seventy thousand
worshippers . A slave ( of
God ) is not knowledgeable unless is not jealous from his superiors and is not
humiliating to his subordinates . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al
- arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173) Whoever has
good intention , his sustenance is increased .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al
- torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175) Whoever has
good - treatment with his family , his life - time is increased . (Behar Al -
anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175) Refrain from
laziness and restlessness because these two are the key to all evils ; whoever
is lazy doesn't fulfill the rights and whoever is restless is impatient with
the truth . - Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya , Al - Relations
with relatives , purify the deeds , increase the wealths , keep away
calamities , ease the reckoning of the hereafter , and delay death . (Behar Al
- anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 71 , P . 111) Tell the
people the best thing you like to be told .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al -
torath Al - arabi , Vol . 65 , P . 152) God favors
his believer slave with afflictions as the traveler sends the gift for his
family ; and he ( God ) protects him from this world as the doctor protects
the patient . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 ,
P . 180) Have piety ,
assiduity , truthfulness and paying trusts to whoever trusted you ( for that )
no matter if that person is good or bad . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al -
torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 179) Back -
biting is to tell regarding your brother something which God has covered and
consealed , and calumny is to accuse your brother of a fault which he doesn't
have . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P .
178) God hates
the scurrilous that has no dignity . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath
Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176) Humbleness
is to accept to set in a place below one's status , to greet ( say salam to )
everybody you meet , and to leave dispute and argumenting even it were right .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176) Best worship
is chastity of the stomach and private parts . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al
- torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 176) God's
exactness in reckoning his slaves in the day of judgement is according to the
mind he bestowed upon them in this world .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al -
torath Al - arabi , Vol . 7 , P . 267) The one of
you who teaches knowledge to others has ( before the Exalted God ) the same
reward as the learner , and even more . (Al - kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 35) Whoever
seeks knowledge for vaunting the scholars , argumenting the fool or attracting
people's attention towards him should receive fire where ( he is ) seated . (Behar
Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 2 , P . 38) The Exalted
Glorious God likes the joker among the group , not using indecent words . (Al
- kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 663) There are
three traits which their owner doesn't die until see their bad result :
oppression , renouncing relatives , and false swearing which is combat against
God .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 174) Swearing to
God that no slave has insisted in supplication and requesting before the
Exalted Glorious God except that his need is fulfilled .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 ,
P . 475) The Exalted
Glorious God likes , among his believer slaves , the slave who makes
supplication a lot ; so make supplication at dawn till sun - rise , because ,
that is the time when the doors of heaven are open , provisions are
distributed and great needs are fulfilled .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 478) The human's
supplication for his believer brother in his absence is the fastest and
closest for being answered .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 507) All eyes are
crying in the day of judgement except for three : an eye stayed the night
vigilent in the way of God , an eye cried in fear of God , and an eye guarded
from the Godly unlawful . (Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 80) The greedy
to this world is as the silk worm the more silk it wove around itself the
harder it is to come out until die of grief and sorrow .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 ,
P . 316) How good the
good - deeds are after bad - deeds and how bad the bad - deeds are after good
- deeds . When a
believer shake hands with another believer , they seperate from each other
pure and having no sins .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi ,
Vol . 73 , P . 20) Refrain from
enmity because it makes your mind bussy and causes hypocracy . (Al - Kafi ,
Vol . 2 , P . 301) No drop is
more beloved to the Exalted God than a drop of tear in the middle of night out
of his fear and for him .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 482) Whoever
depends upon God is not beaten ; and whoever seeks refuge to God from sins is
not defeated . Increase of
blessings is not interrupted by God except if thanking is interrupted by
slaves . God gives
this world to his friends and enemies , but gives his religion only to his
beloved . The believer
is the brother of the believer , doesn't use bad language with him , doesn't
prevent from him , and doesn't have bad opinion towards him .(Behar Al - anwar
, Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 45 , P . 176) No one is
safe from sins unless control his tongue .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al -
torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 178) Three things
break one's back ( severe destruction ) : a man considering his deeds as great
, forgetting his sins and being pleased with his opinion .(Behar Al - anwar ,
Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 69 , P . 314) Whoever's
appearance is better than his inside his balance of deeds becomes light . (Al
- faqih , Vol . 4 , P . 404) Today is the
best opportunity ; while don't know tomorrow is whose .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar
Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 179) The dirtiest
earnings is the profit of usury .(Froo Al - Kafi , Vol . 5 , P . 147) Whoever
controlled his anger when able to show it , God fills his heart with peace and
security in the day of judgement .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al
- arabi , Vol . 7 , P . 303) Four are of the treasures of goodness : consealing the need , hidding
the charity , consealing the pain , and consealing the affliction .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 175) Children are protected from deviation by goodness of their fathers
( parents ) .
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 236) Twenty years of friendship is kinship .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 302) In all divine decree their is a good hidden for the believer .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 302) Any innovation ( attributing lies to God's religion ) is deviation ;
and any deviation leads to hell - fire .
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 56) The closest and fastest worship in reward is observing bonds of
relationship .
(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 303) Know your brothre's heartly love for you by the amount of heartly
love you have for him .
(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 304) Faith , is love ( to God's friends ) and enmity ( to God's enemies ) .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 304) Faith is confession and action , and Islam is confession without
action .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 307) Give charities in the morning because it blackens the satan's face
( disgrace him ) , and keeps away evil of the oppressing ruler from you in
that day .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308) Insist in forgiveness - seeking from God , because it causes the
erasing of sins .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308) Know that the need - seeker ( from you ) didn't keep his dignity
before you , so keep yours in not rejecting him .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 309) The followers of Ali ( peace be upon him ) are , the generous to each
other because of their loyality to us , the lovers to each other because of
devotion to us , and the visitors to each other for reviving our affair ,
never
oppress when get angry , never squander when pleased , a blessing to
neighbours , and the cause of peace and seresnity to their associates .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 310) God likes the modest , patient , chaste and pious .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 310) God likes disclosing the greeting .(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 311) Have compromise with your tongue with the hypocrate , sincere love to
the believer and good - behaviour if associated with a jew .
(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 301) The tongue is the key to all good and bad ; it is worthy for the
believer to stamp his tongue as he stamps his gold and silver .
(Tohaf Al - oKool , P . 308) If our up
riser upraised , God puts the hand of mercy over the heads of
the slaves , and put their minds together so their reasoning is perfected .
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 25) God's mercy be upon a slave who revives knowledge .(Al - Kafi , Vol . 1 , P . 41) Envy eats up the faith as fire eats up the wood .(Al - kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 306) Every thing has a spring and the spring of
Quran is the month of
Ramadan .
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 630)
Imam Baqir
(as) said: The shia of ahlul bayt are those who cry when they hear the story
of Hussein (as). As a man of his adherents asked him about the battles of Imam Ali Amirul
Muminin(a), Imam Al-Baqir(a) said: Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)
and his family, with five swords three of which are unsheathed until wars are
ceased. Wars will not cease unless the sun will rise from the west.
When this
will fall all people will be secured. On that day, "Its faith shall not profit
a soul which did not believe before, or earn good through its faith. (Holy Qur'an
6:158) The fourth sword is detained. The fifth is unsheathed; others unsheathe it and we judge in it. The three unsheathed swords are as follows: One is unsheathed against the
Arab polytheists. Allah the Glorified says: Slay the idolaters wherever you
find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in
every ambush.( Holy Qur'an 9:5) But if they repent-i.e. then believe-and keep
up prayer and pay the poor-rate, they are your brethren in faith. (Holy Qur'an
9:11) These people are either killed or convert to Islam.
Their fortunes are
regarded as spoils. Their progenies are captives according to the practices of
the Prophet (S.A.W.). He captured, overlooked, and accepted atonement. The second sword is against the Dhimmis. Allah the Praised says: And you
shall speak to men-i.e. the Dhimmis-good words. (Holy Qur'an 2:83) This Verse
was repealed afterwards by Allah's saying: Fight those who do not believe in
Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His
messenger have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who
have been given the Book, until they pay the tax in acknowledgment of
superiority and they are in a state of subjection. (Holy Qur'an 9:29) Nothing will be accepted from the Dhimmis, who are enjoying the protection
of the Islamic state, except the tribute otherwise, they are killed, their
fortunes taken as spoils, and their progenies as captives. If they accept to
pay the tribute, it will be prohibited to take them as captives and to seize
their fortunes. In addition, it will be lawful to marry from them. For those
who declare war against us, it is lawful for us to capture them and seize
their fortunes. In addition, it is prohibited to marry from them. Nothing will
be accepted from them except converting to Islam, paying the tribute, or being
fought to death. The third sword is against the non-Arab polytheists, like the Turks,Daylam,
and Khazar. In the beginning of the sura in which He mentions the affairs of
the atheists, Allah says: If you encounter the disbelievers in a battle,
strike-off their heads. Take them as captives when they are defeated. Then you
may set them free - after capture - as a favor to them, with or without a
ransom-between the Muslims and them-, when the battle is over (Holy Qur'an
47:4) Nothing will be accepted from these people except being killed or
converting to Islam. It is unlawful for us to marry from them as long as they
are in state of war against us. The detained sword is that against people of rebel and interpretation.
Allah says: If two parties among the believers start to fight against each
other, restore peace among them. If one party rebels against the other, fight
against the rebellious one until he surrenders to the command of Allah. (Holy
Qu'ran 49:9) When this verse was revealed, the Prophet(S.A.W.) said: One of
you will fight for the interpretation of the Quran in the same way as I fought
for its revelations." As he was asked about that one, he (S.A.W.) said: He is
Imam Ali Amirul Muminin (A.S.). Ammar-bin-Yasir said: I fought under this pennon three times with the
Prophet (S.A.W.). This is the fourth. By Allah I swear, if they beat us to take
us back to Hagar - a region - , we will be sure that we are the right party
and they are the wrong." With these people, Amirul Muminin Ali (A.S.) followed the same practices
that the Prophet (S.A.W.) followed with the people of Mecca when he conquered
it. He did not capture their families. The Prophet (S.A.W.) said: He who closes his door and keep himself indoors
will be safe. He who disarms himself will be safe." In the same way Amirul Muminin(A.S.) instructed his army-after the victory
in the battle of Jamal-not to capture any one, kill a wounded, or chase any
absconder. He who disarmed himself would be safe. The unsheathed sword is that of retaliation. Allah the Glorified said:
Capital punishment for the murder of a person: an eye for an eye... (Holy
Qur'an 5:45) The custodians of the victim (the killed person) unsheathe this
sword while the judge is ours. These were the swords with which Allah sent Muhammad (S.A.W.). He who
denies them or even one of them or anything of their narration or rulings will
be reckoned as disbelieving in that which Allah the Elevated revealed to His
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.).Reference:Tuhaf al-Uqool The name and nickname of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) were given in
advance by his great, great grandfather, the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.).
