In 740, Zayd ibn Ali led an unsuccessful rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphate , that had taken over the Rashidun Caliphate since the death of his great-grandfather, Ali .
95-575: Unlike his brother, Muhammad al-Baqir , the fifth Imam of the Twelver and Isma'ili Shi'as , Zayd ibn Ali believed the time was ripe for renewing the rebellion against the Umayyad Caliphs in support of the claims of his own Hashemite clan. On his trip to Iraq, he was persuaded by pro-Alid faction of Kufa that he had support of 10,000 warriors and could easily drive out a few hundred Umayyad soldiers stationed there. Kufa had previously been
190-477: A mu'min ( lit. ' [true] believer ' ) and a Muslim are characterized, respectively, by the two notions of iman ( lit. ' faith ' ) and islam ( lit. ' submission [to God] ' ). Citing the Quranic verse 49:14, al-Baqir defined Muslims as those who confess Islam in words and outwardly practice Islamic rites, such as praying and fasting. In his view, however, iman
285-505: A Twelver work on biographical evaluation authored by al-Kashahi ( d. c. 941 ). Al-Baqir had several distinguished disciples in Kufa, where Jabir al-Ju'fi was his main representative. Jabir is the authority for some traditions in Umm al-kitab , which parallels Infancy Gospel of Thomas in gnostic Christology . In its "Apocalypse of Jabir," al-Baqir confides to Jabir how
380-470: A growing number of followers, students, and visitors. The fifth Umayyad caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan , is credited with issuing an Islamic gold coinage for the first time to replace Byzantine coins. This was likely done at the suggestion of al-Baqir. Often praised for his piety, the Umayyad caliph Umar II was favorably disposed to al-Baqir. After meeting with him, the caliph apparently returned
475-485: A growing number of visitors, students, and followers. He is often credited with laying the foundations of Twelver and Isma'ili doctrines and law. Among key Shia doctrines that took their definitive form under al-Baqir are imamate, sacred alliance ( walaya ) and separation ( bara'a ), and religious dissimulation ( taqiyya ). As for law, al-Baqir is often regarded as the founding father of Twelver and Isma'ili jurisprudence. In particular, al-Baqir's imamate marks
570-566: A kind. God grace your mother who gave you birth, she gave birth to a replica of your forefathers!" Al-Baqir also said: "No one of us was born to resemble 'Ali ibn Abi Talib more than he did." When describing Zayd, his nephew, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq , said: "Among us he was the best read in the Holy Qur'an, and the most knowledgeable about religion, and the most caring towards family and relatives." Hence his title Ḥalīf Al-Qurʾān ( Arabic : حَلِيْف ٱلْقُرْأٓن , romanized : Ally of
665-562: A pillar of faith. For instance, al-Baqir is not known to have publicly reviled Abu Bakr and Umar, most likely because he exercised taqiyya . Indeed, al-Baqir's conviction that the Islamic prophet had explicitly designated Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor implies that Abu Bakr and Umar lacked legitimacy. Al-Baqir's quiescent views sharply differed from Mu'tazilites , who held that enjoining good and forbidding wrong should be enforced by force, if necessary. The notion of taqiyya
760-463: A religious scholar. By some accounts, Muhammad was already known in his lifetime by the title al-Baqir . Shia sources posit that this title was designated by the Islamic prophet, who sent his greetings via his companion Jabir ibn Abd Allah , who lived long enough to meet al-Baqir in his childhood. According to another Shia account, Caliph Hisham , a contemporary of al-Baqir, contemptuously referred to him as al-baqara ( lit. '
855-503: A righteous martyr against what was regarded as the corrupt leadership of an unjust king proclaimed to be a caliph. It is even reported that Mujtahid Imam Abu Hanifa, founder of the largest school of Sunni jurisprudence, gave financial support to Zayd's revolt, and called on others to join Zayd's rebellion. Zayd's rebellion inspired other revolts by members of his clan, especially in the Hejaz ,
950-596: A share of the reward for this battle. I swear by God that my uncle and his companions were martyrs just like Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) and his companions. Muhammad al-Baqir Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir ( Arabic : محمد بن علي الباقر , romanized : Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī al-Bāqir ; c. 676–732 ) was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the fifth of the twelve Shia imams , succeeding his father, Ali al-Sajjad , and succeeded by his son, Ja'far al-Sadiq . Muhammad's honorific title al-Baqir
1045-643: A slender waist. By contrast, al-Mufid ( d. 1022 ), another Shia scholar, describes al-Baqir as a "well-built man," as translated by the Islamicist I.K.A. Howard, or "big-bodied," as translated by M. Pierce, another Islamicist. Such differences may reflect the changing social standards over centuries. Muhammad al-Baqir is said to have been extremely generous, pious, and peaceful by nature. According to some Shia accounts, al-Baqir did not spare himself and his family from wearing good clothes and eating delicious food, and this behavior attracted attention at
