the life of iimam muhammad ibn ali al baqir

8/13/2019 The Life of Iimam Muhammad Ibn Ali Al Baqir

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Presentedbyhttp://www.alhassanain.com & http://www.islamicblessings.com

TheLifeofImamMuhammadibnAlialBaqir(A.S)

Author

:

Allama

Baqir

Shareef

al

Qurashi

Dedication

Introduction

Chapterl:TheGreatBaby

ChapterII:Under

The

Auspices

Of

Al

Husayn

and

Ali

Chapterlll:HisBrothersandHisChildren

ChapterIV:AdmirationandGlorification

ChapterV:TheQualitiesOfHisCharacter

ChapterVI:HisTalentsandHisGenius

TheImamate

ChapterVII:KuthayrAzzahandALKumayt

ChapterVIII:InsignificantKings

ChapterIX:TheTimeOfImamALBaqir

TheShitePoliticalThoughts

ChapterX:His

Companions

and

The

Reporters

Of

His

Traditions

84.AlJarudbinalSari

165.ZakariyabinAbdAllah


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230.AmirbinAb~alAhwas

310.AqababinShayba

425.MohammedbinMoslem

ChapterXI:ToTheShelterGarden

Dedication

Idedicate(thisbook)toyou...ohyouwhospreadknowledgeandlightintheearth.Toyou,oh

ApostleofAllah.Toyou,ohyouwhoweretheLastoftheprophets.

Thishumblebookisaboutthelifeofyourgrandson,Ima`mMohammedalBa`qir.Youcalled

himMohammedandgavehimthenicknameasBa`qiralIlm(theonewhosplitsopen

knowledge).Thus,herenewedyourreligionandenlivenedyourpractices(sunna).Therefore,

nooneisworthierofthisdedicationthanyou.Acceptthisandbekindtomethroughyour

pleasure.So,itwillbemyprovisiononthedaywhenImeetAllah.

Introduction

1

Ima`mMohammedalBa`qir,peacebeonhim,wasunique.Forhebelongedtotheunique

membersof

the

pure

family

(of

the

Prophet).

He

was

among

the

leading

Ima`ms

of

the

House

(ahl

alBayt)peacebeonthem.Hewasamongthemostprominentofthemenofthoughtand

knowledgeinIslam.Thehistorianshaveunanimouslyagreedonhisimportance.Forheplayedan

importantroleinproclaimingtheIslamiccultureandfoundingthescientificmovementin

Islam.HededicatedhimselftospreadknowledgeamongtheMoslems.Thatwaswhenthe

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2

ThelecturesandresearchesoftheIma`mwerenotconfinedtojurisprudence.Ratherthey

includedallkindsofsciencessuchasphilosophy,theology,andmedicine.Asfortheexplanation

ofthe

Koran,

it

engaged

his

care

wholly.

Indeed,

he

appointed

time

for

it.

Most

commentators

(of

theKoran)havewrittenwhattheIma`madoptedandwhathenarratedfromhisgrandfathers

concerningtheexplanationoftheholyverses.He(theIma`m)wroteabookabouttheexplanation

(oftheKoran).Zyya`db.alMundher,thespiritualleaderoftheJarudigroup,reportedthebook

fromhim.[3]Thisbookdenotesthatandgivessomeexamplesofhisexplanationstosomeverses.

Worthmentioning,theIma`m,peacebeonhim,talkedabouttheconditionsoftheprophetsand

thepersecutionsfromwhichtheysufferedbecauseoftheoppressiverulersoftheirtime.Healso

talkedabouttheirjudgmentsandtheirmorals.Fromhimmostresearcherslearnedthesituations

oftheprophets.Moreover,he,peacebeonhim,talkedinaninclusiveobjectivemannerabout

theProphet'slife.HeexplainedthecircumstancesofthegreatApostle,mayAllahblesshimand

hisfamily,hiscampaigns,andhiswars.

ThehistoriansofthePropheticlifesuchasb.Hisha`m,alWa`qidi,alHalabi,andthelikereported

themonhisauthority,ontheauthorityofhisgrandfathers,peacebeonthem,ontheauthorityof

theProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.TheIma`mnarratedalargegroupoftraditions

concerningbehavior,goodmorals,andhighqualitiesMoslemsshouldfollowtobeanexampleto

others.Hereportedinaninclusivewayallthehistoriceventsthatoccurredduringtheearly

Islamictime.AlTabarihasreportedthemfromhiminhisbookTa`r~kh.Hehasalsoreported

themfromhiminhisbookalAnsab.

TheIma`m,peacebeonhim,debatedwithsomeChristianscholars,theAzraqites,theatheists,

andtheextremists.Hepassedallthosedebatessuccessfully.TheopponentadmittedtheIma`m's

scientificabilities.Namely,theopponentwasfeebletodebatewithhim.Thisbookwillindicate

that.TheIma`mleftbehindhimanimmenseintellectualwealth.Itisregardedasoneofthe

sourcesandamongtheminesthescientificwealthintheearth.Itisdifficultformetowriteabout

allwhathasbeennarratedfromhim.Forthatneedswritingseveralbooks.Wehavereferredto

onlysomeofthem.Wehaveleftthedooropentohimwhowantstostudyinclusivelyhisscientific

wealth.

However,thehistorianshaveneverseenanIma`mlikeMohammedalBa`qir.Thatisbecausehe

devotedallhislifetothespreadofknowledgeamongthepeople.Hewasasthenarratorssaid:

HelivedinMedian(Yathrib).Hewasatrustycustodian.Hewaslikethemountainorthesea.The

thinkersandprominentscholarslearnedfromhimjurisprudenceandknowledge.So,he

developednotonlythelifeofthiscommunitybutalsoofallpeople.

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Ima`mMohammedalBa`qir,peacebeonhim,wasamongthegreatmenofthoughtand

knowledgeinIslam.HewasalsoamongthemostprominentIma`msoftheMoslems.Thatis

becausehehadgreatmorals.Hefreedhimselffromselfishmaterialism.

Thushis

behavior

represents

the

essence

of

the

Islamic

thought

that

came

to

guide

people

and

to

educatetheirmanners.ThehistorianshaveunanimouslyagreedthattheIma`mwasmosttimes

busypraisingAllahandthathespenthisnightsprayingtoHimandwhisperingtoHiminprayers.

TheIma`mthoroughlyrenouncedworldlydesires.Heinclinedwithhisheartandhisfeelings

towardsAllah.HepreferredHisobediencetoallthings.Hefollowedwhatcausedhimtobeclose

toAllah.Hedidnotyieldtoanydesires.Ratherhegotridofthemcompletely.Thus,theyhadno

poweroverhim.

TheIma`m'slifewassimilartothelifeofhisgrandfather,thegreatApostle,mayAllahblesshim

andhisfamily,inallqualities.Whoeverreadsabouthislifeisfullofadmiration.

4

Duringhischildhood,Ima`malBa`qir,peacebeonhim,wasliabletomanytribulations.Indeed,

hesawthetragediesofKarbala`'.HesawthepurefamilyoftheProphet,mayAllahblesshimand

hisfamily,whentheyweretorturedandkilled.HesawtheUmayyadArmymurderingthe

innocentchildren,thewomen,andtheoldmen.Hesawthatsinfularmymaimingthebodyof

thegreatIma`m(alHusayn).Hesawothertragediesthatfilledtheheartwithterror.Hewas

amongthemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),peacebeonthemwhentheyweretaken

prisonerstob.Marjana(UbaydAllahb.Zyya`d).Thelatterhumiliatedanddisdainedthemvery

much.HeshowedhismaliceandherejoicedatthemurderoftheprogenyoftheProphet,may

Allahblesshimandhisfamily.Thenhesentthemtothesinfuloppressiveruler,Yaz~db.

Mua`wiya.Thelatterreceivedthemwithmuchdisdainandmistreatment.

Ima`mMohammedalBa`qir,peacebeonhim,understoodfullythosepainfulevents.Thus,they

filledhisheartwithstormysorrow.Theyimpresseddeeplyagonyandsadnessinhisheart.They

accompaniedhimthroughouthislife.Thus,hisheartwasfullofbittersorrow.Sohediedwhilehe

didnotenjoyhislife.

AmongthedisastersthathittheIma`mduringhischildhoodwastheBattleofalHirra.Atthat

battleYaz~d'sArmyviolatedtheHolinessofMedina,thecityoftheProphet,mayAllahblesshim

andhisfamily.Thearmyrapedthewomen,seizedproperties,andkilledpeople.Itviolatedall

thethingswhichAllahhadprohibited.Noonewassafefromtheterrorsofthatpainfuldisaster

exceptIma`mZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim.ThatwasbecauseYaz~dorderedhissinful

swordsmanMoslemb.Aqaba,nottokillhim.ThesesadpicturesleftintheselfoftheIma`m


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continualfeelingsfullofsorrowandsadness.

5

Thetime

of

(the

Ima`mate)

of

the

Ima`m

was

among

the

most

critical

times

in

Islam.

During

this

timelifewasverydisorderly.Thus,thecountrywasliabletomanyrevolutions.Thoserevolutions

fromthebadUmayyadpoliticians.Thatisbecausetheydidnottakecareoftheinterestsofthe

Moslemnations.RathertheyimposedheavytaxesontheMoslemcommunity.Theyplunderedits

wealthandspentitontheirpleasures.Moreover,theytookexclusivepossessionofitsaffairs.

WemustmentionthegovernmentwithwhichtheIma`mwascontemporary.Wealsomuststudy

thepoliticaleventsthatoccurredduringthattime.Inotherwordswemustconsiderthem

carefully.Thatisbecausetheyhadacloserelationshipwiththeculturalandsocialtimewhenthe

Ima`mlived.Theresearchermustnotignorethoseevents.Thatisbecauseheisunableto

understandfullythecharacterofthepersonwhomhewantstostudy.

Itisanactofhonestyforknowledgeandthetruthtoshowthoseevents,toguidepeopletotheir

references,andtodiscussthereferenceswhichwerenotbasedonthetruth.Rathertheywere

basedonthedesiresthatwerefarawayfromreality.

Indeed,wethinkthatthestudyofsucheventswillavailthereaderverymuch.

6

TheArablibraryhasnevercontainedastudyaboutthisgreatIma`mwhoisamongtheelements

ofcultureandcivilizationalformationofthiscommunity.Indeed,itisnotanactofloyaltyto

neglectthelivesofourgreatIma`ms.Thatisbecausethelivingnationshaveimmortalizedtheir

greatmen,praisedthem,andshowedtheirscientificworks.Thatisbecausethesenationswant

toenliventheirownoriginalityandtheirnoblevalues.AlAqqa`dsaid:TheEuropeanscholars

havepraisedtheirgreatfiguresandstudiedthesidesoftheirglory.Ratherfanaticismsometimes

motivatedthemtoincreasethesidesofthisgreatness.Theyhavecreatedimaginationstojustify

thedefectandtorepairtheshortcoming.Thatisbecauseoftheenthusiasmfortheselfandthe

excitementforseekingperfection.Asforus,therearedamsandfencesbetweenusandourgreat

men.Theyhavepreventedouryoungmenfrommakinguseofthem.

NooneisworthierofpraisethanIma`mMohammedalBa`qir,peacebeonhim.Thatisbecause

hewasamongthemostprominentleadersofthiscommunity,andamongthegeniusesofthe

world.AmonghisworkswasthathefreedtheArabIslamiccriticismfromtheforeigndomination.

HemadeitindependentfromtheRomanianEmpire.Wewillmentionthatindetailinthisbook.

TheoldhistorianstookcareofstudyingthelifeofIma`mAbu`Jafar(MohammedalBa`qir).For

example,alJaludi,AbdalAz~zb.Yahya`(died304A.H.),wroteabook.Hecalledthebook


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Akhba`rAb~JafaralBa`qir.[4]Inthebookhehasmentionedhisconditionsandhisaffairs.

However,wehavenotfoundthebookamongthemanuscriptsofwhichourlibraryisfull.Perhaps

thebookisintheotherbookcasesintheworldorithasbecomemissinglikethenumerous

manuscriptswhichtheArabIslamicworldhaslost.

ThankAllah!Successhelpedme.Thus,IstudiedthelifeofthisgreatIma`m.Itisanactof

truthfulnessto

say

that

Ihave

not

found

aperson

more

wonderful

than

him.