The revered companion of the Holy Prophet of Islam (S.A.W.), Jabir bin Abdulla
Ansari, is reported to have said. "The Massenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said to me,
You may live long enough to see a son of mine from the loins of Husayn (A.S.),
called Muhammad. He will certainly 'cut through' the science of religion. Should you see
him, convey my greeting to him." Aba`n b. Taghlub reported on the authority of Abi 'Abd Allah, peace be on
him, who said: "Indeed Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri was the last of the
surviving Companions of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his
family. He devoted himself to us, we, the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt).
He sat at the place of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his
family. He wore a black turban. He called out:' O you who will split open knowledge (baqir)!
You who will
split open knowledge!'
Thus, the people of Medina said: 'Ja`bir is
hallucinating!' So, he (Ja`bir) said: 'By Allah, I have never hallucinated. However, I heard the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family,
say:' Indeed, you will meet a man who belongs to me.
His name is similar to
mine.
His qualities are similar to mine.
He will split open knowledge
thoroughly.
'These words have motivated me to say what I say.' He (Abi Abd Allah) said:
"One day while Ja`bir was walking through some streets of Medina, he passed by
a street. Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir) was in the street. When he looked at
him he said: 'O boy, come.' The boy came. then Ja`bir said to the boy: 'Turn
back.'
The boy turned back. Then Ja`bir said: "By him in whose hand is my soul, (they
are) the qualities of the Apostle of Allah.
O Boy, what is your name?" The boy
replied: "My name is Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn."Ja`bir kissed his head and
said: 'May my farther and mother be ransom for you, your grandfather, Allah's
Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you his greetings.' Abi 'Abd
Allah said: 'Mohammed came back frightened to his father and told him about
what had happened. His father said to him: 'My little boy, has Ja`bir done it
?' Mohammed replied:'Yes.' His father said: 'Do not leave your house, my
little boy.(Usul al-Kafi, vol.1, pp. 496-470. Al-Kashi, Rijal, pp. 27-28).
Ibn 'Asa`kir reported that Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin, peace be on him, and his
son, al-Ba`qir came to Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah al-Ansa`ri. Ja`bir asked him: "Son
of the Apostle of Allah, who is with you?"
My son, Mohammed, is with
me," replied Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin. Ja`bir embraced Mohammed. Then he wept and
said: "My death is at hand. Mohammed, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and
his family, sends you his greetings."
"What is that?" asked Ima`m Zayn al-'Abidin.
Ja`bir replied: "I heard Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family,
say to al-Husayn b. 'Ali: 'A son will be born for this grandson of mine. The
son will be the Lord of worshipers. On the Day of Judgment, a caller will
call:' Let the Lord of worshipers stand up.
So, 'Ali b. al-Husayn will rise. A
son will be born for 'Ali b. al-Husayn. The son will be called Mohammed.
Ja`bir, when you see him, give him my greetings. Ja`bir, know that al-Mahdi
will be among his sons. Know, Ja`bir, that you will stay for a short time
after him. (Ibn 'Asakir, Tarikh, vol 51, p. 41).
Taj al-Din b. Mohammed, the head of Aleppo , reported on the authority of
Ima`m Mohammed al-Ba`qir, who said: "I came to Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah and
greeted him. He said to me: 'Who are you?' That was after he had become blind.
I said to him: 'Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn.' He said: 'May my father and
mother be ransom for you, come nearer to me.' I came nearer to him. He kissed
my hand, and then he stooped down to my foot to kiss it. However, I pulled it
from him. Then he said: 'The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his
family, recites his greeting to you.' 'Peace and Allah's mercy and blessings
be on the Apostle of Allah,' I said.
'How is that, Ja`bir?' He said:' One day I
was with him when he said to me: 'Perhaps you will live until you meet one of
my descendants called Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn on whom Allah will bestow
light and wisdom. Then recite to him my greetigs.(Ghayat al-Ikhtisar, p. 64).
Salah al-Din al-Safadi said: Ja`bir walked in Medina and said: 'Ba`qir,
when will I meet you?' One day he passed through a street in Medina. A female
slave gave him the boy who was in her lap. He said to the female slave: 'Who
is this?' 'Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn,' she replied. He embraced him,
kissed his head and his hands, and then he said: 'My little boy, your
grandfather, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sends you
his greetings.' Then he said: 'Ba`qir, my death is at hand.' He died at that
night.(Al-Wafi bi al-Wafayat, vol. 4, p. 192).
Some Isma`'ilis reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his
family, said to Ja`bir: "You will meet a son of this son of mine. He appointed
at al-Husayn. When you meet him, give him my greetings. Say to him: O you who
will split open knowledge, split it completely. "Ja`bir did that.( Masa'il
Majmu'a mina al-Hada'iq al-'Aliya wa al-Asrar al-Samiya, p. 99).
Al-Ha`fiz Nu`r al-Din al-Haythami reported on the authority of Abu` Ja'far,
peace be on him, who said: "Ja`bir b. 'Abd Allah visited me while I was
reading the Book. He said to me: 'Uncover your abdomen.' I uncovered my
abdomen. He kissed it, and then he said: 'Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him
and his family, ordered me to give you his greetings.(Majjma' al-Zawa'id, vol.
1, p. 22). Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab was asked about something, but he failed
to offer an answer. Instead he advised the questioner to visit Imam al-Baqir
(AS) saying, "Go to that youth and put your question to him, and tell me
afterwards what his answer was."
When the man asked the Imam about it, Imam (AS) answered him directly and
immediately. The man then returned to Abdullah with the answer. "That came
from a Household well-versed in knowledge", commented Abdullah.(6)
Amru ibn Ubayd, a leader and intellectual of al-Mu'tazilah (literally
schismatics), a school of thought, called on Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir (AS) to
test him with a question: "May I be your ransom," said he, "What is meant by
this verse: `Or see not those who disbelieve that the heavens and the earth
were one piece, before We clove them asunder, ...' (21:30).
"What is this one piece and what is meant by clove them asunder?"
"The heavens were one solid mass which rendered no rain," replied the Imam
(AS). "And the earth was a solid mass which produced no plants. Allah tore
asunder the heavens with the rain, and the earth with the plants."
Amru ibn Ubayd kept silent and did not comment. Imam al-Baqir (AS) answered, "O Amru, the wrath is when a creature gets
angry when something provokes him, changing him from one condition to another,
and whoever claims that wrath and satisfaction change Allah, and that He
regains His equanimity, he is describing Allah with the qualities of that
creature." Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (AS) is reported to have said: "Beware of sloth and
boredom, for they are the key to every evil. Should you get lazy you will not
do what you are obliged to do. And should you get bored you will not have the
perseverance to do what you are obliged to do." Again he said: Nothing other than supplication wards off fate.
The greatest punishable evil act is injustice.
Sufficient flaw is that one sees in other people what one is blind to see
in oneself, enjoins them to do what he cannot bring himself to do, and annoys
his visitor with what does not concern him." He, peace be on him, said: "O People, you are targets in this world.
Deaths compete with each other for you.
No one of you receives a new day of
his lifetime but through ending another day of his appointed time. Which meal
has no lump (in the throat)? Which drink has no lump (in the throat)? Set
right what you will go to with what you will depart from. As for today, it is
booty. As for tomorrow, you do not know to whom it belongs. The people of the
world are traveling. They will untie their baggage in (a place) other than it.
Origins have left us. We are their branches.
So, what is the survival of the
branch after its origin? O Son of Adam, what you cannot repel, has come to you.
What does not come back, has left you.
So, do not number the livelihood that
goes away as livelihood. You have nothing of it except the pleasure that
approaches you to your death and brings you nearer to your appointed time.
So,
you look like the missing lover and torn blackness. So, take care of your own
soul. Leave other than it. Ask Allah for help, and He will help you.( Tuhaf
al-'Uqul, p.299) Some of his Shi'ites came to him. He preached to them and warned them from
the punishment of Allah. However, they paid no attention to his preaching. That displeased him. So, he bowed his head for a while, and then he raised it.
He admonished them and preached to them again, saying:
Surely, if part of this speech of mine came into the heart of one of you, he
would be dead.
Indeed you are ghosts without souls and flies without a lamp.
You look like big pieces of wood clad with garments, and mutinous idols.
Do
you not take gold from stone?
Do you not take light from the brightest light?
Do you not take pearls from the sea?
Take the good word from him who says it
even if he does not put it into effect.
That is because Allah says: 'Those who
listen to the word, then follow the best of it; those are they whom Allah has guided. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Zumar, 18)
O Conceited one, woe unto you! Would you not praise Him
Whom you gives
something perishable and He gives you something remaining? (Give) one
perishable dirham for ten dirhams to a hundred fold from the All-Generous
(Allah).
Allah has given you a reward from Him.
It is He Who feeds you, waters
you, clothes you, heals you, suffices you, and protects you from those who
frighten you.
Who protects you by day and night, fulfills your urgent need,
and tests you according to reason?
It seems that you have forgotten the nights of your aches and fear.
You asked Him, and He responded to you.
So, He is worthy of gratefulness for His favor.
However, you have forgotten Him concerning him whom He has mentioned.
Woe unto you! You are a thief from among the thieves of sins.
You hasten to desires and commit sins.
You do that through your ignorance.
It seems that your not under the oversight of Allah.
Or it seems that Allah does not watch you.
O Seeker of the garden, how long your sleep is! How weak your walking is!
How weak your intention is! By Allah, you are invoked and wanted.
O You who escape from the Fire, how quick your walking to it!
How fast you are in earning that which will throw you into it!
"Look at those lines of graves by the yards of the houses.
They (the dead) are near in their lines and their graves.
However, they are far in their meeting.
They lived long, and then they were ruined.
They associated (with people), and then they were forced to dwell deserted
places.
They were tranquil, and then they were disturbed.
They were hopeless, and then they passed away.
Therefore, no one is near and far, far and near, living and ruined,
sociable and lonely, tranquil and disturbed, inhabitant and departed, except
the people of the graves.
O Son of the three days, (I mean) your day when you were born.
Your day
when you will come down into your grave. And your day when you will come out
(of your grave to meet) your Lord.
How important this day will be! O
Possessors of the admirable appearance and of thirst-quenching and kneeling
camels, why do I see your bodies sound and your hearts ruined?
By Allah, if
you saw what you would meet and what you would come to, you would say:
'Would
that we were sent back, and we would not reject the communications of our Lord
and we would be of the believers.( The Holy Qur'an, al-An-'am, 27)
Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'And if they were sent back, they
would certainly go back to that which they are forbidden, and most surely they
are liars.( The Holy Qur'an, al-An-'am, 28)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, blamed these people when they turned away
from his preaching and directions. He wanted to set right their behavior.
He
wanted them to follow righteousness to gain good here and in the hereafter.
He
gave them these effective preaching to make them obey Allah.