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#17327661647941140-524: A time when the tendencies of giving up the world were widespread. He used to work in the field to earn a living on par with his servants, and the motivation for this work, he said, was obedience to God and not needing people. According to a narration by Ja'far al-Sadiq, al-Baqir had less income but more expenses compared to other family members. He treated his relatives with good food and gave them good clothes. He also helped his servants in difficult tasks. According to Ibn Asakir and Ibn Qutaybah , although he
1235-596: A view that sharply differed from Murji'ites and Kharijites , two contemporary currents. The former did not consider good conduct essential to iman , with the political implication that dissent and disobedience were discouraged, even if Muslim rulers were corrupt. For Kharijites, in contrast, anyone who committed a mortal sin automatically apostated. In al-Baqir's view, iman had degrees of perfection and could vary over time. In particular, he held that new (religious) knowledge, when put into action, would strengthen one's iman . Later Sunni thought similarly adopted
1330-439: A well-attested prophetic saying. Furthermore, willfull opposition to imams is a grave sin and staunch enemies of imams are destined for hellfire. To support his theory, al-Baqir relied on his interpretations of various Quranic verses and prophetic traditions. For instance, al-Baqir emphasized his interpretation of the verse of walaya , according to which Ali was granted the guardianship ( walaya ) of Muslims, on par with
1425-503: A woman from the Banu Hanifa tribe. Nevertheless, al-Baqir had an advantage over these non-Fatimid claimants because of his prestigious lineage from Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima, the only surviving daughter of the Islamic prophet. Another claimant to leadership was Zayd ibn Ali, a much younger half-brother of al-Baqir. It is not certain, however, if Zayd was a rival for al-Baqir. Despite their disagreements, relationship between
1520-404: Is also mandated in his exegesis of the verse of mawadda . Shias thus form an all-encompassing bond of spiritual loyalty ( walaya ) with their imams, who are both masters and supportive friends in the journey of the spirit. Identifying his imam is a religious duty for every Muslim, and those who die without knowing their imam have died a death of ignorance ( Jahilliya ), a reference to
1615-500: Is among the consensus companions of al-Baqir and al-Sadiq, that is, those whose traditions are generally accepted in Shia circles. Muhammad ibn Muslim, another close associate of al-Baqir and al-Sadiq, was a prominent jurist and traditionist, who is said to have transmitted some thirty thousand traditions from al-Baqir. Fudayl ibn Yasar was another favorite of al-Baqir and al-Sadiq, whom the latter apparently compared to Salman al-Farsi ,
1710-797: Is an extant treatise on the rituals of Hajj , attributed to al-Baqir and narrated by his disciple Abu al-Jurad Ziyad ibn Mundhir. Shia imams expected their disciples to seek (and then follow) their advice about new legal questions, or else answer those questions by applying limited reasoning within the general framework provided by imams. Al-Baqir is indeed known to have rebuked those who went beyond this framework, including Muhammad ibn al-Hakim and Muhammad al-Tayyar. In particular, al-Baqir discouraged his followers from ijtihad (individual reasoning) or applying ra'y ( lit. ' personal opinion ' ) and qiyas ( lit. ' analogy ' ). He considered these methods speculative and lacking in religious authority, which, in his view,
1805-509: Is believed to be the final resting place of the head of Zayd ibn 'Ali ibn Al-Husayn. According to later—and most likely invented—tradition, relayed by the 14th-century historian al-Maqrizi , Zayd's severed head was brought to Egypt, and displayed at the Mosque of Amr in Fustat , until it was stolen and buried. A mosque was erected over the site. When it fell into ruin by the early 12th century,
1900-425: Is beyond human imagination. He thus advised his followers to discuss God's creation rather than His nature. When asked if he has seen God, al-Baqir responded that God could not be seen by eyes but can be apprehended by the inner reality of faith. On another controversial topic, al-Baqir held that God was a thing, but a thing incomparable to all other things, something neither cognisable nor delimited. By definition,
1995-552: Is considerable disagreement about when al-Baqir died, ranging from 732 to 736. He was about fifty-seven years old at the time, and most likely died before Zayd's revolt in 740. Twelvers annually commemorate his death on the seventh of Dhu al-Hijja . As with the rest of the twelve imams , Shia sources report that al-Baqir was killed. There is no consensus about the details, and different sources accuse Hisham or his successor, al-Walid II ( r. 743–744 ), of poisoning al-Baqir. According to another account, al-Baqir