That

is

because

he

representsallhumanvaluesofwhicheverypersonboasts.

Idevotedmyselftoreadingalargegroupofmanuscriptsandbooksthathavementionedsomeof

hisworksandhiswisesayings.Ifirmlybelievethatthecarefulresearcherwillfindmore

informationthanwhatIhavewrittenabouthis(theIma`m's)life.Thatisbecausemuch

informationhasremainedsecretforme.InotherwordsIdonotclaimthatIhavethoroughly

studiedhislifeandthatIhavementionedallhisworks.RatherIhaveshedlightonhischaracter.I

haveleftthedooropenforotherresearcherstowriteabouthislife.

BeforeIendthisintroduction,IwouldparticularlyliketothankSayyidAbdalRasu`lb.Sayyid

RidaalHusayniforfinancingthepublicationofthisbook.IaskAllahtogranthimsuccessinallhis

nobleefforts.IndeedsuccessisfromAllah.HegrantsittowhomeverHewillsfromHisservants.

6/11/1977 1397A.H.Ba`qirShar~falQarashi

[1]AlNaja`shi,Ja`mialRuwa`t,vol.1,p.9.

[2]Miza`nalItida`l,vol.1,p.383.

[3]ShaykhalTu`si,Fihrast,p.98.

[4]AlDharia,vol.1,p.315.AlAla`m,vol.7,p.153.

Chapterl:TheGreatBaby

ThemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),peacebeonthem,receivedthebabywithmuchrejoicing

andpleasure.Theywereveryhappywithhim,forhewasinwhomtheelementsofthetwo

grandsons(oftheProphet),alHasanandalHusayn,mixed.Thosenobleoriginsthroughwhich

AllahstrengthenedtheArabsandtheMoslemsmixedinhim,too.Asforthenoblebackbonesand

thepure

from

which

he

branched,

they

are:

HisMother

Asforhismother,shewasapurechastewoman.ShewasFatima,thedaughterofImamal


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Hasan,theLordoftheyouthofHeaven.ShewasgiventhekunyaofUmmAbdAllah(themother

ofAbdAllah).[1]ShewasamongtheHashimitewomen.ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,

calledheralSiddqa(theverytruthfulone).[2]ConcerningherImamAbuAbdAllahalSadiq,

peacebeonhim,said:Shewasverytruthful.NooneinthefamilyofalHasanlookedlike

her.[3]Itisenoughforherhighnessthatshewaspartoftheplantofthesweetbasilofthe

Apostleof

Allah

(i.

e.

Imam

al

Hasan),

and

that

she

grew

up

in

the

houses

which

Allah

permitted

tobeexaltedandthatHisnamemayberememberedinthem.ShebroughtupImamalBaqir,

peacebeonhim,inherpurelap.Shepoureduponhimraysofherpuresoul.Shefedhimwithher

nobleideasthatbecamepartofhisqualities.

Wehavenoinformationabouttheperiodwhichhespentwithhismother.Thatisbecausethe

referenceshaveneglectedthatperiod.Besideswehavenoinformationaboutallofhisaffairs.

HisFather

HisfatherwastheLordoftheprostrators(inworship)andornamentoftheworshipers.Hewas

thebestofalltheMoslemfiguresinjurisprudence,knowledge,andreligiouspiety.Wewill

mentionabriefstudyonhisaffairsinthefollowingresearches.

TheGreatBaby

TheworldshoneonthebirthdayofthepureImam(MohammedalBaqir).TheProphet,mayAllah

blesshimandhisfamily,hadgivengoodnewstohimbeforehisbirth.ThemembersoftheHouse

(ahlalBayt),peacebeonthem,waitedforhimimpatiently.Thatisbecausehewasamongthe

ImamsofMoslems.NamelytheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,nominatedthose

Imams.HemadethemleadersforhiscommunityandrelatedthemtotheKoran.Imam

MohammedalBaqirwasborninMedina,onthethirddayofthemonthofSafar,intheyear56A.

H.[4]Itwassaid(thathewas)onFriday,duringtheearlydaysofthemonthofRajab.[5]Hewas

bornthreeyearsbeforehisgrandfather,ImamHusayn,peacebeonhim,waskilled.[6]Itwassaid

(thathewasborn)fouryears,ashe,peacebeonhim,said,(beforethemurderohhis

grandfather).[7]Itwasalsosaid(thathewasborn)twoyearsandsomemonths(beforethe

murderofhisgrandfather).[8]Thelastdateisunusual.Nooneacceptsit.

Thereligiousritualssuchasadhanandiqamainhisearswereperformedforhimwhenhewas

born.Otherriteswerealsoperformedforhimontheseventhdayofhisbirth:Hishairwas

shaved.Theweightofhiscuthairinsliverwasgiventotheneedyasalms.Aramwassacrificedfor

himandwasgiventothepoorasalms.

HewasbornduringthetimeofMuawiya.AtthattimetheIslamiccountrieswerefullof

oppression.Moreover,theywerefullofdisastersandmisfortunes.Thatwasbecauseofthe

oppressionofMuawiyaandtheinjusticeofhisgovernorswhospreadterrorismandoppressionin


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thecountry.ImamalBaqirtalkedaboutthatdreadfulinjustice.Wewillmentionhisspeechinthis

book.

HisName

Hisgrandfather,Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,namedhimMohammed.He

alsogavehimtheKunyaofalBaqir.ThatwastenyearsbeforealBaqirwasborn.Thatwasamong

theProphet'sprophecies,assomeresearcherssaid.TheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhis

family,knewfromtheunseenthathisgrandsonwoulddosuchasproclaimingknowledgeamong

hiscommunity.Thus,hegavegoodnewstohiscommunityabouthim.Healsosenthimhis

greetingsthroughthegreatCompanion(oftheProphet),Jabirb.AbdAllahalAnsari.Wewill

mentionthatinthefollowing(chapters).

HisKunya

Hehadonlyonekunya.ItwasAbuJafar.[9]Hewascalledbythenameofhisson,JafaralSadiq,

peacebeonhim,whorenewedthelifeofthiscommunityandsplitopenthefountainsofwisdom

intheearth.

HisNickNames

Asforhisnicknames,theyindicatethequalitiesofhisgreatcharacterandhishighinclinations.

Theyareasfollows:

1.AlAmn(thetrustedone).

2.AlShabh(theonewhowasliketheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily).[10]

3.AlShakir(thegratefulone).

4.AlHadi(theonewhoguides).

5.AlSabir(thepatientone).

6.AlShahid(theproof).[11]

7.AlBaqir(theonewhosplitopenknowledge).[12]Thisisthemostfamousnicknameofhis.He

andhisson,ImamalSadiq,weregiventhenicknameofalBaqirayn(thetwooneswhosplitopen

knowledge).TheywerealsogiventhenicknameofalSadiqayn(thetwotruthfulones).[13]

ThehistoriansandthebiographersoftheImamhaveunanimouslyagreedonthathewasgiven

thenicknameofalBaqirbecausehesplitopenknowledge.Namely,hestudiedknowledgein

detail.Thus,heunderstooditsoriginanditshidden(branches).[14]Concerninghim,ImamalRida

said:

O(you)whosplitopenknowledge(makingitavailable)tothepeopleofpietyandthebestof


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thosewhoseektoanswerthecalloftheExalted.[15]

ItisasifthatthepeoplecalledhimalBaqirbecauseofhisgreatknowledgeandhismany

sciences.ItwasalsosaidthathewasgiventhenicknameofalBaqirbecauseofhismany

prostrations(inworship).Thus,hesplitopenhisforehead.[16]Moreover,hewasgiventhenick

name(ofalBaqir)becauseofthesewordsofhis:Thetruthcalledmeforhelpaftertheuntruth

hadgathered

it

in

its

abdomen.

So,

Isplit

open

its

flank

and

brought

out

the

truth

from

its

hiding,

soitappearedandspreadafterithadbeenhidden.[17]However,thefirstmeaningisthemost

famouswiththehistorians.

TheGreetingsoftheProphettoalBaqir

ThehistoriansandthenarratorshaveunanimouslyagreedthattheProphet,mayAllahblesshim

andhisfamily,senthisgreetingstohisgrandson,alBaqir,throughthegreatcompanion,Jabirb.

AbdAllahalAnsari.Thus,Jabirwasimpatientlywaitingforhisbirthtogivehimthemessageof

hisgrandfather.WhentheImamwasbornandbecameagrownup,Jabirmethimandgavehim

thegreetingsoftheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.Thehistorianshavereportedthat

invariousways.Thefollowingaresomeofthem:

1.Abanb.TaghlubreportedontheauthorityofAb~AbdAllah,peacebeonhim,whosaid:

IndeedJabirb.AbdAllahalAnsariwasthelastofthesurvivingCompanionsoftheApostleof

Allah,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.Hedevotedhimselftous,we,themembersofthe

House(ahlalBayt).HesatattheplaceoftheApostleofAllah,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.

Heworeablackturban.Hecalledout:Oyouwhowillsplitopenknowledge(baqir)!OYouwho

willsplitopenknowledge!Thus,thepeopleofMedinasaid:Jabirishallucinating!So,he(Jabir)

said:ByAllah,Ihaveneverhallucinated.However,IheardtheApostleofAllah,mayAllahbless

himandhisfamily,say:Indeed,youwillmeetamanwhobelongstome.Hisnameissimilarto

mine.Hisqualitiesaresimilartomine.Hewillsplitopenknowledgethoroughly.Thesewords

havemotivatedmetosaywhatIsay.He(Ab~AbdAllah)said:OnedaywhileJabirwaswalking

throughsomestreetsofMedina,hepassedbyastreet.Mohammedb.Ali(alBaqir)wasinthe

street.Whenhelookedathimhesaid:Oboy,come.Theboycame.thenJabirsaidtotheboy:

Turnback.Theboyturnedback.ThenJabirsaid:Byhiminwhosehandismysoul,(theyare)the

qualitiesoftheApostleofAllah.OBoy,whatisyourname?Theboyreplied:Mynameis

Mohammedb.Alib.alHusayn.Jabirkissedhisheadandsaid:Maymyfartherandmotherbe

ransomforyou,yourgrandfather,Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,sendsyou

hisgreetings.Ab~AbdAllahsaid:Mohammedcamebackfrightenedtohisfatherandtoldhim

aboutwhathadhappened.Hisfathersaidtohim:Mylittleboy,hasJabirdoneit?Mohammed

replied:Yes.Hisfathersaid:Donotleaveyourhouse,mylittleboy.[18]Asforthecontentsof

thisreport,theyareasfollows:

A.ThequalitiesandfeaturesofImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,weresimilartothoseofthe

Prophet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.


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B.ItwastheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,namedhisgrandsonMohammedand

gavehimthenicknameofalBaqir.(TheProphettoldthePeoplethatImamMohammedalBaqir)

wouldsplitopenknowledgecompletely.

C.ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,fearedforthesafetyofhissonwhenJabirreportedthe

traditionoftheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,concerninghim.Thatisbecausethe

Umayyadgovernment

imposed

an

intense

observation

on

Imam

Zayn

al

Abidn.

It

counted

his

breathsagainsthim.Itwantedtoknowwhowouldsucceedhimtopunishhimseverely.So,the

Imam,peacebeonhim,wantedtheaffairofhissontobesecretlesttheUmayyadsshould

mistreathimorsubjecthimtomisfortunes.

2.IbnAsakirreportedthatImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,andhisson,alBaqircameto

Jabirb.AbdAllahalAnsari.Jabiraskedhim:SonoftheApostleofAllah,whoiswithyou?My

son,Mohammed,iswithme,repliedImamZaynalAbidn.JabirembracedMohammed.Thenhe

weptandsaid:Mydeathisathand.Mohammed,Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhis

family,sendsyouhisgreetings.Whatisthat?askedImamZaynalAbidn.Jabirreplied:Iheard

Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,saytoalHusaynb.Ali:Asonwillbebornfor

thisgrandsonofmine.ThesonwillbetheLordofworshipers.OntheDayofJudgment,acaller

willcall:LettheLordofworshipersstandup.So,Alib.alHusaynwillrise.Asonwillbebornfor

Alib.alHusayn.ThesonwillbecalledMohammed.Jabir,whenyouseehim,givehimmy

greetings.Jabir,knowthatalMahdiwillbeamonghissons.Know,Jabir,thatyouwillstayfora

shorttimeafterhim.[19]

3.TajalD~nb.Mohammed,theheadofAleppo,reportedontheauthorityofImamMohammed

alBaqir,whosaid:IcametoJabirb.AbdAllahandgreetedhim.Hesaidtome:Whoareyou?'