For Allah is able
to do good for them and to deprive them of that. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, preached to one of his companions. He
informed him of the reality of this life. He, peace be on him, said to him:
"Regard the world as a house where you live, and then you leave the house. Or
regard (it) as perfection you obtain in your sleep. When you wake, you find
nothing of it. (Mirr'at al-Jinan, vol. 1, p. 149) Among his preaching is this: "If the eye is bathed in tears, Allah will
protect its owner from the Fire. If the tear flows down the cheek, neither
miserliness nor abasement will befall its owner. There is a punishment for
everything except the tear. For Allah, the Most High, forgives the seas of
sins through it. (Akhbar al-Duwak, p. 11) Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "Man should mention death very
much. If he mentions death very much, he will refrain from the world.(.
Jami'al-Sa'dat, vol. 2, p. 61) Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was asked about the most
ascetic of all the people. So, he, peace be on him, replied: "It is he who
pays no attention to the world. "Then he was asked: "Who is the most hopeless
of all the people?" "It is he who sells the remaining (life) for the
transitory (life), "he replied. Then he was asked: "Who is the most important
of all the people?" "It is he who thinks that the world is not important, "he
answered. (Al-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, vol. 3, p. 161)
He, peace be on him, preached to his companions, saying: "Allah, the
Exalted, says: 'O Son of Adam, I have done you three favors: I have concealed
what your family does not know. For, if they knew it, they would not take care
of you. I have given to you generously. Now, I ask you for a loan, but you
have offered no good. I have had mercy on you in the third one, but you have
offered no good. (Al-Khisal, p. 131)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about the virtue of reason. He
denoted that it was the greatest of all things which Allah, the Exalted,
created.
He, peace be on him, said:
When Allah created reason, He tested it.
Then He ordered it to come forward
and it came forward.
Then He ordered it to go back and it went back. Then
Allah said: 'I swear by My power and majesty that no creation of Mine is
dearer to Me than you are, and I have made you perfect in those whom I love.
Lo! To you are My orders and prohibitions.
And for you are My rewards and
retributions reserved.
Surely, through reason, the value of man becomes high.
Were it not for reason, there would be no difference between man and the
animal.
Reason is among the fundamental conditions necessary for performing the
religious duties, as the jurists say.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, praised cleverness. He regarded it as
the only source of man's happiness and righteousness. He, peace be on him,
said: "The goodness of all coexistence and living together is a full measure.
Two thirds of the measure are cleverness. And one third of it is heedlessness.
Nothing has a portion of good and righteousness except cleverness. That is
because man feigns inattention to the things which he realizes and knows. (Al-Mubarrad,
al-Kamil, vol. 1, p. 76) How wonderful this maxim is! A religious scholar commented on it, saying:
"Indeed, it has gathered together all the righteousness of the affairs of the
world. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to think things over.
He, peace be on him, said: "Through thinking (things) over, the fruitful
opinion is concluded.( Jami'al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 165) This word is among the wonderful maxims.
Man can come to a correct genuine opinion through considering things
carefully.
He can conclude scientific facts and inventions through contemplating
things. It is impossible for him to come to that without contemplation.
As for kindness to people, it plays an important role in strengthening
social ties and spreading love and friendship among people. Islam has urged
Moslems to cling to kindness to people. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace
be on him, said: "Continuous kindness is the best means with me.( Tuhaf al-Uqul,
pp. 296) The most lovable things with the Imam, peace be on him, was continuing
kindness to people, for he wanted to plant love and affection in their hearts
through it. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed, Allah singles out people from among
His creatures for fairness. He makes them love fairness. He makes them love
fair acts. Then He orders the seekers of fairness to go to them. Then He makes
it easy for them to do fairness, as He makes it easy for rain (to come down)
to the arid land to enliven it and its people. Allah singles out people from
among His creatures to be enemies of fairness. He makes them hate fairness.
And He them hate fair acts. He prevents the seekers of fairness from going to
them, as He prevents rain from (coming down) to the arid land to ruin it and
its people. And what Allah forgives is more (than this).( Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp.
295) He, peace be on him, said: "Fair acts prevent evil deaths (from
happening). Every fair act is alms. The people of fairness here are the people
of fairness in the hereafter. The people of the abominable acts here are the
people of the abominable acts in the hereafter. The people of the fair acts
will be the first to enter the garden. The people of the abominable acts will
be the first to enter the Fire.( Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 225) Kindness should be Equivalent to Fairness : Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on
him, ordered his companions to repay fairness with much more kindness. He,
peace be on him, said: "Whoever does a favor like that which is done for him
returns like for like. Whoever doubles the favor is grateful. Whoever thanks
(people for their favors) is generous. He who knows that what he does is for
his own interest should not find people slow in their gratefulness (for him),
nor should he ask them for more love (for him). So, do not ask other than you
to thank you for what you do for your own interest, and through which you
protect your honor. Know that the one who asks you for a need does not honor
himself when he asks you (for a need). So, honor yourself through fulfilling
his need. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 300)
When the Ima`m, peace be on him, had ordered his companions to return like for
like, he summoned them to do kindness for kindness. He ordered them not to ask
people for a reward. For they did that for their own interests and honor.
He, peace be on him, asked his companions to meet people with cheerfulness
and good words. He, peace be on him, said: "Good words and cheerfulness lead
to love and nearness to Allah. Bad words and frowning lead to hate and
remoteness from Allah. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp. 296)
He, peace be on him, urged his companions to treat people kindly. He,
peace be on him, said: "Say to people the best (words) which you want them to
say to you. For Allah hates the one who curses and abuses and defames the
believers. He detests the one who uses an obscene language and insists on
begging. He loves the one who is modest, clement, chaste. (Tuhaf al-Uqul, pp.
300)
He, peace be on him, denoted the rights which Islam legislated for the
Moslem towards his Moslem brother. He, peace be on him, said: "Love your
Moslem brother. Love for him what you love for yourself. Hate for him what you
hate for yourself. When you are in need of (a certain thing), then ask him for
that. When he asks you for (a certain need), then give (it) to him. If you
spare no good for him, he will spare no good for you. If you help him, he will
help you. If he is absent, then keep him during his absence. If he is present,
then visit him, and respect him. For he is from you, and you are from him. If
he admonishes you, then do not leave him till his hate comes to an end. If
good befalls him, then thank Allah for that. If a tribulation afflicts him,
then help him (Al-Saduq, al-Amali, p. 288) If Moslems put into effect these excellent teachings, they will be the
strongest of all the peoples of the world, and nations will not invade them,
enslave them, and plunder their wealth. However, they have deviated from these true teachings, so they have become
weak humble parties. "Each party is happy with that which it has. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, summoned the Moslems to fulfill the
needs of their Moslem brothers. He warned them from leaving them. He, peace be
on him, said: "If the servant refrains from helping his Moslem brother and
does not strive to fulfill his need, he will be afflicted by the need causing
a sin not a reward. If the servants refrains from spending on that which
pleases Allah, then he will be afflicted by spending a hundred fold on that
which displeases Allah. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 292) Islam takes care of the relations with womb relatives. It summons Moslems
to cling to them, for they strengthen the family and lead the community to
fruitful results. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, urged the Moslems to
cleave to them. He, peace be on him, said: "Relations with blood relatives
increase acts, develop properties, repel the tribulation, make easy the
reckoning, and postpone the a fixed term (of death). (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 298)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, underlined alms. He mentioned the
advantages which the one who gives alms obtains. He mentioned that before his
companions. He, peace be on him, said: "Shall I tell you about the thing that
drives away the ruler and the Satan from you? Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, urged the Moslems to feel
pity for the orphan and to have affection for the weak. He, peace be on him,
said: "Whoever has four (qualities), Allah will build a house for him in the
garden. The one who shelters the orphan, has mercy on the weak, feel
compassion for his parents, and treats his slave gently. Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, talked about the good qualities that
draw the servant nearer to Allah and make him far from His wrath and
punishment. He, peace be on him, said: "Whoever has four (qualities), his
Islam is perfect, is helped with his faith, his sins are erased, and meets
Allah, the Great and Almighty, while He is pleased with him. If he has sins
from his head to his feet, Allah forgives him his sins. The Ima`m, peace
be on him, ordered man to do all things that drew him nearer to his Lord. He
guided him to the good deeds which Allah loved, for which He rewarded him very
much, and for which He did him many favors.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, summoned the Moslems to cling to silence. He
ordered them to refrain from saying useless words. He, peace be on him, said:
"Indeed, this tongue is the key of all good and evil. So, the believer must
seal his tongue as he seals his gold and silver. For Allah's Apostle, may
Allah bless him and his family, said: 'May Allah have mercy of the believer
who restrains his tongue from all evil. For that is alms from him for himself.
No one is safe from sins unless he restrains his tongue. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p.
298) He, peace be on him, said: "If some haughtiness enters the person's heart,
some of his reason decreases. (Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 61)
He, peace be on him, said: "The haughty one quarrels with Allah about His
gown. The Ima`m, peace be on him, dispraised the hypocrite person, who is
double-faced and double-tongued. He, peace be on him, said: "Bad is the
servant who is double-faced and double-tongued. He flatters his brother when
he is present. He backbites him when he is absent. He envies him brother when
he is given. He betrays him when he is afflicted by a tribulation. (Al-Saduq,
al-Amali, p. 30)
The Ima`m, peace be on him, warned the Moslems from having the following
qualities. He, peace be on him, said: "Bad is captivity after victory,
depression after the misfortune, rudeness with the poor, cruelty with the
neighbor, miserliness towards the relative, disagreement with the friend,
misbehavior towards the family, impudence through the power, greediness during
poverty, backbiting the friend, telling lies, the slander, perfidy from the
ruler, the rage from the generous. Whoever asks more than his right is worth
of deprivation. Setting right the one who does not know dignity is through
disgracing him. The careful one rises (in rank). The cautious one finds
(good).( Ibn Hamdun, Tadhkirat, p. 60)
Whoever refrains from these qualities is endowed with high moral standards
and is among the unique people.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, prevented the Moslems from practicing the
following qualities. He, peace be on him, said: "The owner of three traits
will not die till he sees their evil results: oppression, cutting off ties of
relations, and binding oath through which he fights with Allah. Indeed the
quickest obedience in reward is the relations with womb relatives. Perhaps
some people are sinners. However, they visit each other. So, their properties
increase and they become rich. Binding oath and cutting off ties of relations
leave houses empty of their people. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)
The Ima`m, peace be on him, hated the people who were endowed with the
following traits. He, peace be on him, said: "Four (traits) lead to the
quickest punishment: The person whom you treat with kindness but he mistreats
you. The person who you do not oppress but oppresses you. The person to whom
you are loyal but he betrays you. The person who visits his relations but they
end their relationship with him.( Al-Khisal, p. 210)
The Ima`m, peace be on him, prevented the Moslems from drinking wine. For
it is among the mortal sins. He, peace be on him, said: "Indeed the one who is
alcoholic is like the one who worships the idol. Wine makes him shake, and
destroys his manhood. It makes him violate the prohibitions such as shedding
blood and committing fornication. (Al-Bihar, vol. 16, p. 771) Surely, wine is the source of all sins and offenses. It is among the social
catastrophes that defame man and leads him to commit all the prohibitions. As
for its bodily damages, we have talked about them in one of our books.