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#17327661647942090-423: Is more exclusive than islam , that is, the former implies the latter but not vice versa. More specifically, al-Baqir held that mu'min is a Muslim with inner faith, a faith demonstrated through fulfillment of religious duties. The foremost among these duties is the walaya to (Shia) imams. There are indeed numerous traditions attributed to al-Baqir about walaya , the importance of which, in his view,
2185-551: Is no intermediate state between a believer and a nonbeliever. By some accounts, Zurara later fell out with al-Sadiq, but perhaps the imam distanced himself from Zurara only in public to save the latter from persecution. Aban ibn Taghlib was another associate of al-Baqir and later of al-Sadiq. An outstanding jurist, Aban was authorized by al-Baqir to issue legal rulings for the public. Despite his Shia tendencies, Aban's traditions have been cited in Sunni sources. Abu Basir al-Asadi
2280-550: Is ranked first by the Twelver bibliographer al-Najashi ( d. c. 1058 ) among early Quranic commentaries. Similarly, Tafsir Jabir al-Ju'fi is a collection of exegetical traditions, ascribed to al-Baqir and narrated by his disciple Jabir ibn Yazid al-Ju'fi . In Tafsir Nur al-Thaqalayn , an extensive Twelver exegesis of the Quran, al-Baqir is the authority for thirteen percent of its traditions, behind only
2375-534: Is regarded as the corrupt leadership of the Umayyads. It is even reported that Abu Hanifa , founder of the largest school of Sunni jurisprudence, gave financial support to Zayd's revolt and called on others to join Zayd's rebellion. Zayd's son Yahya , who managed to escape the suppression of the revolt, tried to recruit followers in Khurasan , but in vain; once the Umayyads were alerted to his presence there, he
2470-617: Is short for baqir al-ilm , which means 'the one who splits knowledge open', a reference to his fame as a religious scholar. Muhammad was born in Medina around 676 CE . In 680, when he was a small child, he witnessed the Battle of Karbala , where his grandfather Husayn ibn Ali and most of his relatives were massacred by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Mu'awiya ( r. 680–683 ). Upon his father's death around 712, Muhammad
2565-710: Is such that one's good deeds would not be accepted without walaya . Yet al-Baqir also curtailed this absolutist perspective by emphasizing that walaya cannot be attained without virtue and piety. In addition to walaya , al-Baqir listed the remaining duties of a mu'min as tahara ( lit. ' purification ' ), prayer, fasting, pilgrimage ( Hajj ), and jihad (striving in God's way). He also listed sabr ( lit. ' patience ' ), yaqin ( lit. ' certitude [in God] ' ), adl ( lit. ' justice ' ), and ( jihad ) as
2660-431: Is the extent of his contributions that Shia traditions attributed to al-Baqir and his successor al-Sadiq outnumber all other Shia imams and the prophet combined. As the first Shia imam who engaged in systematic teaching, al-Baqir is also credited with laying the doctrinal and legal foundations of Twelver Shi'ism, which were further developed by al-Sadiq. Contributions of al-Baqir to Twelver doctrine and law are collected in
2755-650: Is the norm. In al-Baqir's view, imamate is confined to descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, from the marriage of his daughter Fatima to his cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib. Following a divine mandate, each imam is designated by his predecessor ( nass ), beginning with Ali himself who was designated by the prophet at the Ghadir Khumm . For instance, al-Baqir cited the Quranic verse 2:124, according to which, God designated Abraham as imam and also granted this favor to those of his progeny who are not evildoers. Crucially,
2850-588: The Fatimid vizier , al-Afdal Shahanshah , ordered it excavated, and the head was placed in a purpose-built shrine on 1 March 1131. This building, inaccurately known as the Shrine of Zayn al-Abidin (Zayd's father), was located some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the Mosque of Amr, and was entirely rebuilt twice in the 19th century. Nothing of it survives today. All schools of Islam, Sunnis and Shias, regard Zayd as
2945-657: The Khalifah . Zayd is believed the first narrator of Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya of Imam Zainul-'Abidin. Several works of hadith , theology, and Qur'anic exegesis are attributed to him. The first work of Islamic jurisprudence Mujmu'-al-Fiqh is attributed to him. The only surviving hand-written manuscript of this work dating back to at least a thousand years is preserved in the pope's library, Bibliotheca Vaticana in Vatican City under " Vaticani arabi ". Photocopies of this rare work are available in several libraries including