Thatwasafterhehadbecomeblind.Isaidtohim:Mohammedb.Alib.alHusayn.Hesaid:May

myfatherandmotherberansomforyou,comenearertome.Icamenearertohim.Hekissedmy

hand,andthenhestoopeddowntomyfoottokissit.However,Ipulleditfromhim.Thenhesaid:

TheApostleofAllah,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,reciteshisgreetingtoyou.Peaceand

Allah'smercyandblessingsbeontheApostleofAllah,Isaid.Howisthat,Jabir?Hesaid:One

dayIwaswithhimwhenhesaidtome:Perhapsyouwillliveuntilyoumeetoneofmy

descendantscalledMohammedb.Alib.alHusaynonwhomAllahwillbestowlightandwisdom.

Thenrecitetohimmygreetigs.[20]

4.SalahalD~nalSafadisaid:JabirwalkedinMedinaandsaid:Baqir,whenwillImeetyou?

OnedayhepassedthroughastreetinMedina.Afemaleslavegavehimtheboywhowasinher

lap.Hesaidtothefemaleslave:Whoisthis?Mohammedb.Alib.alHusayn,shereplied.He

embracedhim,kissedhisheadandhishands,andthenhesaid:Mylittleboy,yourgrandfather,

Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,sendsyouhisgreetings.Thenhesaid:Baqir,

mydeathisathand.Hediedatthatnight.[21]

5.SomeIsmailisreportedthattheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,saidtoJabir:You

willmeetasonofthissonofmine.HeappointedatalHusayn.Whenyoumeethim,givehimmy

greetings.Saytohim:Oyouwhowillsplitopenknowledge,splititcompletely.Jabirdidthat.[22]

6.AlHafizNuralD~nalHaythamireportedontheauthorityofAbuJafar,peacebeonhim,who


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said:Jabirb.AbdAllahvisitedmewhileIwasreadingtheBook.Hesaidtome:Uncoveryour

abdomen.Iuncoveredmyabdomen.Hekissedit,andthenhesaid:Allah'sApostle,mayAllah

blesshimandhisfamily,orderedmetogiveyouhisgreetings.[23]

ThesearesomereportsthathaveunanimouslyagreedthattheProphet,mayAllahblesshimand

hisfamily,orderedJabirb.AbdAllahalAnsaritosendhisgreetingstoImamalBaqir,peacebeon

him.The

Prophet,

may

Allah

bless

him

and

his

family,

knew

from

beyond

the

unseen

that

his

grandsonwouldspreadknowledgeamongpeopleandthathewouldsplitopenwisdomandlight

intheearth.

HisFeatures

Jabirb.AbdAllahalAnsarisaidthathisfeaturesweresimilartothoseofAllah'sApostle,may

Allahblesshimandhisfamily.[24]HismoralswerealsosimilartotheProphet'shighonesthat

distinguishedhimfromtheotherprophets.

SomecontemporarypeoplehavedescribedImamalBaqirasfollows:Hewasamanofmedium

height.Hewasbrown.[25]Hehadsoftskinwithmoles.Hehadathinwaist.Hisvoicewasgood.

Healwaysbowedhishead.[26]

HisEarlyCleverness

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,wascleverandgeniusduringhischildhood.Thereporterssaid

thatJabirb.AbdAllahalAnsari,thoughanoldman,cametohim,satbeforehim,andlearned

fromhim.JabiradmiredtheImam'sabundantknowledgeandsciences.Thus,hesaid:Baqir,you

havebeengivenwisdomwhileyouarestillaboy.[27]

TheCompanions(oftheProphet)knewthattheImamwasendowedwithoutstandingmeritsand

abundantknowledge.So,theyconsultedhimconcerningtheproblemswhichtheydidnot

understand.ThehistorianssaidthatamanAbdAllahb.Umaraboutacertainproblem.However,

AbdAllahcouldnotanswertheproblem.So,hesaidtotheman:Gotothatboy,hepointedat

ImamalBaqir,askhim,andtellmeabouthisanswer.ThemanwenttotheImamandaskedhim.

TheImam,peacebeonhim,answeredhisproblem.Thus,themancamebacktoAbdAllahb.

UmarandtoldhimabouttheImam'sanswer.So,thelatteradmiredtheImam,saying:Theyare

theknowledgeablemembersoftheHouse.[28]

AllahsingledouttheImamsofthemembersoftheHouse,peacebeonthem,withknowledgeand

outstandingmerits.HegrantedthemabsoluteperfectionwhichHehadgrantedtoHisprophets

andHisapostles.ThehistorianssaidthattheImamwasnineyearsofagewhenhewasasked

aboutdifficultproblemsandansweredthem.

HisSolemnityandHisPrestige


14/411


ThefeaturesoftheImam,peacebeonhim,representedthesolemnityandtheprestigeofthe

prophets.Everybodyrespectedandadmiredhim.Forexample,Qattada,thejuristofthepeopleof

Basrah,methim.StillhishearttrembledbecauseoftheImam'ssolemnity.Thus,hesaidtohim:I

sitbefore

the

jurists

and

b.

Abbas.

My

heart

does

not

tremble

because

of

them

as

it

does

because

ofyou.[29]

TheImamwastherestofAllahinHisearth.AllahbestowedsolemnityandprestigeonHisfriends

andHislovers.TheirqualitiesappearedintheImam'scharacter.Amongthosewhoadmiredthe

Imam'ssolemnitywastheMoroccanpoet,whodescribedtheImam,saying:

Oyouwhowasthesonofhimbywhosetongueandeloquencepeoplewereguidedandthe

revelationwassentdown.

TheBooktalkedabouthisoutstandingmerits.TheTorahandtheBibleannouncedhiscoming.

WereitnotforthecessationoftherevelationafterMohammed,wewouldsay:Mohammedwas

thealternativetohisgrandfather.

Hewassimilartohiminoutstandingmerits,butGabrieldidnotbringhimamessage.[30]

ThehistoriansreportedthatnobodysawtheImam,peacebeonhim,laughing.Whenhelaughed,

hesaid:OAllah,donotdetestme.[31]Indeed,herefrainedfromallthatwhichcontradicts

solemnityandhighcharacter.AmonghisprominentqualitieswasthathealwayspraisedAllah.

Wewillmentionthatwhenwetalkabouttheaspectsofhischaracter.

TheInscriptionofhisRing

Asfortheinscriptionofhisring,itwas:AllmightisforAllah.[32]Heworetheringofhis

grandfather,ImamHusayn,peacebeonhim,whoseinscriptionwas:SurelyAllahattainsHis

purpose.[33]ThisindicatesthathedevotedhimselftoAllahandcleavedtoHimstrongly.

HisResidence

TheImam,peacebeonhim,residedinMedinathroughouthislife.Hedidnotleaveitforanother

city.Init,hewasthefirstteacherandgreatpioneerforscientificculturalmovements.Heusedthe

PropheticMosqueasschoolforhim.Therehegavehislecturestohisstudents.

[1]Thahdh~balLughatwaalAsma,vol.1,p.87.IbnKhullakan,WafayatalAyan,vol.3,p.384.Al

Mahbar,p.57.AlYaqubi,Tarikh,vol.2,p.60.AyanalShia,1/4/464.

[2]AbualHasanalAmili,DiyaalAmilin,vol.2.AlDuralNazm,serial2879.

[3]UsulalKafi,vol.1,p.469.

[4]IbnKhullakan,WafayatalAyan,vol.3,p.314.TadhkirtalHuffaz,vol.1,p.124.NazhatalJalis,


15/411


vol.2,p.36.

[5]DalailalImama,p.94.FaridWajjdi,DairatalMaarif,vol.3,p.563.

[6]IbnalWardi,Tarikh,vol.1,p.184.AkhbaralDuwal,p.111.IbnKhullakan,WafayatalAyan,

vol.3,p.314.

[7]AlYaqubi,Tarikh,vol.2,p.60.

[8]Al

Husayn

b.

Abd

al

Wahab,

Yyun

al

Mujizat,

serial,

975.

[9]DalailalImama,p.94.

[10]AlDuralNazimfiManaqibalAimma.DiyaalAmilin,vol.2.AyanalShia,1/4/464.

[11]JannatalKhuld.NasikhalTawarikh.

[12]TadhkiratalHuffaz,vol.1,p.124.NazhatalJalis,vol.2,p.36.MirratalJinan,vol.1,p.247.

FaridWajjdi,DairatalMaarif,vol.3,p.563.

[13]ShaykhalTurayhi,JamialMaqal.

[14]YyunalAkhbarwaFununalAthar,p.213.UmdatalTalib,p.183.

[15]JawhartalKalamfiMadhalSadaalAlam,p.133.

[16]MiratalZamanfiTawarikhalAyan,vol.5,p.78.

[17]Ibid.

[18]UsulalKafi,vol.1,pp.496470.AlKashi,Rijal,pp.2728.

[19]IbnAsakir,Tarikh,vol.51,p.41.

[20]GhayatalIkhtisar,p.64.

[21]AlWafibialWafayat,vol.4,p.102.

[22]MasailMajmuaminaalHaqaiqalAliyawaalAsraralSamiya,p.99.

[23]MajjmaalZawaid,vol.1,p.22.

[24]UsulalKafi,vol.1,p.469.

[25]AkhbaralDuwal,p.111.JawhartalKalamfiMadhalSadaalAlam,132.

[26]AyanalShia,1/4/471.

[27]IlalalSharai,p.234.

[28]AlManaqib,vol.4,p.147.

[29]IthbatalHudat,vol.5,p.176.

[30]AlManaqib,vol.4,p.181.

[31]SafwatalSaffwa,vol.2,p.62.TadhkiratalKhawas,p.349.

[32]HulyatalAwliya,vol.3,p.189.

[33]AyanalShia,1/4/169.

ChapterII:UnderTheAuspicesOfAlHusaynandAli

ImamAbuJafar(alBaqir),peacebeonhim,grewupintheHouseofthemessage,theplaceof


16/411


descentoftherevelation,andthesourceofradiationintheworldofIslam.Hisgrandfather,Imam

Husayn,peacebeonhim,andhisfather,ImamZaynalAbidn,fedhimwithnobleideals.They

taughtthewaysofgoodandguidancethatsettledinthemselves.Moreover,theytaughthim

brightbehaviorandasounddirectiontobeanexampletothiscommunity.Thefollowingisan

accountofhisearlylifeunderthewingofhisgrandfatherandhisfather.

UndertheCareofhisGrandfather

ImamHusayn,peacebeonhim,tookcareofeducatinghisgrandson.Hebestoweduponhimrays

ofhisholysoulthatilluminatedthehorizonsofthisworld.Thehistoriansnarratedthatheseated

himonhislap,kissedhimverymuch,andsaidtohim:Indeed,Allah'sApostle,mayAllahbless

himandhisfamily,sendsyouhisgreetings.[1]

ThiswasahintfromthegrandfathertohisgrandsonthattheProphet,mayAllahblesshimandhis

family,wantedhimtopracticehisleadingroleforhiscommunity.Inotherwordshewantedhim

tosplitopenthefountainsofwisdominthelandsofhiscommunity,toproclaimknowledgeall

overthem,andtoguidehiscommunitytotherightpath.Inhisearlylife,ImamalBaqir,peacebe

onhim,sawhisgrandfather,ImamHusayn,peacebeonhim,facingthecriticalsituation.Thatwas

whenhisgrandfatherwasafflictedbythetyrantofhistimeandthepharaohofthiscommunity,

namely,Yaz~db.Muawiya,whoendangeredIslam,summonedImamHusayntopledge

allegiancetohim,andtoyieldtohisrule.Thus,ImamHusayn,peacebeonhim,criedoutathis

faceandcontinuedhisimmortalmovementtoraiseAllah'swordhighintheearthandtocarryout

hisIslamicmessagewithhonestyandloyalty.So,hesacrificedhislife,themembersofhishouse,

andhiscompanionstoestablishthegloryofIslam,andtodestroyhisenemiesandhisopponents.