The Ima`m, peace be on him, dispraised the person who used obscene
language. He, peace be on him, said: "Surely, Allah detests the one who uses
obscene language. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 296) The Ima`m, peace be on him, made a distinction between backbiting and
slander. He, peace be on him, said: "It is an act of backbiting to say
concerning your brother what Allah conceals for him. As for the manifest
traits of him such as fury and hastiness, there is no harm in mentioning them.
As for slander, it is that you say concerning your brother what he has not. (Tuhaf
al-'Uqul, p. 298)
The Ima`m, peace be on him, warned the Moslems from anger. He provided a
remedy for it. He, peace be on him, said : "Indeed this anger is an ember from
Satan. The ember is burnt in the heart of the son of Adam (i. e. , man). When
one of you becomes angry, his eyes become red and his jugular veins become
swollen. Thus, Satan enters him. When he becomes angry, he must sit on the
ground. With that he removes the cunning of Satan. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 1,
p. 289).
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, underlined the affair of
anger. He warned the Moslems of its final results. Ima`m al- Sa`diq, peace be
on him, said: "My father said: 'There is nothing more intense than anger.
Perhaps the person becomes angry. So, he kills the soul which Allah has
forbidden and defames the chaste woman. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol. 1, p. 289)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, said: "The person sometimes becomes
angry and continues his anger till he enters the Fire. (Jami' al-Sa'adat, vol.
1, p. 289) The Ima`m, peace be on him, said: "I wonder at the one who is vain and
boastful. He was created from a sperm. Then he becomes carrion. Between this
and that, he does not know what will be done for him. The talents and genius
of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, resulted in great abilities
of knowledge that included all sciences, such as the tradition, philosophy,
theology, jurisprudence, high maxims, and standard morals. Moreover, it
included the events the Ima`m had predicted before they occurred. Then they
happened on the arena of life. His knowledge was vast. Though the scholars
learned a lot of his pure knowledge, he found narrowness in himself because of
his many sciences for which he found no way to proclaim. He, as the narrators
said, heaved deep sighs and said with grief: If I found (carriers) for my
knowledge which Allah, the Great and Almighty, has given to me, I would
proclaim monotheism, Islam, religion, and Islamic laws. How can I do that? My
grandfather, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, found no carriers
for his knowledge for his knowledge. Thus, he sighed deeply on the pulpit and
said: 'Question me before you lose me, for there is much knowledge among the
ribs. (Safinat al-Bihar, vol. 2)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, came to a world full of
discords, disturbances, and events. He saw that the Islamic community had lost
all of its qualities. It lost all the characteristics which Allah wanted for
it, such as unity, perfection, and development in the fields of knowledge and
production. So, through his spiritual leadership, the Ima`m did his best to
renew the glory of the community and to rebuild its cultural entity. Thus, he
proclaimed knowledge and thought. He refrained from practicing all political
activities, and devoted himself to knowledge only. The orient list, Rowit M.
Ronaldson, said: "He (al-Ba`qir) lived honored. He dedicated himself to
knowledge during his isolation in Medina. The people came to him to ask him
about the Ima`mate. (Aqidat al-Shi'a, p. 123)
Some notables of the community went to the Ima`m to study knowledge under
him. Among them was the great scholar, Ja`bir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi. When the
Ima`m met him for the first time, he asked him: Then knowledge-loving deputations came to the Ima`m frequently to learn
knowledge and sciences from him. Shaykh Abu` Zahra said: "All the scholars who
went to (Medina), the city of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family,
went to him to learn the principal features of religion from him.(*Al-Imam
Zayd, p. 22) The jurists learned from him the lawful and the unlawful. ('Uyyun
al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 213)
The name and nickname of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) were given in
advance by his great, great grandfather, the Apostle of Allah (s.a.w.). The
revered companion of the Prophet Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari, is reported to
have said, "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) said to me, ‘You may live long
enough to see a son of mine from the loins of Hussein (a.s.), called Muhammad.
He will certainly ‘cut through’ the sciences of religion. Should you see him,
convey my greetings to him." That is why Imam Muhammad ibn Ali (a.s.) was
called al-Baqir, which means ‘the man who is deeply knowledgeable and sharply
wise, who discovers knowledge’s innermost mysteries and essence, and who is
well-versed in its arts’, as weighty Arabic dictionaries explain. Abdullah bin Ata’ al-Makki is reported to have said, "Never have I seen
scholars so limited in knowledge in the presence of a scholar other than
Muhammad bin Ali al-Baqir."
Muhyil-Deen bin Sharafah Al-Nawawi said, "…He is a venerable man of the
second Muslim generation. He is a knowledgeable Imam unanimously agreed to be
a man of dignity.
He is adjudged as one of the religious affairs authorities (fuqaha’)
and Imams of the city of Madinah.
From Jabir and Anas he communicated
Prophetic traditions. Abu-Ishaq, Ata’ bin Abi-Rabah, Amru bin Dinar al-A’raji
(who was older than Al-Baqir), al-Zuhri, Rabi’ah and many more of the second
generation and the great Imams of religious affairs (fiqh) reported Islamic
Prophetic traditions from him. Both Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported from him."
Ibn al-Imad al-Hanbali said, "Abu-Jafar Muhammad al-Baqir was one of the
fuqaha’ of Madinah. He was given the title of al-Baqir because he ripped open
knowledge, knew its fine subtleties and expanded it…"
Muhammad bin Talhah al-Shafi’ is reported to have said that, "Muhammad bin
Ali al-Baqir was the one who cut through knowledge, collected and disseminated
it. He raised it many degrees, outwitted others in exploiting it, imbibed it
and decorated it with gems of thought. His heart was serene, his good deeds
ever-growing, his soul chaste, and his morals noble. He would fill his time
with deeds in obedience to Allah. His piety was unshakably firm. One could
clearly see in him the signs of closeness to Allah, and the purity of the
divine choice. Virtues hastened to him, and good qualities were honored by
him."
Imadul-Deen Abul Fida’ Isma’il bin Umar bin Kuthayr testified that, "Abu-Jafar
al-Baqir was a venerable man of the second Muslim generation who enjoyed great
religious status. He was one of the foremost people of this ummah in
knowledge, deeds, lordship and nobility. He was called al-Baqir ‘for he ripped
open knowledge and inferred judgment.’ He was a religious man, a praiser of
Allah, submissive and patient in worship. He descended from the family of the
Prophet. Of what noble descent was! Spiritually lofty, he would weep profusely
in fear of Allah. He shied from futile arguments and animosities."
When reporting from him, Jabir bin Yazid al-Ju’fi would say, "The trustee
of trustees, the inheritor of the knowledge of the prophets, Muhammad bin Ali
bin Hussein (a.s.), told me…"
Sayyid Hasan al-Sadr said: "Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, Mohammed b. 'Ali al-Ba`qir,
peace be on him, was the first to open the chapters of this science and to
split open its problems. Then his son Abu` 'Abd Allah, peace be on him, came
after him to continue it. Then they dictated its rules and problems to a group
of their students. Then the later generations regulated its chapters in books
such as Usu`l Al al-Rasu`l, al-Fusu`l al-Muhima fi Usu`l al-A'imma, and al-Usu`l
al-Asilah. The reliable narrators reported all these chapters on the authority
of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.(Al-Shi'a wa Funun
al-Islam, p. 95) This rule means that the act is correct at the time of doubt. (Hada'iq al-Usul,
vol.2, p. 547) This rule was reported on the authority of Mohammed b. Moslem on the
authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who said: "If you
doubt all that which you have already completed, then let it as it
is.(Mustamsak al-'Irwat al-Withqa, vol. 7, p. 350) A true tradition which Mohammed b. Moslem reported on the authority of al-Ba`qir,
peace be on him, also proved that. In this tradition it has been mentioned:
"If doubt occurs after the time of the prayer has passed, one should ignore
the doubt and not repeat (the prayer) (Mustamsak al-'Irwat al-Withqa, vol. 7,
p. 349) Among the important rules in Islamic law is the rule of removing harm.
Shaykh al-Ansa`ri said: "It means removing the legal precept that leads to
harm. "The jurists have mentioned many legal precepts regarding this rule.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, underlined this rule when he,
peace be on him, said to Zara`ra: "Samra b. Jundub had a date-palm in the
house of a man from the Ansa`r. The man's house was facing the gate of the
garden. Samra entered the man's house without permission. Thus, the man spoke
to Samra to ask his permission before entering. However, Samra refused that. However, Samra refused
that. So, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, asked him to sell
the date-palm at a good price. Still, Samra refused to sell it.
Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said to him: 'You
shall have a date-palm in the garden.' Nevertheless, Samra refused that. So,
Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said to the (Ansa`ri)
man:
'Go and uproot the date-palm and throw it at him for there is no harm. As
for his traditions from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, they
sometimes concern Islamic jurisprudence.
The encyclopedias of jurisprudence
and traditions have mentioned them.
They sometimes concern behavior and
morals.
Some of them also concern the outstanding merits and obligatory love
of the pure family (of the Prophet). The following are some of the Ima`m's
traditions from the Prophet:
The Ima`m, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers
on the authority of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family,
who said: "The virtue of knowledge is more lovable with Allah than the virtue
of worship. The best (thing) in your religion is piety. (Al-Khisal, p. 4) He, peace be on him, reported on the authority of his grandfathers on the
authority of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, who said:
"Adding clemency to knowledge is better than adding a thing to a
thing.(Al-Khisal, p. 5)
Moreover, he was given the nick-name (of al-Ba`qir) because of these words of
his:
"The truth called me for help after the untruth had gathered it in its abdomen.
So, I split open its flank and brought out the truth from its hiding, so it
appeared and spread after it had been hidden.(Mir'at al-Zaman fi Tawarikh al-A'yan,
vol. 5, p. 78).
However, the Imam treated him kindly. He smiled at him, saying: "No, I am
Ba`qir.
The Imam smiled at him. This aggression did not excite him. Rather he said to
him: "That is her job. (113)
The Ima`m did not become angry. Rather he treated him kindly, saying:
If you are truthful, may Allah forgive you. If you are a liar, may Allah forgive
you. Thus, the adherent admired the Ima`m's high morals that marked the morals
of the prophets. Then he became Moslem. (A'yan al-Shi'a, 4/Q1/504)
It is incumbent on those who adopt the doctrine of the members of the House (ahl
al-Bayt), peace be on them, to follow these immortal commandments. They should
put into effect their bright items to be an example to people. This is the text
of his commandments:
Do not cheat nor betray anyone.
The Ima`m replied:
They are in the ends of the lands.
When they are away, no one misses them.
"On the Day of Rising, Minbars of light shall be erected for the prophets and
messengers, of which my Minbar shall be the highest among all Minbars on that
day.
`Where is Fatima Bint Muhammad?'
She (A) will rise..." (until he said):
`O people of the gathering; to whom does honor belong today?'