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3040-681: The Umayyads were able to find the burial place, and, in retribution for the rebellion, exhumed Zayd's body and crucified it. The corpse remained on the cross for three years. After the death of Hisham, the new caliph ordered his corpse to be burned. The ashes were scattered in the Euphrates . When the Abbasids , who, like Zayd, were Hashemites , overthrew the Umayyads in 750, they in turn exhumed Hisham's body, crucified it, and burned it, out of revenge for Zayd . Zayd's desperate rebellion became
3135-781: The Anbats from Sham? I swear by Him who appointed Muhammad to the Prophethood and established him as one to give glad tidings and admonishments, that on the Resurrection Day I will grab the hands of whoever helps me in this battle and deliver him to Paradise with the permission of the Honorable the Exalted God.’I rented a horse when he got killed and set out for Medina. I went to see Imam As-Sadiq (s) there. I thought I should not tell him (s) about Zayd getting killed since
3230-457: The Imam (al-Sadiq) said, ‘O Fudhayl! Were you present there in the battle with the people of Syria along with my uncle?’ I said, ‘Yes.’ The Imam (s) asked, ‘How many people did you kill?’ I said, ‘Six of them.’ The Imam (s) said, ‘Did you have any doubts about shedding their blood?’ I said, ‘No, I would not have killed them if I had had any doubts.’ Then I heard the Imam (s) say, ‘O God! Please give me
3325-453: The Imam (s) might get upset. When I saw the Imam (s), he said, “What did my uncle Zayd do?” I got so upset I could hardly talk. I said, “They killed him.” He (s) said, “Did they kill him?” I said, “Yes. By God, they killed him.” He (s) asked, “Did they hang his corpse on the gallows?” I said, “Yes. By God, they hung his corpse on the gallows.”The narrator added, “The Imam (s) started to cry and his tears were flowing down his face like pearls. Then
3420-475: The Imamites, who were the forerunners of Twelver and Isma'ili Shias. Twelver and Isma'ili sources indeed report that al-Sajjad had earlier designated al-Baqir as his successor. Followers of al-Baqir, however, were in minority compared to the rival Kaysanites , which was a (now-extinct) Shia group that traced the imamate through Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah , son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Khawla bint Ja'far ,
3515-642: The Islamic prophet, he refused to condemn the first two caliphs, namely, Abu Bakr and Umar . Such views, however, cost Zayd part of his Shia support, most of whom condemn Abu Bakr and Umar as usurpers of Ali's right to the caliphate. Those Shia Muslims who thus rejected Zayd joined al-Baqir or his son Ja'far. Zayd's rebellion marks the beginning of the Zaydi movement , a Shia subsect that has survived to present day in Yemen . Muhammad al-Baqir also challenged al-Hasan al-Muthanna and two of his sons for controlling
3610-466: The Kufans decades earlier, the bulk of Zayd's supporters deserted him and joined the Umayyads, leaving Zayd with only a few dozen outnumbered followers. Nevertheless, Zayd fought on. His small band of followers was soundly defeated by the much larger Umayyad force, and Zayd fell in battle to an arrow that pierced his forehead. The arrow's removal led to his death. He was buried in secret outside Kufa, but
3705-714: The Library of the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom . In 2007, Sayyid Nafis Shah Al-Husayni Sayed Nafees al-Hussaini obtained a copy of this work, and re-issued it from Lahore . He was an excellent orator and spent much of his life learning and educating others. It is said that his half-brother, Imam al-Baqir, wanted to test him on the Quranic knowledge, asking him various questions for which he received answers beyond his expectation, causing to him to remark, "For our father and mother's life! You are one of
3800-452: The Mahdi. After al-Baqir's death, some Ghulat figures claimed to have inherited extraordinary powers from him, including Bayan ibn Sam'an and Abu Mansur al-Ijli. The Shia scholar Ibn Shahrashub ( d. 1192 ) describes al-Baqir as medium height, with delicate skin and slightly curly hair. He adds that al-Baqir had birthmarks, one on his cheek, and that he had a beautiful voice and
3895-459: The Qur'an ). Jafar Sadiq's love for his uncle Zayd was immense. Upon receiving and reading the letter of Zayd ibn Ali's death he broke down and cried uncontrollably, and proclaimed aloud: From God we are and to Him is our return. I ask God for my reward in this calamity. He was a really good uncle. My uncle was a man for our world and for our Hereafter. I swear by God that my uncle is a martyr just like
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3990-512: The Quran. Muhammad al-Baqir is often credited with formulating the Shia doctrine of taqiyya , that is, precautionary dissimulation to avoid persecution. Taqiyya was intended for the survival of Shia imams and their followers, for Shias were molested in al-Baqir's time to the point that he thought that it was easier to be a nonbeliever ( zindiq ). Traditions attributed to al-Baqir thus encourage his followers to hide their faith for their safety, some even characterizing taqiyya as