Hissacrificewasfullofnoblevaluesandhighideals.Itmovedthepeople'ssentimentsandtheir

feelings.Itwasaboundinginpositiveresults.Itofferedthemostwonderfullessonsaboutthe

sacrificeforthetruthandtheduty.Itwillbeimmortalforever.Moreover,itwillrepresentman's

honorandhishighpurpose.

ThestagesofthatimmortaltragedytookplacebeforeImamalBaqirwhilehewasinhisearlylife.

He,peacebeonhim,said:MygrandfatherwaskilledwhileIwasfouryearsofage.Indeed,I

rememberhismurderandwhathitusduringthattime.[2]

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,reportedmanyofitsstages.AlTabarireportedsomeofits

picturesonhisauthority.AgroupoftheprominentCompanions(oftheProphet)wroteabook.

TheycalledthebookMaqtalalHusayn.Init,theyhavewrittenwhattheyheardfromhimand

fromotherthanhimaboutthetragediesofKarbala'.IbnalNad~mhasmentionedmanyofthem

inhisbookalFihrast.However,thatimmortaltragedyleftgreatpainandsorrowinhissoul.Its

sorrowsaccompaniedhimthroughouthislife.

UndertheAuspicesofhisFather


17/411


ImamAbuJafar(alBaqir),peacebeonhim,livedformorethan34yearsunderthecareofhis

father,ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim.Heaccompaniedhimthroughoutthatperiod.He

didnotleavehim.Hewasimpressedbyhisbrightguidancethatrepresentedtheguidanceofthe

prophetsandoftheapostles.ThepeopledidnotseethelikenessofImamZaynalAbidninhis

Godfearingness,

his

piety,

his

asceticism,

and

his

strong

cleaving

to

Allah.

We

will

mention

some

ofImamZaynalAbidn'saffairsandconditions.Thatisbecausehisbehaviorhadgreatinfluence

onImamalBaqir'sdeepsoul.Theyareasfollows:

AdmirationandGlorification

TheintellectualsandthescholarsadmiredandglorifiedImamZaynalAbidn.Theypreferredhim

toothers.Thefollowingaresomeoftheirwordsconcerninghim:

1.Sa~db.alMusayyab

ThesolemnityoftheImamandhisgreatnessastonishedSa~db.alMusayyab.Thus,hesaid:I

haveneverseen(aperson)betterthanAlib.alHusayn.IhaveneverseenhimbutIdetest

myself.Ihaveneverseenhimlaughing.[3]

2.AlZuhri

AlZuhriadoredtheImam.Hesaid:IhaveneverseenaQarashi(person)betterthanhim.[4]He

alsosaid:Ihaveneverseen(aperson)moreknowledgeablethanAlib.alHusayn.[5]

3.Zaydb.Aslam

Zaydb.Aslamsaid:Ihaveneverseen(aperson)similartoAlib.alHusayn.[6]

4.Umarb.AbdalAz~z

WhenUmarb.AbdalAz~zheardofthedeathoftheImam,hesaid:Thelampoftheworld,

beautyofIslamandadornmentofworshiperspassedaway.[7]

5.AbuHazim


18/411


19/411


afraidoftheImam,peacebeonhim,forhemistreatedhimverymuch.So,hesaid:Iamafraidof

noonebutofAlib.alHusayn.Heisarighteousman.Thus,therulerwillhearhiswords

concerningme.However,theImamorderedhiscompanionsandfollowersnottomistreathim.

Rather,hewenttohim,smiledathim,askedhimabouthisneedduringhiscriticalsituation,and

thensaidtohim:Cousin,myAllahforgiveyou.Indeed,whathasbeendonetowardsyouhas

displeasedme.So,

summon

us

to

what

you

like.

Hishamwasastonished.Thus,hesaidwithadmiration:AllahknowswheretoputHis

mission.[12]

Amonghishighmoralsisthefollowingattitudethatraiseshimtothelevelwhichnoreformerhas

reachedexcepthisgrandfathers.ItalsoindicateshisImamate.

Thehistoriansreportedthatheslaughteredeverydayaewe.Hecookedtheeweanddividedit

amongthepoorandthedeprived.Onedayhisretainercarriedabowlofbroth.Thebrothwas

boilingbecauseoftheintenseheat.TheretainerstumbledoverachildoftheImam.Thus,the

childdiedatonce.So,theAlidwomenweptloudly.TheImamwaspraying.Whenhehadfinished

hisprayers,hewastoldaboutthedeathofhischild.However,he,peacebeonhim,hurriedtothe

retainer.Hefoundhimshakingwithfear.Hemethimwithkindnessandaffection,andsaidto

him:YouhavedoubtsaboutAlib.alHusayn.Youhavethoughtthathewillpunishyou.Go,you

arefreeforAllah.Thesearefourthousanddinarsasagiftforyou.Excusemeforthefearthathas

hityoubecauseofme.[13]

Howwonderfulthissoulis!ItissuperiortothegoodservantswhoseheartsAllahtestedwith

belief.TheImaminheritedthesegreatmoralsfromhisgrandfather,thegreatProphet,mayAllah

blesshimandhisfamily,whoestablishedthestandardofmannersintheearth.

C.Amonghishighmoralswasthatwhilehewasgoingoutofthemosque,amanfromthosewho

hatedhimbegancursingandabusinghim.SomeoftheImam'scompanionsandfollowersbecame

angrywiththeman.However,theImam,peacebeonhim,calmedthem,andthenhetreatedthe

mankindly,saying:Youdonotknowouraffaircompletely.Doyouhaveaneedtohelpyou

againstit.

Themanfeltshame.Hewishedthattheearthwouldhidehim.Defeatandregretappearedonhis

face.TheImam,peacebeonhim,walkedtowardshim.Hegavehimashirt.Besidesheordered

onethousanddinarstobegiventohim.Thus,themansaid:Ibearwitnessthatyouareamong

thechildrenoftheprophets.[14]

Thesearesomeofhisattitudesthatarefullofmercy,clemency,andself denial.Indeedthe

moralsofthemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),peacebeonhim,areaschoolthatisbasedon

honor,nobility,andoneverythingthroughwhichmanbecomeshigh.

HisProclaimingKnowledge

AfterthetragedyofKarbala',ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,devotedhimselfto

proclaimingknowledgeamongthepeople.Hedidnotconfinehimselftothescienceoftradition


20/411


andjurisprudence.Rather,hetookcareofethics,literature,philosophy,andwisdom.Moreover,

hesuppliedtheIslamicthoughtwithlargeabilitiesofknowledge,wisdom,andetiquette.Hisbook

calledalSahifaalSajjadiya',histreatiseonrights,theencyclopediasoftradition,andthebooks

ofethicsarefullofthem.

HisUrging

(the

Moslems)to

seek

Knowledge

He,peacebeonhim,urgedtheMoslemstoseekknowledge.Hesummonedthemtostriveto

studyknowledgebecauseitisthecreativemeansfortheirdevelopmentandtheprosperoftheir

life.He,peacebeonhimsaid:Ifpeopleknewwhatisinseekingknowledge,theywouldseekit

eventhroughsheddingbloodandwadingintothedepthofthesea.

He,peacebeonhim,advisedsomeofhiscompanionstospreadknowledge.Inadditionhe

orderedthemnottobeproudtowardstheteacher.He,peacebeonhim,said:Indeedifyouare

goodinteachingthepeopleanddonotshowpridetowardsthem,AllahwillincreaseyoufromHis

favor.Ifyoupreventthemfromlearningyourknowledge,thenitisincumbentonAllah,theGreat

andAlmighty,todepriveyouofknowledgeanditssplendorandtodropyourpositionfromthe

hearts.[15]

HisHonoringtheSeekersofKnowledge

He,peacebeonhim,tookcareoftheseekersofknowledgeandraisedtheirposition.Whenhe

sawoneofthem,hesaid:WelcometothewilloftheApostleofAllah,mayAllahblesshimand

hisfamily.ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,said:Whenmyfather,ZaynalAbidn,lookedatthe

youngmenwhosoughtknowledge,hemadethemnearertohim,saying:Welcometoyou,you

arethedepositsofknowledge.Ifyouaretheyoungmenofpeople,youareabouttobetheelders

ofothers.'[16]

TheReadersoftheKorancleavedtohim

ThereadersoftheKorandevotedthemselvestoImamZaynalAbidntolearnfromhimsciences,

knowledge,andmannersofconduct.Sa~db.alMusayyabtalkedabouttheircleavingtothe

Imam,saying:Indeed,thereadersoftheKorandidnotgotoMeccatillAlib.alHusaynwent

there.Hewentthereandathousandriderswentwithhim.[17]

HisFreeingofSlaves


21/411


22/411


nephew,Alib.alHusayn,overexertinghimselfinworshipping,shewenttoJabirb.AbdAllahal

Ansariandsaidtohim:OCompanionoftheApostleofAllah,indeed,wehaverightswithyou.

Amongourrightswithyouisthatwhenyouseeoneofusoverexertinghimself,youmustmake

himrememberAllahandaskhimtorelievehimself.ThenoseofAlib.alHusayn,therestofhis

father,alHusayn,hasbeentorn.Hisforehead,hiskneels,andhispalms(ofthehands)have

becomeswollen.

That

is

because

he

has

overexerted

himself

in

worshipping.

So,JabirwenttoImamZaynalAbidn.Hefoundhimoverexertinghimselfinworshippingathis

mihrab.TheImamrosetoreceiveJabir.Heseatedhimbesidehimandaskedhimverymuch

abouthiscondition.ThenJabiraskedtheImam:

OSonoftheApostleofAllah,doyounotknowthatAllahhascreatedParadiseforyouandfor

thosewholoveyouandcreatedFireforthosewhohateyouandshowenmitytowardsyou?So,

whydoyouoverexertyourself?

TheImamansweredJabirwithkindnessandaffection:OCompanionoftheApostleofAllah,do

younotknowthatAllahhasforgivenmygrandfather,Allah'sApostle,hispastandfollowingfaults

?StillheoverexertedhimselfforAllah.MaymyfatherandmotherberansomforAllah'sApostle,

heworshippedAllahtillhislegandhisfootbecameswollen.Itwassaidtohim:Doyoudothat

whileAllahhasforgivenyouyourpastandfollowingfaults?'Thus,hesaid:ShouldInotbea

gratefulservant?'

WhenJabirknewthattheImaminsistedonoverexertinghimself,hesaidtohim:OSonofthe

ApostleofAllah,spareyourlife.Thatisbecauseyouarefromthefamilythroughwhomthe

tribulationisdrivenaway,throughwhomtheillnessiscured,andthroughwhomtheskyrains.

TheImamrepliedhimwithafaintvoice:Iwillcontinuethewayofmyfatherandofmy

grandfather.IwillfollowtheirexampletillImeetthem.

Jabirwasastonished.Thus,hesaidtothosewhowerearoundhim:Nochildoftheprophetswas

likeAlib.alHusaynexceptJoseph,thesonofJacob.ByAllah,thechildrenofalHusaynarebetter

thanthechildrenofJoseph,thesonofJacob.Indeedoneofthemwillfilltheearthwithjusticeas

ithadbeenfilledwithinjustice.[22]

ImamZaynalAbidnwastheImamofthepiousandtherepentant.Indeedheoverexerted

himselfinhisworshipping.Hewasloyalinhisobedience.HecleavedtoAllahtotheextentthat

evensaintsdidnotdothat.

HisAlmsandhisKindness

ImamZaynalAbidnwasthekindestofallthepeopletotheweak,thegentlestofthemtothe

needyandthemostmercifulofthemtothemiserable.Hepreferredthepoortohimselfandhis

family.Thehistorianshaveunanimouslyagreedthathecarriedabagofbreadonhisbackand

divideditamongthepoorasalms.Hesaid:IndeedthesecretalmsputouttheLord'swrath.[23]

HemaintainedonehundredfamiliesinMedina.[24]Hehadkissedthepoorpersonbeforehegave

himthealms.[25]Hedidthatlestthepoorshouldfeelabasement.Thehistorianssaid:When


23/411


ImamAbuJafar(alBaqir)washedhisfather,someofthosewhoattendedhiswashingsawthat

hiskneelsandtheoutsideofhisfeetwerelikethoseofthehecamel.ThatisbecausetheImam

prostrated(inprayer)verymuch.Meanwhiletheylookedathisshouldersandsawthattheywere

similartohiskneelsandfeet.Thus,theyaskedImamalBaqiraboutthat.He,peacebeonhim,

said:Ifhewasliving,Iwouldnottellyouaboutthat.Everyday,heasfaraspossiblefedaneedy

personup

wards.