'To Allah, The one, The Almighty
"O people of the gathering: lower your heads and cast your eyes down, for this
is Fatima proceeding towards Paradise.' Gabriel shall then bring her a female
camel from the female camels of Paradise; its sides shall be embellished, its
muzzle with fresh pearls, and it shall have a saddle of coral. It shall kneel
down in her presence; so she will ride it.
"I heard Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari say: Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of
Rising, My daughter, Fatima, shall arrive riding a female camel from among the
camels of Paradise-to her right shall be seventy thousand angels and to her left
shall also be seventy thousand angels; Gabriel will be holding its muzzle and
calling with the loudest of voices: `Cast down your eyes so that Fatima Bint
Muhammad may pass!"
My progeny, My Shiites (followers), the Shiites of my progeny, those who love me
and those who love my progeny."
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged the Moslem community to strive hard to
seek a livelihood. Thus, man is able to afford his family a luxurious life.
Meanwhile he is able to avoid poverty and unhappiness. In this connection, the
Ima`m, peace be on him, said:
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, warned the Moslems community
from laziness. That is because laziness paralyzes economic life, freezes man's
abilities, and spreads corruption in the earth.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, detested those who left work.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, thought that work was obedience
to Allah.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, glorified knowledge. He summoned
Moslems to cling to it. He urged them to seek it. He lauded those who sought it.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, lauded the virtue of the scholar. He explained
his social rank, and the plentiful reward which Allah has prepared for him. The
following are some of the sayings which have been reported on his authority:
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged Moslems to associate with scholars and
the pious to make use of their guidance and behavior. He, peace be on him, said:
"Indeed association with him whom I trust is more reliable with me than a year's
work.( Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 34)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to discuss knowledge with
each other, for that opens new doors to knowledge and science. He, peace be on
him, said: "Discussing knowledge is studying, and studying is a good prayer.(
Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 41)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, suggested wonderful rules for the student. He,
peace be on him, said: "When you sit with a scholar, then listen to him more
than speaking to him. Learn good listening as you learn good speech. Do not
interrupt (the scholar) while he is busy talking.(Nasikh al-Tawarikh, vol. 2, p.
205)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned scholars to proclaim and spread
knowledge. So, no one will be ignorant. He, peace be on him, said: "The zakat
(alms) of knowledge is that you teach it to the servants of Allah.( Usul al-Kafi,
vol. 1, p. 41)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged Moslems to learn (knowledge) and to ask
scholars about it. He, peace be on him, said: "Knowledge is a treasure and the
key is the question. Then, may Allah have mercy on you, ask (scholars). Indeed
four persons will be rewarded out of knowledge: the questioner, the speaker, the
listener, and the one who loves them. (Al-Khisal, p. 223)
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to understand deeply the
religion and to know the lawful and the unlawful. He, peace be on him, said:
"All perfection is in understanding deeply the religion, patience towards
misfortune, and taking livelihood into account.(. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 32)
Surely, understanding the religion deeply maintains man's balance and behavior.
It prevents man from committing ugly things. In the mean time it prevents him
from deviating from the religion.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, urged scholars to put their knowledge into
practice. He, peace be on him, said: "When you hear knowledge, then put it into
effect. Let your hearts be wide. For the person with the heart that does not
encompass his abundant knowledge makes Satan powerful over him. If Satan
disputed with you, then dispute with him through what you know.
Knowing Allah is a condition in accepting an act. So, the one who acts and does
not know Allah nor does he know the duty which he performs, then his action is
useless. Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, said: "No act is accepted except
through knowing (Allah). No knowledge (of Allah) is accepted except through an
act. Whoever knows (Allah) his knowledge leads him to the act. He who does not
know (Allah), his action is invalid (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, dispraised those who boasted of
seeking knowledge. He urged the scholars to do their best to seek nearness to
Allah and to wish for the hereafter through seeking knowledge.
Several traditions on giving religious opinions without knowledge were reported
on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, for such
opinions mislead people. The following are some of them: Ima`m al-Ba`qir,
peace be on him, said: "Whoever gives people religious opinions without having
knowledge and guidance, the angels of the Merciful (Allah) and the angels of
torment will curse him, and he will shoulder the sins of those who put his
religious opinions into effect. (Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 42)
In many of his traditions, Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him,
talked about the qualities of scholars. The following are some of them: He,
peace be on him, said: "The servant who envies those who are superior to him and
scorns those who are inferior to him is not a scholar. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p. 294)
Abu` al-'Atahiya also satirized them: They looked for the vanities of the
world and forgot the grandson of the Prophet.( Jami' Bayan al-Ilm wa
Fadla, vol. 1, p. 201)
and if were reproached , don't be impatient . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al
- torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 162)
ignorantly with you . (Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi ,
Vol . 75 , P . 173)
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P . 173)
torath .(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 75 , P .
175)
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 458)
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 151)
(Behar Al - anwar , Dar Ehya Al - torath Al - arabi , Vol . 68 , P . 54)
(Al - Kafi , Vol . 2 , P . 215)
Once again he returned, asking this question,
"May I be your ransom. Tell me what is meant by this verse: "... and those on
whom My wrath descends do perish indeed!" (20:81). What is that wrath?"
"There is nothing more lovable to Allah than to be implored.
Where are those whose lifetimes were longer than yours, and whose desires were
farther than yours?
He preached to them with these lessons to which souls submit, and of which
hearts are afraid.
Indeed if man thinks about the world through this correct opinion, he will be
free from conceit, selfishness, greediness, and other psychological diseases
that deviate him from the right path.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, summoned Moslems to weep out of fear of
Allah. Weeping is among the signs of faith. It shows the relationship between
the servant and his Lord and Creator.
Surely, if man mentions death, he will renounce the world and refrains from
its vanities and pleasures.
Yes, tell us to do it," replied Abu` Hamza.
He, peace be on him, said: "Give alms early in the morning. For it blackens
the Satan's face and breaks the greediness of the oppressive ruler on that
days of
yours. Love each other for Allah. Help each other with the good deeds. For
such deeds put end to the Satan and the oppressive ruler. Insist on asking
Allah for forgiveness, for such insistence erases sins. (Tuhaf al-'Uqul, p.
298)
They are: Loyalty to Allah, the truthfulness of the tongue with the people,
shame of the ugly (things) with Allah and people, and good manners towards the
family and people. The believer who has four (qualities), Allah, the Exalted,
will make him live in the rooms on the rooms in the most high gardens. It is
he who shelters the orphan, has mercy on him, and is like the father for him.
It is he who has mercy on the weak, helps them, and suffices them. It is he
who spends on his parents, treats them gently, and pleases them. And it is he
who helps and suffices his slave. (Al-Durr al-Nazim, p. 191)
Indeed, haughtiness results from ignorance and the decrease of reason. If man
knows that he will be a mass of mean earth after death, he shows no
haughtiness towards Allah's creatures.
-Where are you from?
- From Ku`fa.
- From which tribe?
- From Ju'f.
- What has brought you here?
- Seeking knowledge.
- From whom?
- From you. (Al-Manaqib, vol. 3,p. 331).
So, the man came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, and told
him about that. Then Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, sent
for Samra and ordered him to ask the man's permission.
This tradition summons and urges people to seek knowledge, for knowledge is
better than worship of which its owner makes no use. The tradition also urges
people to refrain from what Allah has forbidden and to turn away from the sins
that corrupt the person and deviate him from the right path.
Al-'Ayyashi, in his Tafsir (interpretation) of the Holy Quran, reported that Imam Baqir (A) said: "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Ali vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."
She was
named Fatima by Allah (SWT). Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as) has said; The Imam (peace be upon him) further said: “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 yourself in obtaining it.”
The Messenger of Allah said; O’Fatimah! Do you know why you have been given
the name Fatima?
Ali (as) asked; Why was she named Fatima?
He (saw) replied; Because she and her followers are protected from hell”.
Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: Amirul Mu'mineen Ali (A.S.), along with two of his companions, happened to pass by Karbala and as he did so, tears filled his eyes. He said (to them), "This is the resting place of their animals; and this is where their luggage shall be laid down; and it is here that their blood shall be shed. Blessed are you O' Earth, that the blood of the beloved shall be spilled upon you."
He who remembers us, or in whose presence, we are remembered, and (as a result) tears flow from his eyes, even though they may be in the measure of a wing of a mosquito, Allah shall construct for him a house in paradise and make the tears a barrier between him and the fire (of hell).
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, the more they suffer the more they shine.
Whenever Allah wants to assist a sinner, He inflicts a disease on that person. If this does not happen, He makes that person dependant on another one. If this also does not happen, the Almighty makes his death a really hard one so that his sins are compensated.
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 ).
"My father had the least amount of money at his disposal compared with the rest of the members of his disposal compared with the rest of the members of his family, but his financial burden was the heaviest."
Sulaiman bin Qarm said,"Abu-Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali (A.S.) would reward us with five hundred, six hundred and up to one thousand dirhams. He never tired of helping his brethren, those who came from distant places to see him, and those who hoped he would help them."
Hassan bin Kuthayr said, "I once complained to Abu-Ja'far Muhammad bin Ali (A.S.) about my poverty and how my friends had abandoned me. 'How bad is the brother who cares for you when you are wealthy and abandons you when you are poor,' commented he.Then he beckoned to his servant who brought a bag in which there were seven hundred dirhams. 'Spend this', he said to me,' and when it runs out, notify me,"
The Rules of Fighting in Islam
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, talked about the rules of
fighting in Islam when one of his followers asked him about the battles of
Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. So, he said to
him: Allah sent Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, with five
swords: three of them will not be sheathed till war comes to an end.
War will not come to an end till the sun rises in the West.
When the sun rises in the West, all the people will be believers on that day.
Then such belief will not avail the person who had not believed (in Allah) before or had not done good with his belief.
The forbidden sword, and the sheathed sword whose drawing is for other than us, and whose belongs to us.
As for the three unsheathed swords, they are: the first sword is against the Arab polytheists.
Allah, the Great and Almighty, said:' So, when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba, 5)
'However, if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, then they are your brethren in religion. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba,11)
Nothing is accepted from these people except killing or embracing Islam. Their
properties are regarded as war booty, and their families are taken as
prisoners. Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, practiced that
when he took them as prisoners, forgave them, and accepted ransom from them.
The second sword is against the non-Moslem subjects. Allah, the Glorified,
said: 'And you speak to men good words.( The Holy Qur'an, al-Baqara, 83)
This verse was revealed concerning the non-Moslem subjects. However, this verse was abrogated by these words of Allah: 'Fight those who do not believe in Allah, nor in the latter day, nor do they prohibit what Allah and His Apostle have prohibited, nor follow the religion of truth, out of those who have been given the Book, until they pay the jizya (tax) in acknowledgment of superiority and they are in a state of subjection. (The Holy Qur'an, al-Touba, 30)
Nothing is accepted from the non-Moslem subjects who live in the land of Islam except jizya or being killed. Moreover, their property is regarded as war booty, and their families are taken as prisoners. However, when they accept to pay jizya (tax), then it is forbidden for us to take them as prisoners and to regard their property as war booty.
Furthermore, it is lawful for us to marry from their women. It is lawful for us to take as prisoners those who are at the war-area and to regard their properties as war booty. It is unlawful for us to marry from their women. Nothing is accepted from them except adopting Islam and paying jizya or killing.
"The third sword is against non-Arab polytheists such as the Turkish, the Daylam, and the Khazar. Allah, the Great and Almighty, said: 'So, when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make (them) prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom (themselves) until the war terminates. (The Holy Qur'an, Mohammed, 4)
As for His words: 'And afterwards either set them free.' He means after
taking them as prisoners. 'Or let them ransom (themselves).' He means the
ransom between them and the people of Islam. Nothing is accepted from these
people except killing or entering Islam.
As for the forbidden sword, it is the sword against the people of aggression
and interpretation. Allah said:' And if two parties of the believers quarrel,
then make peace between them. However, if one of them aggresses against the
other, then fight that which has aggressed until it returns to Allah's
command.( The Holy Qur'an,al-Hujueat, 4)
When this verse was revealed, Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:' Indeed one of you will fight on (the basis of) interpretation as I fight (on the basis) of revelation.' So, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, was asked: 'Who is he?' Thus, he said: 'The one who mended the sandals (i. e. , the Commander of the Faithful).'
'Amma`r b. Ya`sir said: 'I fought beside Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. I carried this standard three times This is the fourth time. By Allah, if they fought against us and reached al-Sa'afa`t at Hajr we would know that we were right and they were wrong.' The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, treated them in this manner as Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, treated the people of Mecca. That was on the day when he conquered Mecca. Indeed he did not take their families as prisoners.
Then he (Allah's Apostle) said: 'Whoever closes his door is safe. Whoever
lays down his weapons is safe. Such said the Commander of the Faithful, peace
be on him, at the Battle of Basrah. He commanded his fighters, saying: 'Do not
take their children as prisoners. Do not kill the wounded. Do not chase those
who escape. Who closes his door and lays down his weapons is safe.
And the sheathed sword: As for the sheathed sword, it is the sword through
which the punishment is inflicted (for wrongdoing). Allah, the Great and
Almighty, said: 'The soul for the soul and the eye for the eye.( The Holy
Qur'an, al-Ma'ida, 47) The blood heirs draw this sword, and we decide its
rule.
"Allah sent Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to carry these
swords. So, whoever denies them or one of them, denies what Allah, the Blessed
and Exalted, has revealed to His Apostle, Mohammed.(Tuhaf al'Uqul, p..
288-290)
Wiping the two Light Leather Boots (khuffayn) with Water
The jurists of the Moslem doctrines have permitted the two light leather boots
(khuffayn) to be wiped with water during performing the ablution. They have
not considered the touching of the hand on the outward part of the two
feet.(Al-Khilaf, vol. 1, p. 18)
As for the Ima`ms of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on
them, they considered the wiping and did not permit other than it. Al-Rabi`
said: "I asked Abu` Isha`q about the wiping. So, he said: 'I saw the people
wipe (the two light leather boots) with water. Then I met a Hashmite called
Mohammed b. 'Ali b. al-Husayn. I had never seen a man like him. Thus, I asked
him about wiping (the two light leather boots) with water. He prevented me
from that, and then he said: 'The Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him,
had not wiped (the two light leather boots) with water. He said: 'The Book had
come before wiping the two light leather boots (with water). (Roudat al-Wa'izin,
p. 243)
The great Book has proved touching the outward of the two feet. Allah, the
Most High, said: "O You who believe, when you rise up to prayer, wash your
faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and rub your heads and your feet to
the ankles." The verse clearly denotes the opinion of the members of the House
(ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.
Touching the Vestibule of the Vulva does not invalidate Wudu'
Al-Sha`fi'i believed that touching the vestibule of the vulva was among the
things that invalidated wudu'. In that he cleaved to what had been reported on
the authority of b. 'Umar, Sa'd b. Abu` Waqa`s, Abu` Hurayra, 'A'isha, and
Sa'id b. al-Musayyab, who said: "Touching the vestibule of vulva is among the
things that invalidate wudu'."
As for Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, and all the Ima`ms
of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, did not believe
in that. Zara`ra reported on the authority of Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace
be on him, who said: "Neither the kiss nor touching the woman's body nor
touching the vestibule of the vulva invalidates wudu'.( Al-Khilaf, vo. 1, p.
23)
Besides invalidating ritual purity requests a proof.
Raising the Voice during the quiet Prayer
The Jurists of the Moslem doctrines believed that raising the voice
intentionally during the quiet prayer or lowering it during the loud prayer
was not among the things that invalidated the prayer. As for the jurists of
the doctrine of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, they
believe that it is among the things that invalidate the prayer.
Zara`ra reported on the authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be
on him, when he was asked about the man who performed the quiet prayers loudly
and the loud prayer quietly. Thus, he, peace be on him, said: "If he did that
intentionally, then he invalidated his prayer. So, he must repeat it. If he
did that when he was forgetful or heedless or did not know (that), then
nothing was against him. Thus, his prayer was perfect.( Al-Khilaf, vo. 1, p.
130)
Asking Allah to bless Mohammed and his Family in Tashahhud
Most Moslem jurists believe that it is obligatory to ask Allah to bless the
Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, in tashahhud (i. e. , I bear
witness that there is no god apart from Allah, Who is unique and without
partners. I also bear witness that Mohammed is His servant and His Apostle. O
Allah, bless Mohammed and his family.) Ja`bir al-Ju'fi reported on the
authority of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who said:
"Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said:
'He who performs a prayer and does not ask Allah to bless me and my family, his prayer is not accepted from him.
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, had all the noble
qualities that made him appropriate for undertaking the spiritual and the
temporal leadership of this community. Each of his qualities raised him to the
top which no one reaches except the unique people of the time. He was as the
poet said:
He was from the Ha`shimites whose glory was as high as the sky.
Ima`m al-Baqir, peace be on him talked about his Ima`mate subjectively and inclusively. We will mention it when we talk about his intellectual and scientific heritage. As for his Ima`mate, the general and the private nominations indicated it. Among them was the nomination of Ima`m ('Ali), the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him, and the Ima`mate of the pure Ima`ms after him.(Al-Saffar, Basar'ir al-Darajat, p. 108)
Among those wonderful examples of his clemency is a Syrian attended his
assembly, listened to his lectures and admired them. Then the Syrian walked
towards the Ima`m, saying: "Mohammed, I am afraid of your assembly. I do not
love you. I say: No one is more hateful with me than you, the members of the
House. I know that the obedience of Allah and the obedience of the Commander
of the Faithful is through your hate. However, I think that you are an
eloquent man with morals and good utterance. I visit you frequently because of
your good manners!
However, the Ima`m treated him kindly. Then the Syrians became righteous. He
loved the Ima`m and followed him. He became a friend of the Ima`m till death
came to him. Thus, he asked the Ima`m to pray over him. (Bihar al-Anwar,
vol.11, p. 66)
(The people of) authority disparaged his pure grandfathers. They cursed them openly on the pulpits and through the minarets (of the mosques). He , peace be on him, listened to that. However, he was unable to say even a word. He restrained his anger. He entrusted the affair to Allah to judge among his servants with the truth.
Among the hard misfortunes which the Ima`m endured was the headmen from the hirelings of the Umayyad authority who tortured severely and killed the followers of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. However, the Ima`m was unable to say even a word. That is because (the Umayyad) authority kept an intense eye on him. They surrounded him with their secret agents. They did not respond to any request from him concerning the affair of his followers.
Concerning the Ima`m's great patience, the historians reported that while he was sitting with his companions, he heard a loud cry from his house. One of his servants hurried to him and told him secretly (about the accident). However, the Ima`m, peace be on him, said to the servant: "Praise belongs to Allah for what he has given and praise belongs to Him for what he has taken. Prevent them from weeping. Prepare him for burial. Ask her to be calm and tell her: 'No harm will hit you. You are free for Allah because of the fear that has controlled you.
Then the Ima`m went back to his conversation. The people were unable to
ask him (about the accident). Then his servant came to him and said to him:
`We have prepared him for burial.' Thus, the Ima`m ordered his companions to
pray over his son and to bury him. He told his companions concerning his son
and said to them: ' He fell off a slave-girl who was carrying him and died.
('Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 218)
The historians said: "The Ima`m had a son. The son became ill. Thus, the
Ima`m feared for his safety, for he loved him very much. Then the son died.
So, the patience of the Ima`m became calm. Thus, it was said to him:' We fear
for your safety, son of the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him and his
family.' However, the Ima`m answered with calmness and satisfaction with the
decree of Allah, saying: 'Indeed we pray to Allah in what He loves. If what we
hate occurs, we do not oppose Allah in what He loves. (Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 51,
p. 52, Ibn Qutayba, 'Uyyun al-Akhbar, vol. 3, p. 57)
Among his high morals was that he glorified the poor and raised their position lest the people should see the abasement of the need on them. The historians said: "He ordered his family not to say to the beggar: 'Beggar, take this.' Rather he ordered them to say: 'Servant of Allah, you are blessed.( 'Uyyun al-Akhbar, vol. 3, p. 208)
His Releasing the Slaves : The great Ima`m was fond of releasing the slaves and saving them from enslavement. He released a family of eleven slaves.( Sharh Shafiyat Abi Firas, vol. 2, p. 176)
Sheik
Majlisi reported on the authority of Ihtijaj and Tafsir Ali Ibn Ibrahim in
Bihar that Abu Al-Jaroud said: ‘Abu Jaafar Al-Baqir (A.S.) said to me:
‘Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt) say about Al-Hassan
and Al-Hussain (A.S}?’
I said: They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah ‘s Apostle.’
He then said: ‘So with what do you debate them?’
I said: ‘With Allah’s saying about Isa Ibn Maryam:
"And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job. Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus;
do we reward those who do good," and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant
of Ibrahim.’
He said: ‘Then what do they say?’
I said: ‘They say: "A daughter’s son can be called a son but he is not
actually a real descendant"’
He said: "How do you argue with them?"
I said: "We quote the following verse for them"
‘Say: Come! Let us gather
together, our sons and your sons, our women and your
woman. ‘49
Then he said: ‘Then what do they say?’
I replied: ‘They say: "it is common in Arabic for a man to call another man
children Our children while they are really others’ children.
Imam Baqir
(Abu Jafar (A.S) then said:
‘By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which
shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (P.B.U.M.) direct children (form his
loins); proof that can only be denied by infidel’
I said: May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of’ ~
He answered: ‘When Allah said: "Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers; daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins,"
Ask them, Abu Al-Jaroud, was it peri’nitted for Allah ‘s Messenger to
marty Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain ‘s wives (had they been divorced)?