When

the

night

came,

he

looked

at

what

remained

from

the

food

of

his

family

atthatdayoftheirs.Heputthefoodintothebag.Whenthepeoplebecamecalm,heputthebag

onhisshoulder.Hewentthrough(thestreets)ofMedina.Heintendedtoreachagroupofpeople

whodidnotaskthepeopleforalms.Hereachedthemwhiletheydidnotknowhim.Nooneofhis

familyknewthatexceptme.Iknewthathewantedtogivealmssecretlywithhisownhand.He

said:ThesecretalmsputouttheLord'swrath.[26]

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,reportedsomeofhisfather'salms,saying:Perhapsmyfather

boughtasilkgarmentforfiftydinars.Hespentthewinterwearingit.Heenteredthemosque

wearingit.Whenthesummercame,heorderedthegarmenttobegivenasalmsorheorderedit

tobeboughttogiveitspriceasalms.[27]

IndeedImamZaynalAbidnwasuniqueinthehistoryofmankind.Thatisbecausehismoral

criteriaandhispsychologicalmeritsraisedhimtothelevelwhichnobodyreachedexcepthis

grandfathers.

TheWonderfulPoemofalFarazdaq

ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,wenttotheSacredHouseofAllahtoperformthe

pilgrimage.MeanwhileHishamb.AbdalMalikwentthereforthesamepurpose.Thelatterdid

hisbesttotouchtheBlackStonebuthewasunabletodothat,forthepeopleovercrowded

aroundit.Apulpitwasinstalledandhesatonit.Hebeganlookingatthecircumambulationofthe

people.ThenImamZaynalAbidncametoperformhiscircumambulation.Whenthepilgrimssaw

him,theywereastonishedathissolemnitythatwassimilartothesolemnityofhisgrandfather,

Allah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.Thepeoplewereshoutingloudly:Thereisno

godbutGod!Allahisgreat!Theymadetwoqueuesforhim.Happywashewhosawhim,kissed

hishand,andtouchedhisshoulder.ThatisbecausetheImamwastherestofAllahinhisearth.

TheSyrianswereastonishedwhentheysawthatsituation.Thatisbecausethepilgrimsdidnot

receivedHisham,whowasthenominatedcaliphafterhisfather,warmlythoughtheSyrians

honoredhimandthepolicemensurroundedhim.OneofHisham'scompanionsaskedhim:Who

isthatmanwhomthepeoplehavehonoredverymuch?

Hishamburstintoanger,shoutedattheman,saying:Idonotknowhim!

HeclaimedthathedidnotknowtheImamlestthepeopleshouldknowhim.AlFarazdaqwas

there.Hedidnotcontrolhimself.Thus,hesaidtotheSyrians:

Iknowhim.

Whoishe,AbuFiras?askedtheSyrians.


24/411


HishamshoutedatalFarazdaq,saying:

Idonotknowhim!

Yes,youknowhim,repliedalFarazdaq.

Thenheroseandcomposedthefollowingpoemwhoseeffectwasstrongerthanthehittingofthe

swordsandthestabbingofthespearsagainstHisham.Hesaid:

Thisis

the

son

of

Husayn

and

the

son

of

Fatima

the

daughter

of

the

Apostle

through

whom

the

darknessdispersed.

Thisishewhoseabilitythevalley(ofMecca)recognizes,andwhomthe(Sacred)House(asdo)the

sanctuaryandtheareaoutsidethesanctuary(alhill).

ThisisthesonofthebestofAllah'sservants.Thisisthepurepiousman,thepureeminentman.

WhenQurayshsawhim,theirspokesmansaid:

Liberalityterminatesattheoutstandingqualities

ofthis(man).

HebelongstothetopofglorywhichtheArabs

ofIslamandnonArabsfallshortofobtaining.

WhenhecomestotouchthewalloftheKaaba,it

almostgraspsthepalmofhishand.

Hetakescaretobemodestandheisprotectedfromhisterror.Heonlyspeakswhenhesmiles.

Thereisacaneinhishand.Itssmellisfragrantfromthehandofthemostwonderful(ofallthe

people),whoisproud.

Theprophetsyieldedtohisgrandfather'sfavor.Thenationsyieldedtothefavorofhis

community.

Thelightofguidanceemanatesfromthelightofhisforehead.Heislikethesunwhoseshining

dispersesdarkness.

HistreebelongstotheApostleofAllah.Itselements,itsnatures,anditsqualitiesaregood.

ThisisthesonofFatimaifyoudonotrecognizehim.TheprophetsofAllahwereendedbyhis

grandfather.

Allahhonoredandfavoredhimfromantiquity.

Yourwordswhoisthis?donotharmhim.TheArabsandnonArabsrecognizehimwhomyou

deny.

Bothhishandsarerelief.Theiradvantagehasprevailed.Thehandsareequal.Nonexistencedoes

notbefallthem.

Heisthecarrieroftheburdensofthepeoplewhentheyareoppressed.

Hisqualitiesaregood.Theyesissweetwithhim.

Hedoesnotbreakthepromise.Hissoulisblessed.Hiscourtyardiswide.Heiscleverwhenhe

decides.

Heisfromthepeoplewhoseloveisreligion,whosehateisunbelief,whoseapproachisrefugeand

protection.

IftheGodfearingarenumbered,theyaretheirImams.Ifitissaidwhoarethebestoftheearth,it

issaidtheyare.


25/411


Nogenerousmancanreachtheirfarpurpose.Nopeople,thoughgenerous,cancompetewith

them(forgenerosity).

Theyarerainwhenacrisishappens.Theyarelions

whenfearbecomesintense.

Povertydoesnotdecreasestherelieffromtheirhands.Thatisthesame,whethertheyarerichor

poor.

Misfortuneandtribulationaredrivenawaythroughtheirlove.

Kindnessandtheblessingsareregainedthroughit.

IneveryaffairtheirpraiseisafterthepraiseofAllah.Thespeechisendedbyit.

Abasementrefusestostopattheirspace.Theirnaturesarenoble,andtheirhandsarefullof

liberality.

Noneofmankindhaswithintheirsoulssuchprimacyashedoesnorsuchgraceashedoes.

WhoeverknowsAllah,knowsHisfriend.ReligionisfromtheHouseofthisman.

Hishamburstintoanger.Hewishedthattheearthwouldswallowhimup.Hewasdispleasedto

hearthispoemcalledalAsma'.Thatisbecauseitindicatedthehighsocialrankofthegreat

Imam.BesidesitmadetheSyriansrecognizehim,fortheydidnotrecognizehimnordidthey

recognizehisgrandfathers.Accordingly,HishamorderedalFarazdaqtobeimprisonedataplace

calledAsfanbetweenMeccaandMedina.ImamZaynalAbidnheardofthat,sohesental

Farazdaqtwelvethousanddirhams.However,alFarazdaqreturnedthem.Herefusedtoaccept

themandsaid:IsaidthatconcerningyouasangerforAllahandHisApostle.TheImamreturned

themandalFarazdaqagreedtoacceptthem.ThenalFarazdaqbegandispraisingHisham.[28]

DeepSadness

InthisworldnobodywasafflictedwithdisasterasImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim.Thatis

becausehesufferedfromthefearsofthedisasterofKarbala'.Hesawthestagesofthattragedy

thatisimmortalintheworldofgrief.Hewasill,forillnessesanddiseasesattackedhim.Thosesad

sightsmeltedhisheart.Thus,theymovedhimtoweepcontinuously.Hisdeepsadnessincreased

inthecourseofdays.So,sadnessmeltedhim.Hissadnessforhisfatherbecamegreattothe

extentthathemixedhisfoodwithhistears.[29]Thus,someofhisfollowersbeggedhimtobe

patient,saying:Weareafraidthatyouwillbeamongtheperished.However,theImam

answeredthemkindly:IexpressmygriefandmysadnessbeforeAllah.Iknowwhatyoudonot

know.IndeedJacobwasaprophet.Hehadtwelvechildren.Allahconcealedonofhischildren.

Jacobknewthathischildwasliving.Still,heweptoverhimtotheextentthathiseyesbecame

whitebecauseofsadness.Forme,Ilookedatmyfather,mybrothers,myuncles,andmy

companions.Theywerekilledaroundme.So,howdoesmysadnessend?WhenIrememberthe

murderofthesonofFatima(ImamHusayn),Iburstintotears.WhenIlookatmyauntsandmy

sisters,IrememberthedaywhentheyescapedfromtenttotentattheBattleofKarbala'.

Nevertheless,thecallerofthepeopleshouted:Burnthetentsoftheoppressive.'


26/411


ThosepainfulsightsthatoccurredatKarbala'motivatedhissadnessandsorrow.So,heis

numberedasoneofthefiveweepingpersonswhohaverepresentedsadnessandweepinginthe

arenaoflifeforcenturies.

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,witnessedthatexhaustingsadnessthatbefellhisfather.Thus,he

becameveryimpatient.Perhapshesharedhisfatherhisweepingandhisgrief.

HisCommandmentstohisSonalBaqir

ThegreatImamsuppliedhissonalBaqirandallhischildrenwitheducationalcommandmentsfull

ofhighmannersandnoblevalues.Theyachievesafety,rest,andtranquillitytothosewhoput

themintopractice.Thefollowingaresomeofthem:

1.He,peacebeonhim,saidtohisson,alBaqir:OMylittleson,donotmakefriendswithfive

(persons),anddonottalkwiththem.Donotmakefriendswiththesinner,forhesellsyoufora

mealorlessthanit.I(alBaqir)said:Myfather,whatdoyoumeanbylessthanit?'Hereplied:

Hewishesforit,thenhewillnotobtainit.'Donotmakefriendswiththemiser,forheabandons

youwhenyouareinneedofhim.Donotmakefriendswiththeliar,forheislikethemirage.He

makesthenear(things)farforyou,andhemakesthedistant(things)nearforyou.Donotmake

friendswiththefool,forhewantstoavailyoubutheharmsyou.Itwassaid:Awiseenemyis

betterthanafoolishfriend.'Donotmakefriendswithhimwhoabandonshiscloserelatives,for

heiscursedatthreeplacesinAllah'sBook:intheChapterofMohammed,Allah,theMostHigh,

said:Butifyouheldcommand,youweresuretomakemischiefinthelandandcutoffthetiesof

kinship!ItisthosewhomAllahhascursed.So,Hehasmadethemdeafandblindedtheireyes.'[30]

IntheChapterofalRad,Allah,theExalted,said:AndthosewhobreakthecovenantofAllah

afteritsconfirmationandcutasunderthatwhichAllahhasorderedtobejoinedandmake

mischiefintheland;(asfor)those,uponthemshallbeacurseandtheyshallhavetheevil(issue)

oftheabode.[31]IntheChapterofalAhzab,Allah,theMostHigh,said:Surely(asfor)thosewho

speakevilthingsofAllahandHisApostle,Allahhascursedtheminthisworldandthehereafter,

andHehaspreparedforthemachastisementbringingdisgrace.[32][33]

InthesecommandmentstheImam,peacebeonhim,warnedMoslemsofmakingfriendswiththe

abovementionedpersonswhosemoralsarebad,forthepsychologicalillnessesofsuchpeople

passalongtheirfriends.Indeedfriendshiphasagreateffectonformingthepersonalbehaviorof

theindividual.

2.He,peacebeonhim,recommendedhisson,alBaqir,withthesevaluablecommandments.He

saidtohim:Dogoodforeverybodywhoasksyouforit.Ifheisappropriateforit,thenyouare

rightingivingit.Ifheisinappropriateforit,thenyouareappropriateforit.Ifamanabusesyou

onyourrighthandandthenthemanmovestoyourlefthandandapologizestoyou,thenaccept

hisapology.[34]

ThesecommandmentsarefullofthenobleethicswhichthemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),

peacebeonthem,adopted.TheyurgedtheMoslemstodogoodandaskedthemtoforgivethose


27/411


whomistreatedthem.Thesearethemostprominentqualitiesofthem.