If their response is affirmative, then they have lied and sinned; and if their
answer is negative, it is because they are his children proceeding from his (P.B.U.H.)
loins."
He also ordered them to call the beggars with their best names.( Al-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, p. 158)
One who disobeys Allah has no knowledge of Him.
Man's tongue is the key to all good and evil. Therefore, a believer should lock his tongue like he would keep his gold and silver locked up.
If man knew the rewards for hardships and suffering, he would cut himself to pieces (to suffer)!
All eyes except three kinds of eyes would weep on the Judgment Day: Eyes that remain awake the whole night in Allah's service.
Eyes that weep from the fear of Allah.
Eyes that have saved themselves from sinning in the world.
Three things destroy a man: considering his own deeds to be really great.
Forgetting the sins that have been committed.
Considering his own opinion to be the highest.
'Abd Allah b. 'Ubayd and 'Amru` b. Dina`r reported. They said: "When we met Abu` Ja'far Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir), he gave us money and clothes. Then he said: 'These had been prepared for you before you met me.(Al-Irshad, p. 299)
Sulayma`n b. Qaram reported: "Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) gave us five hundred, six hundred, or one thousand dirhams. He was not tired of spending on the companions, those who came to him, and those who hoped from him.(Al-Irshad, p. 299)
Al-Hasan b. Kuthayr said: "I complained to Abi Ja'far Mohammed b. 'Ali (al-Ba`qir) of the need and the abandonment of the friends. He , peace be on him, was moved (by that). Then he said: `Bad is the friend who takes care of you when you are rich and abandons you when you are poor. ' Then he ordered his servant-boy to take out a pouch in which were seven hundred dirhams. Then he said: 'Spend these (dirhams). When you have used them, then inform me (of that).( Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63)
He, peace be on him, gave from a hundred to a thousand (dirhams) to the people who came frequently to his assembly. He liked sitting with them. Among them were 'Amru` b. Dina`r and 'Abd Allah b. Ubayd. He gave them gifts and clothes. Then he said to them: We have prepared them for you since the beginning of the year.('Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Athar, p. 217)
His retainer, Salma, reported: "His companions came to him. They did not leave him till he offered them delicious food and gave them good clothes and granted them dirhams. "Salma blamed him for that. Thus, he said to her: "Nothing is hoped in this world except the relatives and the companions.(A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/506. Safwat al-Safwa, vol.2, p. 63)
He used to say: "The world is not good except for the gift of the companions and the relatives. (A'yan al-Shi'a, Q1/4/506. Safwat al-Safwa, vol.2, p. 63)
The Early Shi'ites
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, praised the foremost Shi'ites.
He mentioned their high moral standards and their high good qualities. He,
peace be on him, said:
Our friends and Shi'ites were the best of their period. The Ima`m of the
mosque in the district was from among them. The caller to prayers (mu'azin) in
the direction to the Kaaba (Qibla) was from among them. The possessor of the
deposit was from among them. The possessor of the trust was from among them.
The religious scholar whom the people asked about their religious affairs was
from among them.(Da'a'im al-Islam, vol. 1, p. 71)
These commandments show the qualities of the early Shi'ites, such as
asceticism, piety, religious devotion, and cleaving to the religion. So, the
people trusted them. They prayed behind them. Moreover, they regarded them as
custodians over their properties and religion. Generally speaking, the early
Shi'ites were famous for piety and righteousness.
It was reported that a Shi'ite stood before the judge as a witness. However,
the judge refused to accept the Shi'ite's testimony, for he belonged to the
Rafida. So, the Shi'ite burst into tears. Thus, the judge was astonished at
him. He thought that the Shi'ite wept for his refused testimony. He asked him
about that. So, the Shi'ites replied:
"You have deviated from the truth. You have ascribed me to this sect. No one
joins it except the prophets and the righteous.
Isha`q b. 'Amma`r reported on the authority of Abi 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq),
who said: "I prepared bed for my father and waited for him till he came. When
he went to his bed and slept, I went to my bed. One night he was late. After
the people had slept, I went to the mosque to look for him. There was no one
in the mosque except him. Suddenly, I saw him prostrating in the mosque. I
heard him say:
"O Allah, glory belongs to You. You are my true Lord. O My Lord, I am
prostrating my self in worship and slavery. O Allah, my deed is weak, so
double it for me. O Allah, protect me from Your torment on the day when You
raise Your servants from the dead. Forgive me. Indeed You are the Most
Forgiving, the Most Merciful.(Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 323)
Abu` 'Ubayda al-Hadha' reported: While Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir) was prostrating himself in worship, I heard him say: "(O Allah), I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to change my sins into good deeds and reckon me easily.
Then he said in the second prostration: I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to suffice me the provision of the world and weaken the terror before Paradise.
Then he said in the third (prostration): I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to forgive me my few and many sins and accept the little work from me. (121)
Then he said in the forth (prostration) I ask You by Your beloved one, Mohammed, may Allah bless him and his family, to make me enter Paradise, to make me among its dwellers, and to save me from the burning fire through Your mercy. May Allah bless Mohammed and his family.(Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p. 323) These supplications denote his intense attachment to Allah, his great turn to Him in repentance, and his cleaving to His obedience.
His Supplication during his Personal Prayers
Some supplications which he said during his personal prayers have been
reported on his authority. The following are some of them:
O Allah, indeed, my enemy has followed his vigor, persisted on his enmity, and
felt safe from the consequence through the clemency that has included him.
Thus, he has dared against You and disobeyed You when he has separated himself
from You.
O Allah, You have moments of wrath at night when they are asleep, by day when they are heedless, openly when they play, and suddenly when they are forgetful.
Indeed the strangling rope has become more intense, the shackle has become stronger, the hearts have been eliminated, the minds are disguised, patience has perished and its strings are about to break.
Surely, You observe the oppressive and see the grieved.
The passing of overtaking does not hurry You and the prohibition of the forbidder does not make You powerless.
Rather You act carefully.
Your argument is intense and irrefutable in all circumstances.
The weakness of humanity and the feebleness of mankind are in Your servants.
The supreme power of divinity, the kingdom of creation, the violence of deliberateness, and the punishment of perpetuation are for You.
O Allah, if there is a reward in bearing patiently the cordiality of the supported one from the oppressive and the sadness of him who sees from those who alternate you, then grant me more support and a help of directing till the time when Your will is valid towards him whom You make happy and him whom You make unhappy.
Do me a favor to submit to Your inevitable decrees and to bear Your issued determinations.
Grant me love for what You love from the past and the next (things), the immediate and the postponed (things).
(Grant me) preference to what You choose from the close and the remote (things).
In spite of that, do not deprive us of the sentiments of Your mercy and Your good protection.
He, peace be on him, prayed to Allah with this supplication in his personal prayers: "Through Your favor and generosity. O You Who knows the obsessions of inner selves, the hidden places of consciences, and the facts of thoughts.
O You Who is present for every unseen, remember every forgotten (person), have power over all things, see all (the creatures), the slowness has become far, the moment of death has approached, the deed has become weak, and the hope is full of doubt.
O Allah, You are the last as You are the first. You destroy whom You originate and turn into wear.
You entrust their deeds to them and make them carry their burdens till the time of their resurrection from their raise from the dead when the trumpet will be blown, the sky split open with the light, and coming out of the place of resurrection to the yard of the gathering.
Their eyes will not revert to them and their hearts vacant.
They will run into the worry of their past deeds.
They will be asked for a long time when the had lived.
There they will be reckoned for what they had committed.
Their books will be wide open around their necks.
They shall bear their burdens on their backs.
There will be neither escape nor refuge from the punishment.
The proof will confute them. So, they will live in the perplexity of the destination and the whisper of the noise.
They will be deviated from the destination except him who Allah promised good.
So, he will be safe from the fearful sight and the great coming. And he was not among those who disobeyed (Allah) in the world. He did not annoy Allah's friends nor did he enslave them nor did he possess alone their rights.
O Allah, indeed the hearts have risen up to the throats, the souls have come up to the throats, and the lives have come to an end because of waiting (for Your ease), not because of the paucity of insight nor because of the accusation of a decree, but because they have disobeyed You, opposed Your orders and prohibitions, played with Your friends, and supported Your enemies.
O Allah, therefore, approach that which has become close, bring that which
has become imminent, achieve the thoughts of those who are certain (of You),
and make the believers achieve their hopes in establishing Your justice,
supporting Your religion, and showing Your proof. (Furu' al-Kafi, vol. 3, p.
323)
Abu Baseer narrates that Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: The humans, the jinn, the birds and the wild beasts (all) mourned and wept over (the tragedy which befell) Husain Ibn A'li (A.S.)
In short and expressive words Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) depicts this bloody tragedy. He says: “...Our followers were killed in every city. Hands and legs were cut off at the slightest suspicion. Whoever was reported to love us or had any contact with us would either be imprisoned of robbed of his property or his house destroyed. Oppression increased in volume and became unduly harsh, till the time of Ubaidullah bin Ziyad, the murderer of Hussein (a.s.)”
Jaber Ibn Abdullah Ansari said: "I said to Abu Ja'far (Al-Baqir (A.S.)): `May I be your sacrifice son of Allah's Messenger; narrate to me a hadith in regard to the noble traits of your grandmother Fatima, so that if I report it to your Shiites (followers), they would rejoice at (hearing) it!' Abu Ja'far (A.S.) said: `My father told me that my grandfather reported that Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Rising, Minbars of light shall be erected for the prophets and messengers, of which my Minbar shall be the highest among all Minbars on that day. Allah will then say: Deliver a speech,' so I will deliver a speech that none of the prophets or messengers have ever heard. Then for the successors (of prophets) shall be erected Minbars of light, and in the middle of these Minbars one shall be erected for my successor, Ali Ibn Abu Talib, which will be higher than all their Minbars. Allah will then say:
"Ali, deliver a speech.' So he will deliver a speech like no successor has ever heard before. Then for the children of the prophets and messengers shall be erected Minbars of light; among them shall be a Minber of light for my two sons, grandsons and the two flowers of my life (Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain). Then it shall be said to them: "Deliver speeches." So they will deliver two speeches like none of the children of the prophets and messengers have ever heard before!
"A caller-Gabriel-shall then call: `Where is Fatima Bint Muhammad?' She (A.S.) will rise..." (until he said): 'Allah, the blessed and exalted is His Name, shall say: `O people of the gathering; to whom does honor belong today?' So Muhammad, Ali, Hassan and Al-Hussain (A.S.) will say: 'To Allah, The one, The Almighty 'Allah the Exalted will say: "O people of the gathering: lower your heads and cast your eyes down, for this is Fatima proceeding towards Paradise.' Gabriel shall then bring her a female camel from the female camels of Paradise; its sides shall be embellished, its muzzle with fresh pearls, and it shall have a saddle of coral. It shall kneel down in her presence; so she will ride it. Allah will then send 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her right side; and 100, 000 angels to accompany her on her left side; and 100, 000 angels to lift her onto their wings until they bring her to the gate of Paradise. When she is near the gate of Paradise, she will look to her side. Allah will then say: "Daughter of My beloved, why did you look to your side after I gave the command that you enter my Paradise?"