3.ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,said:Myfather,Alib.alHusayn,saidtohischildren:Be

carefulofsmallandbigliesduringseriousnessandjoking.Thatisbecauseifthepersontellsa

smalllie,hewilltellabigone.[35]

TheImam,peacebeonhim,urgedhischildrentoadoptgooddeeds.Heplantednoblequalitiesin

themselves.He

prevented

them

from

practicing

the

deeds

that

corrupt

man's

behavior.

4.ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,recommendedhisson,ImamalBaqir,tocleavetothe

followingexcellentcommandments.He,peacebeonhim,said:Mylittleson,intellectisthe

guideofthesoul.Knowledgeistheguideoftheintellect.Intellectisthetranslatorofknowledge.

Knowthatknowledgeismoresurviving,thetongueismoreprattling,andthatthereformofall

theworldisintwowords clevernessandheedlessness.[36]Formandoesnotneglectswhathe

hasalreadyregonized.Knowthatthehoursdecreaseyourlifetime.Youdonotobtainablessing

butthroughleavinganotherblessing.Bewareofthelonghope.[37]

Thesearesomeofhiscommandments.Theyarefullofhighmorals,valuablewisesayings,and

sounddirections.TheImamdidnotputthemforhischildrenonly.Ratherheputthemforall

peopleregardlessoftheirnationalitiesandtheirreligions.

HisSupplicationsforhisChildren

Asforallhissupplications,theyrepresentanoriginbrightsideofthesidesofIslamiceducation.

Theyarethebestwaystoeducatesoulsandtoimprovemorals.

ThegreatImamknewthatblackcloudsofsocial,moralandreligiousdeteriorationprevailedinthe

communityduringhistime.So,heputhissupplicationsknownasalSahifaalSajjadiya'.Through

themhewantedtocurepsychologicaldiseasesandtorenewthementalandspiritualqualitiesof

thecommunity.ThesupplicationsareamongthemostvaluableIslamicworksaftertheHolyKoran

andNahjjalBalagha.

IndeedImamZaynalAbidn'ssupplicationsarefullofknowledge,wisesayings,andspiritual

Islamicbelief.Theysupplythecommunitywiththeteachingsnecessarytoachieveitsindividual

andsocialbalance.Amonghisholysupplicationsforhischildrenisthefollowing.He,peacebeon

him,said:

OAllah,bekindtomethrough

thesurvivalofmychildren,

settingthemrightforme,

andallowingmetoenjoythem!

OAllah,makelongtheirlivesforme,

increasetheirterms,

bringupthesmallestforme,

strengthentheweakestforme,

rectifyformetheirbodies,


28/411


theirreligiousdedication,

andtheirmoraltraits,

makethemwellintheirsouls,theirlimbs,

andeverythingthatconcernsmeoftheiraffair,

andpouroutformeanduponmyhand

theirprovisions!

Makethempious,fearing,insightful,hearing,

andobedienttowardYou,

lovingandwelldisposedtowardYourfriends,

andstubbornlyresistantandfullofhate

towardallYourenemies!

Amen!

OAllah,throughthemstrengthenmyarm,

straightenmyburdenedback,

multiplymynumber,

adornmypresence,

keepalivemymention,

sufficemewhenIamaway,

helpmeinmyneeds,

andmakethemlovingtowardme,

affectionate,approaching,upright,

obedient,neverdisobedient,disrespectful

opposed,oroffenders!

Helpmeintheirupbringing,theireducation,

andmydevotiontowardthem,

givemeamongthemfromYourselfmalechildren,

makethatagoodforme,

andmakethemahelpforme

inthatwhichIaskfromYou!

GivemeandmyprogenyrefugefromtheaccursedSatan,

forYouhavecreatedus,commandedus,andprohibitedus,

andmadeusdesiretherewardofwhatYouhavecommanded

andfearitspunishment!

Youassignedtousanenemy

whoschemesagainstus,

gavehimanauthorityoverus

inawaythatYoudidnotgiveusanauthorityoverhim,

allowedhimtodwellinourbreasts

andlethimruninourbloodvessels;

heisnotheedlessthoughweareheedless,


29/411


hedoesnotforgetthoughweforget;

hemakesusfeelsecurefromyourpunishment

andfilluswithfeartowardotherthanYou.

Ifweareabouttocommitanindecency,

hegivesuscouragetodoso,

andif

we

are

about

to

perform

arighteous

work,

heholdsusbackfromit.

Heopposesusthroughpassions

andsetsupforusdoubts.

Ifhepromisesus,helies

andifheraisesourhopes,hefailstofulfillthem.

IfYoudonotturnhistrickeryawayfromus,

hewillmisguideus,

andifYoudonotprotectusfromhiscorruption,

hewillcauseustoslip.

OAllah,sodefeathisauthorityoverusthroughYourauthority,

suchthatYouholdhimbackfromus

throughthefrequencyofoursupplicationtoYou

andweleavehistrickery

andriseupamongthosepreservedbyYoufromsin!

OAllah,grantmemyeveryrequest,

accomplishformemyneeds

withholdnotfrommeYourresponse

whenYouhavemadeYourselfaccountableforittome,

veilnotmysupplicationfromYourself,

whenYouhavecommandedmetomakeit,

andbekindtomethrougheverythingthatwillsetmeright

inthisworldandthenext,

ineverythingthatIrememberorforget,

displayorconceal,

makepublicorkeepsecret!

Inallofthis,placemethroughmyaskingYouamong

thosewhosetthingsright,

thosewhoareansweredfavorably

whentheyrequestfromYou

andfromwhomisnotwithheld

whentheyputtheirtrustinYou,

thoseaccustomedtoseekrefugeinYou,

thosewhoprofitthroughcommercewithYou,

thosegrantedsanctuarythroughYourmight,


30/411


thosegivenlawfulprovisioninplentyfromYourboundlessbounty

throughYourmunificenceandgenerosity,

thosewhoreachexaltationafterabasementthroughYou

thosegrantedsanctuaryfromwrongthroughYourjustice,

thosereleasedfromafflictionthroughYourmercy,

thosedelivered

from

need

after

poverty

through

Your

riches,

thosepreservedfromsins,slips,andoffensesthroughreverentialfeartowardYou,

thosesuccessfulingoodness,rightconduct,andproprietythroughobeyingYou,

thosewalledofffromsinsthroughYourpower,

theretainersfromeveryactofobediencetowardYou,

thedwellersinYourneighborhood!

OAllah,giveallofthatthroughYourbestowalofsuccessandYourmercy,

grantusrefugefromthechastisementoftheburning,

andgivetoalltheMoslems,maleandfemale,

andallthefaithful,maleandfemale,

thelikeofwhatIhaveaskedformyselfandmychildren,

intheimmediateofthisworld

andthedeferredofthenext!

VerilyYouaretheNear,theResponder,

theAllhearing,theAllknowing,

thepardoner,theForgiving,

theClement,themerciful!

Andgivetousinthisworldgood,

andinthenextworldgood,

andprotectusfromthechastisementoftheFire![38]

IndeedthegreatImamputthemethodsofeducationandtheethicsofIslamthroughthisholy

supplication,whichisamongthegiftsofProphethood,thefragrantsmellsoftheImamate,and

thebrightpagesoftheheritageofthemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),peacebeonthem.The

Imamtookcareofthissupplicationtoeducatethemoralsofhischildrenandtopurifytheirsouls

fromdeviationfromtherightpathandsins.HeprayedforAllahtosetrighttheirreligion,to

protectthemfromcommittingwhatheprohibited,andtosetrighttheirconductsothatthey

wouldbethedelightofhiseyeandahelpforhimtoachievetheaffairsofthislife.Itisnaturalfor

thefathertobehappywhenhischildisrighteous.Whenthechilddeviates,heturnshisparents'

lifeintoanunbearableinferno.

InProtectionfromImmortality

ThegreatImamoverexertedhimselfinworship.HewasveryloyaltoAllah.Thepeoplesaw

nobodylikehiminpietyandintensecleavingtothereligion.Hislifewasaschoolforpiety,belief,


31/411


education,andreform.Thepeopleadmiredhimverymuch,forhewastherestofthe

ProphethoodandofAllahinHisearth.Thus,theywerehappytoseehim,tositwithhim,andto

talkwithhim.ThiswasdifficultfortheUmayyadswhowerethemostmaliciousofallthepeople

towardstheProphet'sfamily.TheywereafraidoftheImam,forthepeopleadmiredhimvery

much,andtalkedabouthisvastknowledge.Amongthemostmalicioustowardshimwasal

Wal~db.

Abd

al

Malik.

Al

Zuhri

reported

that

al

Wal~d

said:

I

have

no

rest

as

long

as

Ali

b.

al

Husaynisinthisworld.[39]Whenthisspitefulpersonbecamecaliph,hedecidedtokilltheImam.

AlWal~dpoisonedtheImam

AlWal~dcommittedthemostdangerouscrimeinIslam.Hesentdeadlypoisontohisgovernorof

Medina(Yathrib).HecommandedhimtogivethepoisontotheImamtodrink.[40]Hisgovernor

carriedoutthatorder.WhentheImamwasgiventhepoisontodrink,hesufferedfromsevere

pains.HeremainedaliveforsomedaysonthedeathbedexpressinghisgrieftoAllah.Thepeople

crowdedtovisithim.However,he,peacebeonhim,waspraisingAllahforgrantinghim

martyrdomatthehandsoftheworstofHiscreatures.

HisDesignationfortheImamateofalBaqir

He,peacebeonhim,chargedhisson,alBaqir,withtheImamateafterhimanddesignatedhimas

theImam.AlZuhrisaid:[Iwenttohimtovisithim.ThenIsaidtohim:]IfAllah'sunavoidable

orderoccurs,whomshallwefollowafteryou?

TheImamlookedatmekindlyandsaidtome:Thissonofmine,pointingtohissonalBaqir,for

heismytrustee,myinheritor,andthecontainerofmyknowledge.Heistheoriginofknowledge

andtheonewhowillsplititopen.

Willyounotdesignateyoureldestson?

AbuAbdAllah,oldnessandyoungnessdonotconcerntheImamate.Inthismanner,Allah's

Apostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,nominatedus.Thus,wehavefounditwritteninthe

tabletandtheparchment.

SonoftheApostleofAllah,didyourProphetentrustyoutobethetrustees(ofauthority)after

him?

Wehavefoundtwelvenamesintheparchmentandthetablet.TheirImamate,theirfathers'

names,andtheirmothers'nameshavebeenwritteninthetablet.Thenhesaid:Sevenofthe

trusteeswillcomeforthfromthebackofMohammed,myson.AlMahdiwillbeoneofthem.[41]

SomeprominentShiitescametohim.HetoldthemabouttheImamateofhissonalBaqir.He

appointedhimastheauthorityandleaderforthecommunityofhisgrandfather.Thenhegave

himabasketandaboxinwhichweretheprophets'heritageandtheweaponandthebooksof

theApostleofAllah,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily.[42]


32/411


HisBequeststohisSonalBaqir

ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,entrustedhistrusteeandtheLordofhissons,Imamal

Baqir,peace

be

on

him,

to

carry

out

his

bequests

that

are

as

follow:

1.Hesaidtohim:Throughthisshecamelofmine,Iperformedthehajjtwentytimes.Ihave

neverwhippedit.Whenitdies,buryitsoasthebeastsofpreydonoteatitsmeat.Thatis

becauseAllah'sApostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,said:Allahnumbersthecamelfrom

theblessingsofHeavenwhenthepilgrimperformsthehajjseventimesthroughit.AndHemakes

blesseditsprogeny.ImamalBaqircarriedthatout.[43]

2.Headvisedhimtocarryoutthefollowingvaluablebequestthatdenotesomebrightqualitiesof

themembersoftheHouse(ahlalBait),peacebeonthem.Hesaidtohim:Iadviseyouwithwhat

myfatheradvisedmewhendeathcametohim.Hesaidtome:Mylittleson,bewareof

oppressinghimwhohasnosupporteragainstyoubutAllah.[44]

3.Heentrustedhimtowashandshroudhimandtotakecareofallhisaffairstillheburiedhimin

hisfinalrestingplace.[45]

TotheHighComrade

TheImamwasinacriticalcondition,forthedeathpangsbecamemoreserious.Themembersof

hisHouseweretoldthathewouldmovetoParadiseinthedarknessofthenight.Hefaintedthree

times.Whenhegotwell,hereadthechapterofalWaqiaandthechapterofInnaFatahna,and

thenhe,peacebenohim,said:PraisebelongstoAllah,Whohasmadegoodtoushispromise,

andhasmadeusinherittheland;weabideinthegardenwhereweplease;sogoodlyisthe

rewardoftheworkers.[46]

ThenthatgreatsoulascendedtoitsCreatorasthesoulsoftheprophetsandoftheapostles

ascended.TheangelsoftheMercifulsurroundedit.Allah'sfavors,greetings,andpleasure

surroundedittoo.HissoulascendedtoHeavenafterithadenlightenedthehorizonsofthis

universeandtheworldsofthisworldhadshonethroughit.Thatisbecauseithadleftbehindit

noblepracticesthroughwhichtheperplexedoneandthestrayingonefollowtherightway.

HisPreparationforBurial

ImamAbuJafar(alBaqir)preparedhisfather'sbody.Whenhewashedhisbody,thepeoplesaw

theplacesofhisprostration(inprayer).Theyweresimilartothecamel'skneelsbecauseofhis

manyprostrationsforhisCreator.Thepeoplelookedathisshoulders.Theylookedlikethe

camel'skneelstoo.Thus,thepeopleaskedalBaqiraboutthat.Hetoldthemthathisfather's


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shouldersweresobecauseofthefoodbaghecarriedonthemforthepoorandthedeprived.

AfteralBaqirhadwashedhisfather'sbody,heshroudeditandprayedoverit.

HisFuneral

ImamZaynalAbidnwasescortedtohisfinalrestingplaceinthemannerwhichMedina(Yathrib)

hadneverseenbefore.Thepiousandthesinnerspaidhimthelasthours.Allthepeoplewept

overhim,fortheylostmuchgoodathisdeath.Moreover,theylostthathighsoulofwhichnosoul

wascreated.Thepeoplecrowdedaroundthatholybody.Theywerehappytoraiseit.Itwas

strangethatSa~db.alMusayyab,oneofthesevenjuristsinMedina,didnotescorttheImam

anddidnotprayoverhim.Hushrum,Ashjasretainer,blamedhimforthat.Sa~dsaidtohim:To

praytworaqasinthemosqueismorelovableformethantoprayoverthisgoodmanfromthe

goodHouse.[47]Sa~dwasdeprivedofescortingtheImamwhowasthemostpioushumanbeing

Allahcreatedafterhispuregrandfathers.

TohisfinalRestingPlace

ThepeoplewerearoundthegreatbodypraisingandglorifyingAllah.Theybroughtittothe

(cemetery)ofBaqialGharqad.Theydugagraveforitbesidethegraveofhispureuncle,Imam

alHasanb.Ali,theLordoftheyouthofHeaven.ImamalBaqirburiedhisfather'sbodyinitsfinal

restingplace.Heburiedwithitkindness,piety,clemency,andthespiritualqualitiesofthe

prophetsandofthepious.

ThenthepeoplehurriedtowardImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,tocondolehim.TheImam,his

bothers,andalltheHashimitesthankedthemforthat.

Afterhehadburiedhisfatheratthe(cemetery)ofBaqialGharqad,ImamAbuJafar(alBaqir),

peacebeonhim,wenthomeweepingTheHashimites,thechildrenoftheCompanions(ofthe

Prophet),andthenotableMoslemssurroundedhim.TheywereweepingoverImamZaynal

Abidnandmentioninghistraitsandhisdeeds.Theywerealsomentioningwithgreatsorrowthe

heavylossthatbefelltheMoslemsathisdeath.

Afterhisfather'sdeath,ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,undertookthespiritualleadershipand

thegeneralauthorityoftheMoslemworld.TheImamateandthereligiousleaderwiththeShiites

passedtohim.[48]Fromthatmoment,hebegantoproclaimknowledgeandtoteachthescholars

speciallessonsabouttheaffairsofIslamicLawandtherulesofreligion.Mosthistorians

mentionedthathelivedfor39yearsundertheprotectionofhisfather.[49]TheorientalistRoait

M.ReynoldsmadeamistakewhenhementionedthattheImam'sagewas19yearswhenthe

Imamatepassedtohim.[50]Thathasoccurredbecauseofthepaucityofthestudiesontheaffairs

ofIslamichistory.


34/411


Fabrication

InhisbookalTar~kh',b.AsakirreportedsomefabricationsontheauthorityofMohammedb.

JafaralSamiry,whosaid:IheardAbuMusa,theeducator,say:Qaysb.alNumansaid:Oneday

Iwent

to

some

graveyards

of

Medina.

Suddenly,

Ifound

aboy.

The

boy

was

sitting

beside

agrave

andweepingloudly.Raysoflightwerecomingoutofhisface.Iwalkedtowardhimandsaid:O

Boy,whathasmadeyousadtotheextentthatithasmadeyoulonelyatthegraveyardsandweep

overthedeedwhileyouareintheinexperienceofboyhoodpayingnoattentiontothedifference

ofthetimesandthelongingofgrief?Theboyraisedhisheadandloweredit.Hekeptsilentforan

hourwithoutgivingananswer.Thenheraisedhisheadandsaid:

Indeedtheboyishewhoseintellectisyoung.

Neitheryoungnessnoroldnesshasabasedthewisefromus.

Thenhesaidtome:Youhavenoabilitytothink.Yourbowelsarefreefromsorrow.Youfeelsafe

fromtheapproachofdeaththroughthelonghope.Indeedthethingthathasmademelonelyat

thegraveyardremindsmeoftheWordsofAllah,theGreatandAlmighty:Andthetrumpetshall

beblown,whenlo!fromthegravestheyshallhastenontotheirLord.'So,Isaid:Maymyfather

andmotherberansomforyou,whoareyou?Hesaid:Theunhappinessofthefoolsisthattheir

knowledgeofthechildrenoftheprophetsislittle.IamMohammedb.Alib.alHusayn.Thisisthe

graveofmyfather.Whichsociabilityismoresociablethanhisnearness?Whichlonelinessiswith

him?Thenhecomposed,saying:

Whenmytearsdecreaseatamisfortune,

Imakeweepingacauseforit.

Qayssaid:Iwentaway.Ididnotleavethevisitationofthegravesfromthattime.[51]This

reportwasfabricated,foritdenotesthattheImamwasstillyoungafterhisfather'sdeath.

However,thehistorianshaveunanimouslyagreedthathisholyagewas39years.Thus,whenwe

considercarefullythisreport,weunderstandthatitisamongthefabrications.

WiththisourtalkaboutImamMohammedalBaqirunderthewingofhisfatherandofhis

grandfatherisover.Heinheritedfromthemthegreatestthingwhichthebranchesinheritfrom

theorigins.Heinheritedfromthemknowledge,wisdom,andsoundjudgments.

[1]TarikhDimashq,vol.51,p.38.SiyarAlamalNubala,vol.4,p.241.


[3]Ibid,vol.2,p.46.

[4]TahdhibalTahdhib,vol.7,p.305.


[6]TabaqatalFuqaha,p.34.



[9]TahdhibalTahdhib,vol.7,p.305.


35/411


[10]ImamZaynalAbidin,p.73.

[11]AlBidayawaalNihaya,vol.9,p.104.

[12]WasilatalMalfiAdManaqibalAl,p.208.

[13]SaffwatalSafwa.

[14]WasilatalMalfiAdManaqibalAl,p.208.

[15]Radi

al

Din

al

Tubrisi,

Makarim

al

Akhlaq,

p.143.

[16]AlDuralNazim,p.181.AlAnwaralBahiya,p.103.

[17]BiharalAnwar,vol.2,p.83.

[18]AlDuralNazim,p.179.

[19]DurralAbkarfiSafwatalAkhyar.

[20]AlamalWara,p.360.

[21]AlDuralNazim,p.179.

[22]AhmedFahmi,ImamZaynalAbidin,pp.7273.


[24]Ibid.

[25]Ibid.

[26]DaaimalIslam,vol.2,p.188.

[27]Ibid,p.156.

[28]NihayatalIrab,vol.21,pp.327331.

[29]HayatalImamalHusayn,vol.3,p.327.

[30]Koran,47,2223.

[31]Koran,13,25.

[32]Koran,33,57.

[33]AlIthafbiHubalAshraf,p.282.

[34]TuhafalUqul,p.282.

[35]WasailalShia,vol.3,p.232.

[36]Manyauthorsascribedthesegoldenwords

toImamalBaqir.

[37]AlKhazzaz,KifayatalAthar,p.319.

[38]ImamZaynalAbidin,alSahifaalSajjadiya,supplicationno.25.

[39]HayatalImamAlib.alHusayn,p.426.

[40]IbnalSabbagh,alFusulalMuhimma,p.233.

[41]IthbatalHudat,vol.5,p.264.

[42]Ibid,p.268.

[43]AlBarqi,alMahasin,vol.2,p.635.

[44]AlKhisal,p.185.

[45]AlKharaijj,p.20.

[46]RoudatalKafi.

[47]AlKashi,Rijal,p.76.

[48]AlAqdalFarid,vol.5,p.204.


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[49]IbnAbialThaljjalBaghdadi,TarikhalAimma,p.5.

[50]AqidatalShia,p.123.

[51]IbnAsakir,Tarikh,vol.51,pp.4445.

Chapterlll:HisBrothersandHisChildren

AsfortheresearchbouttheSharifsfromthebrothersandchildrenofImamalBaqirandabout

theirrelationshipwithhim,itisnecessaryaccordingtomodernstudies.Thatisbecauseitdenotes

asideofhislifeunderthewingofhisfamilyanditisnumberedamongtheeducationalfactors

thataffecttheindividual'scharacterastheeducationalistssay.Thatisasfollows:

HisBrothers

AsfortheImam'srelationshipwithhisbrothers,itwasverystrong.Loveandfamiliarityprevailed.

Itwasfarfrombitterobscenelanguage.Itwassaidtohim:

Whichofyourbrothersisthemostlovableyou?

He,peacebeonhim,repliedthathedidnotdiscriminateagainstanyoneofthemandthathe

lovedthemallandwasloyaltothemall.Hesaid:

AsforAbdAllah,heismyhandwithwhichIassault.[1]AsforUmar,heismeeyethroughwhich

I

see.

As

for

al

Husayn,

he

is

clement.

He

walks

calmly

on

the

earth.

When

the

ignorant

address

them,theysay:greetings.[2]

TheImam'sbrothershadallthenoblequalitiessuchaspiety,Godfearingness,andrighteousness.

Theirfather,ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,fedthemfromhisguidanceandbestowed

onthemraysfromhissoul.Thus,theraysenlightenedtheirheartsthroughthetrueIslamandthe

truebelief.Now,wewillgiveabriefideaabouttheiraffairs:

ZaydtheMartyr

Asfor

Zayd

the

martyr,

he

filled

the

world

with

his

knowledge

and

his

outstanding

qualities.

He

wasamongthenotablesoftheProphet'sfamilywhoraisedAllah'sWordshighintheearthand

sacrificedtheirsoulsforAllahtoestablishIslamicjustice,torepeattheKoranicgovernment

amongpeople,andtoendthesocialoppressionwhichtheUmayyadregimespreadamongthe

people.Now,wewillmentionsomeofhislifeandhisaffairs.


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HisBirth

Zaydthemartyrwasbornintheyear78A.H.[3]Itwassaidthathewasbornintheyear75A.

H.[4]Whenhisfather,ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,wasgivengoodnews,hetookthe

HolyKoran

and

opened

it.

Thus,

the

holy

verse

appeared:

Surely

Allah

has

bought

of

the

believerstheirsoulsandtheirpropertyforthis,thattheyshallhavethegarden.[5]Heclosedthe

Koranandthenheopeneditagain,sothisverseappeared:Andreckonnotthosewhoarekilled

inAllah'swayasdead;naytheyarealive(and)areprovidedsustenancefromtheirlord.[6]He

closedtheKoranandopenedit,sothisverseappeared:Allahhasmadethestriverswiththeir

propertyandtheirsoulstoexceltheholdersbacka(high)degree.[7]

TheImamwasdazzledandbegansaying:

Ihavebeencondoledconcerningthisboy.Surelyhewillbeamongthemartyrs.[8]

TheImam,peacebeonhim,predictedthemartyrdomandtoldhiscompanionsaboutit.Thus,

theyhadnodoubtaboutthat.