She will say: "My Lord, I wished that my position would be realized on such a Day!" Allah will say:
"Daughter of My beloved! Go back and look for everyone in whose heart was love for you or for any of your progeny; take their hand and lead them into paradise!"
Abu Ja'far (A.S.) said: "By Allah; Jabir, she will pick her Shiites (followers) and those who love her just like a bird picks good seeds from bad seeds. So that when her Shiites are near the gate of Paradise, Allah will inspire their hearts to look to their sides; when they do--- Allah, The Almighty, will say:
My beloved ones, why did you look around when Fatima, the daughter of my beloved one, interceded for you?' They will answer: `Our Lord! We hoped that our position would be known on such a day!'
Allah will then say: `My beloved ones, go back and look for everyone who loved you for your love for Fatima;
Look for everyone who fed you for the love of Fatima;
Look for everyone who clothed you for the love of Fatima;
Look for everyone who gave you a drink for the love of Fatima;
Look for everyone who prevented (Gheeba) backbiting from being done against you for the love of Fatima...
Take their hands and lead them into Paradise... "'
Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: "I heard Jabir Ibn Abdullah Ansari say: Allah's Messenger said: "On the Day of Rising, My daughter, Fatima, shall arrive riding a female camel from among the camels of Paradise-to her right shall be seventy thousand angels and to her left shall also be seventy thousand angels; Gabriel will be holding its muzzle and calling with the loudest of voices: `Cast down your eyes so that Fatima Bint Muhammad may pass!"
"Then shall no prophet, messenger, truthful one, or martyr remain without casting their eyes down until Fatima passes... Then a call shall come from the side of Allah, the Exalted:
My beloved one and the daughter of my beloved one; ask Us and you shall be given (whatever you wish), and intercede, your intercedence shall be accepted. By my Honor and Exaltation, the oppression of no oppressor shall pass My (judgment) today.
She (Fatima) will then say: "O Allah, My Master;
My progeny, My Shiites (followers), the Shiites of my progeny,
Those who love me and those who love my progeny."
She will then hear a call from Allah's side, may His Name be exalted:
Where are Fatima's progeny, her Shiites, those who love her, and those who love her progeny?"
They will then come forward, surrounded by angels of mercy, and Fatima will lead them into Paradise."
'A servant of a wife of Ali Ibn Al-Hussain (A.S.), named Abu Ayman, came (to the fifth Imam- (A.S.)) and said: `O Abu Ja'far! You mislead the people, saying intercession of Muhammad, intercession Muhammad.' (Hearing this) Abu Ja'far became so angry that his face took a glowering expression;
Then he said: `Woe unto you! O Abu Ayman! Are you deluded by chastity of your stomach and genitals?
Why, when you will see the terror of resurrection, you shall certainly be in need of intercession of Muhammad.
Fie on you! Would he intercede except for him who would have been sentenced to the fire?'
(Then) he said: `There is not one from the early people to the later ones but he will need the intercession of Muhammad (P.B.U.H.) on the Day of Resurrection.'
Then again Abu Ja'far said: `Certainly the Messenger of Allah has (authority of) intercession for his Ummah, and we have (authority of) intercession for our Shiites, and our Shiites have (authority of) intercession for their families.'
Then he said: And surely a believer shall intercede for (very large numbers of) people like the tribes of Rabi'ah and Mudhar.
And surely a believer shall intercede for his servant, saying: "O my Lord! I owe this to him, he protected me from heat and cold.""
The (fifth) Imam said about the verse, 'And intercession will not avail aught with Him save him whom He permits: "No prophet or apostle may intercede until Allah permits him, except the Apostle of Allah; because Allah has already given him permission before the Day of Resurrection; and intercession is (allowed) to him and to the Imams from his progeny, and after that to the prophets."
Imam Baqir (A.S.) on the account of Jabir Ibn Abdullah, said: "It was said to the Messenger of Allah: Surely you kiss, embrace and bring Fatima close to you... and treat her better than your other daughters!"
He (A.S.) commented: "Indeed, for Gabriel brought me an apple from heaven, which I ate and it was transformed into sperm that I placed in Khadija who later bore Fatima. Hence, I smell paradise's fragrance in her."
"Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Au vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."
Zurarah reported that he inquired from Imam Baqir about what is meant
by: "When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam-from their
loins-their descendants," He said (It means that He drew forth) from Adam's
loins his descendants until the Day of Resurrection, so they came forth in
the form of corpusclens. He then taught and acquainted them to His creation;
and had He not done so, no one would have known His Lord.
"By Allah, He (Glory be to Him) bestowed her with knowledge and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."
Imam Baqir (a.s) pointed out that it was decreed that Fatima would be safeguarded from menstruation in that world, which is also called the "World of Covenant."
Do not fast nor journey on Monday, for on that day the prophet died".
"When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed to an angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad's tongue. Allah then said: "I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation."
Then Abu Ja'far (A.S.) added: "By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."
From what we have been told from hadith, the spirit and essence of religion is nothing but love. Burayd al-`Ijli said: "I was in the presence of Imam al-Baqir (as), and there was a traveller from Khurasan who had traversed that long journey on foot. He had the honour of meeting the Imam. His feet, which were showing through his shoes, were cut, and he had taken his shoes off. He said: "By God, the only thing that brought me from whence I have come is love of you, the Household (of the Prophet)." The Imam said: "By God, if a stone loved us, God would unite it with us, and join it to us. Is the religion other than love?"
Abu Jaafar Al-Baqir (a.s) said to me: 'Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt,) say about Al-Hassan and A l-Hussain (a.s)?' I said. 'They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah's Apostle.'
He then said. 'So with what do you debate them?'I said: With Allah's saying about Isa Ibn Maryam:
"And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job. Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus, do we reward those who do good," and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant of Ibrahim.'
He said: 'Then what do they say?' I said: 'They say: "A daughter's son can be called a son but he is not actually a real descendant."
He said. 'How do you argue with them?' I said: 'We quote the following verse for them.'
'Say: Come! Let us gather together, our Sons and your sons, our women and your woman.' 49
Then he said: 'Then what do they say?' I replied. 'They say: "It is common in Arabic for a man to call another man's children Our children while they are really others' children."
Imam Baqir (Abu Jafar a.s) then said:' By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (p.b.u.h) direct children (form his loins); proof that can only be denied by infidels.'
I said: 'May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of?' He answered: When Allah said:
"Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers, daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your Sons proceeding from your loins."
Imam Baqir said: "Fatima Bint Muhammad was born five years after the (first) revelation to Allah's Messenger. She died when she was eighteen years and seventy-five days old."
"When Fatima was born, Allah (Exalted is His Name) revealed to an angel to speak the name Fatima with Muhammad's tongue. Allah then said:
'I have bestowed knowledge upon you and safeguarded you from menstruation." Then Abu Jaafar (a.s) added:
"By Allah, Allah (Blessed and Exalted is His Name) bestowed knowledge on her and safeguarded her from menstruation with the covenant."
"When thy Lord drew forth from the children of Adam-from their loins-their descendants"
He said: "(It means that He drew forth) from Adam's loins his descendants until the Day of Resurrection, so they came forth in the form of corpusclens. He then taught and acquainted them to His creation; and had He not done so, no one would have known His Lord."
Imam Baqir (A.S.) said: "Fatima vouched to take care of the household work, make dough, bake bread, and clean the house; in return, Ali vouched to take care of the outside work (such as) gathering firewood, and bringing food."
'Abu Ja'far Al-Baqir (A.S.) said to me: 'Abu Jaroud, what do they (followers of other than Ahlul-Bayt) say about Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain (A.S.)?'
I said: 'They deny the fact that they are sons of Allah's Apostle.' He then said: 'So with what do you debate them?'
I said: 'With Allah's saying about Isa Ibn Maryam: "And among his progeny David and Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron; thus, do we reward those who do good," (6: 84) and that Allah Almighty made Isa a descendant of Ibrahim."
He said: 'Then what do they say?' I said: 'They say: 'A daughter's son can be called a son but he is not actually a real descendant.'
He said: 'How do you argue with them?' I said: 'We quote the following verse for them':
'Say: Come! Let us gather together, our sons and your sons, our women and your woman.'
Then he said: 'Then what do they say?' I replied: 'They say: "It is common in Arabic for a man to call another man's children Our children while they are really others' children."'
Imam Baqir (Abu Ja'far (A.S.)) then said: 'By Allah, Abu Al-Jaroud, I shall quote a verse from the Book of Allah which shows that Hassan and Hussain are his (P.B.U.H.)direct children (form his loins); proof that can only be denied by infidels.'
I said: `May I be your sacrifice, what verse are you speaking of?' He answered: `When Allah said: "Prohibited to you (for marriage) are your mothers, daughters... until (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins. "
Ask them, Abu A1 Jaroud, was it permitted for Allah's Messenger to marry Al-Hassan and Al-Hussain's wives (had they been divorced)?
If their response is affirmative, then they have lied and sinned; and if their answer is negative, it is because they are his children proceeding from his loins. "'
Elsewhere he quotes Imam Baqir (AS), saying: "If the earth would be devoid of an Imam from our Household for even a single day, it would swallow in all its inhabitants. And Allah would afflict the dwellers of the earth with a severe punishment. The Lord Almighty has appointed us as this sign and for the safety of the dwellers of the earth. As long as we live among them, those who would otherwise be swallowed into the earth are in safety."
Athafer Al-Seirafi reported that he was with Al-Hakam Ibn Oyainah at the house of the Hazrat Imam Mohammad Al-Baqir a.ss (the father of Hazrat Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq a.s ). Oyainah asked Hazrat Imam Al-Baqir a.s about some Islamic rules. Abu Jafar a.s told his son to bring the book of Ali. He brought a huge book and Al-Baqir a.s opened it and looked at it until he found the subject in question. Abu Jafar a.s said: This is the writing of Ali and the dictation of the Messenger of God. Then he looked at Al-Hakam and said: "Abu Mohammad a.s , go, you and Selemah and Al-Miqdad wherever you want, right or left. By God, you will not find more reliable knowledge at any place than that of a people Gabriel used to come to."
Ima`m al-Ba`qir gave commandments to one of his children. They are as follows: "O My little son, when Allah bestows a blessing on you, say: praise belongs to Allah. When an intense affair befalls you, then say: There is neither power nor might but through Allah. When your daily bread is slow (in coming) for you, then say: I seek Allah's forgiveness. (l-Bayan wa al-Tabiyyin, vol. 3, p. 280)
More Sayings of Hazrat Imam M.Baqir a.s Page-1
More Sayings of Hazrat Imam M.Baqir a.s Page-2 More Sayings of Hazrat Imam M.Baqir a.s Page-3
Sayings 1 about Dua's Sayings 2 about Dua's Sayings 3 about Dua's