HisEarlyLife

ZaydgrewupintheHousesofProphethoodandoftheImamate.Hisfather,ImamZaynalAbidn,

whowasthebesthumanbeingduringhistime,fedhimwiththeessenceofwisdom.Hetookcare

ofhismanners.Hedrewthewayofguidanceandgoodforhim.Heaffectedhisbehavior.Thus,his

father'sbrighthabitswereimpressedinhismind.Thehistorianssaid:Zayd'smostprominent

qualitieswereasceticism,piety,andconformingtothereligion.Hedidnotfollowtheleadership

ofhimself.RatherhepreferredthepleasureandobedienceofAllahtoallthings.

Fromhischildhood,ZaydhadacloserelationshipwithhisbrotheralBaqirwhowasthesuccessor

andtrusteeofhisfatherandtheinheritorofhisknowledge.Itisnaturalthatthisrelationshiphad

agreateffectonhisbehaviorandhischaracter.Thatisbecausehisbehaviorandhischaracter

weresimilartothoseofhisgrandfatherswhomAllahpurifiedfromuncleanlinessandmadefar

fromthemthesinsofthisworld.

HisWorshipandhisPiety

ZaydwasloyaltoAllahinworshipandturnedtoHiminrepentance.'Asimb.UbaydalUmari

said:WhenZaydwasayoungmaninMedina,IsawhimpraiseAllahtotheextentthathe

fainted.Thus,thepeoplesaidthathewouldnotcomebacktothisworld.[9]Withthepeopleof

Medina,hewasknownastheAllyoftheKoran.[10]Theprostration(inprayer)affectedhis

face[11]becauseofhismanyprayersduringwholethenight.[12]Withhissentimentsandhis

feelings,heturnedhisfacetowardAllah.Moreover,hefollowedeverythingthatbroughthimnear


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Allahinstation.

HisKnowledgeandhisLiterature

Zaydwas

among

the

prominent

scholars

of

his

time.

He

was

an

encyclopedia

of

traditions,

jurisprudence,theexplanation(oftheKoran),language,literature,andtheology.Jabirasked

ImamMohammedalBaqir,peacebeonhim,aboutZayd.He,peacebeonhim,replied:You

askedmeaboutamanwhoisfullofbeliefandknowledgefromtheendsofhishairtohis

foot.[13]

He,peacebeonhim,said:IndeedZaydwasgivenabundantknowledge.[14]Zaydtalkedabout

hisvastknowledgeandeducationwhenhepreparedhimselftoleadthecommunityandtorevolt

againsttheUmayyadgovernment.Hesaid:

ByAllah,IdidnotgooutnordidImakethisuprisingofminetillIhavereadtheKoran,mastered

thereligiousduties,havecommandofthesunna(theProphet'spractices),andmorals,knownthe

interpretationasIhaveknowntheKoran,understoodtheabrogating(verse)andtheabrogated,

thespecificandgeneral,theclearlydefinedandtheambiguous,andthenecessaryneedsofthe

community.IndeedIknowmyLordclearly.[15]

SurelyZaydwasamongthemostprominentjuristsandamongthegreatestreportersoftradition.

Helearnedhisknowledgefromhisfather,ImamZaynalAbidn,peacebeonhim,andfromhis

brother,ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,whosplitopenknowledgeashisgrandfather,the

Apostle,mayAllahblesshimandhisfamily,said.Theyfedhimwithallkindsofknowledge.

Moreover,helearnedfromthemtheprinciplesandbranchesofthethoughtandtheexplanation

(oftheKoran).Thus,hewasamongthefirstclassfiguresinhisoutstandingmeritsandknowledge.

AlShahristanithoughtthatZaydstudiedunderWasilb.Ata'andlearnedalitizal(seclusion)from

him.Hesaid:He(Zayd)wantedtoknowtheprinciplesandthebranchestobeendowedwith

knowledge,sohelearnedtheprinciplesfromWasilb.Ata',theheadoftheMutazilites.Worth

mentioning,Wasilb.Ata'thoughtthatZayd'sgrandfather,Alib.Ab~Talib,peacebeonhim,was

notsureofcorrectnessduringhisbattlesagainsttheCompanionsoftheCamelandtheSyrians

andthatoneofthetwopartieswaswrong.Forthisreason,Zaydlearnedalitizal(seclusion)from

him.[16]

Thisideaisincorrect,forZayddidnottakehisreligiousknowledgefromWasil.Ratherhelearned

itfromhisfatherandhisbrother,whoenlightenedthescientificintellectuallifeofIslam.

ThejuristsandtheheadsoftheIslamicSchoolstooktheirreligiousknowledgedirectlyfromthe

ImamsofthemembersoftheHouse(ahlalBayt),peacebeonthem,orfromoneoftheir

students.So,whywouldZaydgotoWasiltotakeknowledgefromhim?[17]ShaykhAbuZahra

said:ZaydmetWasiltodebatewithhim.Hewasnothisstudent,fortheywereofthesameage.

Zaydwasgrownup.Headded:Zaydlearnedthebranchesoftherulesfromhisfamily.Thatwas

inMedina,thecradleofthescienceofthebranches.[18]

Zaydlearnedhisreligiousknowledgefromhisfatherandhisbrother.Hewasamongthe


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prominentjuristsduringhistime.AbuKhalidalWasityreportedagroup(oftraditions)onhis

authority.Theyareaboutjurisprudencesuchasworshipsandtransactions.Hecalledthem

MusnadAhmed'.Wehavementionedthecriticismsofthisbookinourstudyonthebeliefsofthe

Zaydis.

AsforZayd'sliteraryposition,hewasamongthefirstclassinliteratureandeloquence.Hewas

similarto

his

grandfather,

the

Commander

of

the

Faithful,

peace

be

on

him,

in

eloquence.[19]

The

historianssaid:ZayddebateduponabequestwithJafarb.alHasan.Whentheydebatedupon

thebequestwitheachother,thepeopleovercrowdedaroundthemtoheartheirdebate.The

peoplememorizedandwroteJafar'sandZayd'swords.Thentheylearnedthemastheylearned

theobligatoryreligiousduties,rarepoetry,andproverbs.[20]SibawayhquotedZayd'spoetry.

Zayd'sopponent,Hishamthetyrant,acknowledgedhisliteraryabilitiesandhisskillfulspeech.He

said:Zaydhasasweettongueandastrongstyle.Heisappropriateforhidingthespeech.[21]

Historyandliteraturebooksarefullofhiswonderfulwisesayings,whichareamongeloquent

Arabicspeech.

ImamalBaqiradmiredZayd

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,reveredandadmiredhisbrother,Zayd.Heshowedthedeepest

affectionandthesincerestlovetowardshim.ThatisbecauseZaydwasamongthepeerlessmen

andwasalivingexampleofuniqueheroism.Thehistoriansreportedexamplesofthataffection

andadmiration.Thefollowingaresomeofthem:

1.ImamalBaqirsaid:Indeed,Zayd,themotherwhoboreyouwashighborn.OAllah,strengthen

mybackbyZayd.[22]ThisindicatesthattheImamreveredandadmiredhisbrother,Zayd.

2.SudayralSayrafireported:I(Sudayr)waswithAbuJafaralBaqir,peacebeonhim.Suddenly,

Zaydb.Alientered.AbuJafarpattedhimonthebackandsaidtohim:'ThisistheLordofthe

Hashimites.Whenheordersyou,thenobeyhim.Whenheasksyouforthesupport,thensupport

him.'[23]ThisindicatesthattheImamsummoned(thepeople)tosupportanddefendhim.He

alsoregardedhisuprisingaslegal.

3.ThehistoriansreportedontheauthorityofamanfromtheHashimites,whosaid:Wewere

sittingwithMohammed(alBaqir)b.Alib.alHusayn.Hisbrother,Zayd,wasalsositting.Thena

manfromKufacamein.Mohammedb.Alisaidtotheman:'Younarrateoriginalpoetry.Whatdid

alAnsarisaytohisbrother?'ThemanrecitedfortheImamsomelinesofpoetryhavingnoble

qualities.

AbuJafar(alBaqir)puthishandonZayd'sshoulderandsaidtohim:Mybrother,theseareyour

qualities.IaskAllahtoprotectyousoasnottobekilledinIraq.[24]

TheabovementionedlinesdenotethatZaydhadastrongwillandresolution.Hewasobedientto

hisbrother.Hisqualitieswerenoble.Hewasappropriateforcarryingoutgreattasks.Nobodyhas

suchqualitiesbutthematchlessones.

ImamalBaqir,peacebeonhim,gavethehighestqualitiestohisbrotherandgrantedhimhisloyal


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love.ThefactorofbrotherhooddidnotmotivatealBaqirtotreathisbrotherinsuchaway.That

isbecausehisspiritualpositiondidnotpermithimtofollowsentimentsanddesires.Ratherhe

thoughtthathisbrotherwasamongthemostperfecthumanbeings.So,hegrantedhimsuchlove

andhonor.

WithHisham

b.

Abd

al

Malik

HishamboremaliceagainsttheProphet'sfamilyandharboredhatredagainstthem.Heordered

hissecurityagentstokeepaneyeontheAlidsandtoknowtheirpoliticalactivities.Hissecurity

agentsinformedhimofZayd'shighsocialrankandhisremarkableabilities.Theytoldhimthatthe

peoplefollowedZaydandthattheylookedforwardtohisgovernment.Thus,Hishamplotted

againsthim.HeorderedhisgovernoroverMedina(Yathrib)tosendZaydtoDamascus.When

ZaydarrivedinDamascus,Hishamdidnotreceivehimtoweakenanddisdainhim.Whenthe

SyrianssawthatZaydhadhighmorals,eloquentspeech,strongproofs,andreligiousdevoutness,

theyfollowedhim.Hishamheardofthat,soheburstintoanger.Thenheaskedtheadviceof

someofhisfollowerstoabaseandweakenZaydbeforetheSyrians.Theysaidtohim:Permitall

thepeopletocometomeetyou.PreventZaydfromcomingwiththem.Thenlethimenterafter

themall.Whenheentersandgreetsyou,donotgreethimanddonotorderhimtosit

down.Hishamdidthat.HethoughtthatsuchanactionwoulddecreaseZayd'simportanceand

weakenhischaracter.Somehistorianssaid:ZaydcameinandgreetedHisham.However,Hisham

didnotgreethim.Thus,Zaydburstintoanger.Headdressedhimviolently,saying:Crosseyed,

greetings!Indeedyouseeyourselfappropriateforthisname![25]Thesewordsdestroyedthe

tyrant'smightandabasedhishaughtiness.So,heshoutedatZayd,saying:Ihaveheardthatyou

mentionthecaliphateandwishforit.Still,youareinappropriateforit.Moreover,youaretheson

ofaslavewife.

ZaydopposedHisham.Hemockedathim.HebroughtproofstorefuteHisham'swords,saying:

Surely,mothersdonotholdbackmenfromtheiraims.IndeedIsmael'smotherwasaslavefor

Isaac'smother.However,Allahappointedhimprophet,madehimthefatheroftheArabs,and

broughtoutfromhisbackthebestofprophets,Mohammed,mayAllahblesshimandhis

family.[26]

Hishamcouldnotcontrolhimselfbecauseofthesewonderfulwords.Heshookallover.Thus,he

attackedImamMohammedalBaqir,saying:Whatdoesyourbrother,thecow(albaqara),do?

Nobodyusestheseobscenewordsexcepttheignorantoneswhohavenoproof.Zaydfeltpain

whenHishamabusedhisbrother.So,heturnedtothetyrantandsaidtohim:Allah'sApostlehas

calledalBaqir(theonewhosplitsopenknowledge).Whydoyoucallhimalbaqara(thecow)?

Thatisbecauseofthegreatdifferencebetweenyouandhim.Youwillopposehiminthehereafter

asyouhaveopposedhiminthisworld.So,hewillenterParadiseandyouwillentertheFire.[27]

Thesewordsshookthetyrant'sthrone.TheymadetheSyriansknowthatthetyrantwastheworst

creatureandthathewasnotworthyofbeingapoliceman.HeopposedAllah'sApostle,m

the life of iimam muhammad ibn ali al baqir

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