4085-430: The Umayyad capital Damascus several times and imprisoned him at least once. During these visits, the caliph apparently held theological debates in which al-Baqir emerged victorious. On one occasion, the caliph ordered al-Baqir to join an ongoing archery practice, probably hoping to embarrass him, but was astonished by al-Baqir's excellent marksmanship. Although 732 (114 AH) and 735 (117 AH) are commonly reported, there
4180-429: The absolute authority of the prophet. His doctrine also held imams as the sole spiritual guides in life and the source of intercession in the afterlife. In al-Baqir's view, imams are the highest proofs ( sg. hujja ) of God and guides towards Him, without whom the world cannot exist for a moment. Not only obedience to imams is obligatory in al-Baqir's interpretation of the verse of obedience , but love for them
4275-531: The accession of the Abbasid caliph , al-Mansur ( r. 754–775 ). When al-Baqir died, most of his followers accepted the imamate of his eldest son Ja'far, aged about thirty-seven at the time. Ja'far is often known by the honorific al-Sadiq ( lit. ' the truthful ' ). On multiple occasions, al-Baqir seems to have told his followers about his preference for Ja'far. Apparently some did not accept al-Baqir's death and awaited his return as
4370-516: The best of mankind, representatives of God on earth, and the only source of spiritual guidance. In particular, after Muhammad, they are the only authoritative interpreters of the Quran, the exalted part of which actually refers to them and Muhammad. In contrast, as the executer of religious laws, imamate or caliphate is essentially a political function in Sunni Islam, where caliphs are ideally appointed by consensus, although hereditary caliphate
4465-496: The brutal display of his body, contributed to the Abbasid Revolution . Zayd was a learned religious scholar. Various works are ascribed to him, including Musnad al-Imam Zayd (published by E. Grifinni as Corpus Iuris di Zaid b. ʿAlī , also known as Majmuʿ al-Fiqh ), possibly the earliest known work of Islamic law . However, the attribution is disputed; these likely represent early Kufan legal tradition . Zayd
4560-461: The capital of his great-grandfather Ali . He started his propaganda in Kufa, Basra and Mosul and 15,000 people were enlisted on his army register. The Umayyad governor of Kufa, however, learned of the plot, and commanded the people to gather at the great mosque, locked them inside and began a search for Zayd. Zayd with some troops fought his way to the mosque and called on people to come out. However, in events that echoed Husayn 's own abandonment by
4655-571: The cosmos were created, how men descended to this world, and how they can gain deliverance from it. Some have accused Jabir of extremism ( ghuluw ) and his reliability is debated in Shia circles. Risalat al-Ju'fi is said to contain Jabir's views about Isma'ilism. Zurara ibn A'yan was already a prominent traditionist and theologian before joining al-Baqir's circle. Zurara apparently disagreed with al-Baqir about some theological issues. For instance, unlike al-Baqir, Zurara argued that there
4750-417: The cow ' ), which again suggests that he was known by this title in his lifetime. The occasion was the caliph's meeting with al-Baqir's half brother, Zayd ibn Ali , who reprimanded Hisham and attributed al-Baqir's title to the Islamic prophet. Muhammad al-Baqir was born in Medina in about 676 CE (56 AH ). Twelver Shias annually celebrate this occasion on the third of Safar . In 680, when Muhammad
4845-506: The disputed lands of Fadak to Alids , that is, descendants of Ali ibn Abi Talib. In a Sunni tradition, likely circulated by anti-Alids, al-Baqir identifies Umar II as the Mahdi , the promised savior in Islam. In a Shia tradition, however, al-Baqir suggests that Umar's good deeds would not redeem him, for he had usurped the imam's right to rule. Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik summoned al-Baqir to
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#17327661647944940-453: The doctrine of al-bara'a , that is, dissociation from the first three caliphs and the majority of the prophet's companions as enemies of Shia imams. Indeed, Imamites regard the early caliphs as usurpers of Ali's right to succeed the prophet. Al-Baqir founded what later developed into the Twelver school of law and consolidated some characteristic practices of the Shia. For instance, in the call to daily prayer ( adhan ), al-Baqir added
5035-518: The expression hayy ala khayr al-amal ( lit. ' come to the best of deed ' ), an expression that was removed by Umar, according to Shia and some early Sunni sources. Al-Baqir also defended muta ( lit. ' temporary ' ) marriage, saying that it was a practice sanctioned by the Islamic prophet, but later abandoned by Umar. In these rulings, al-Baqir thus sided with Ali ibn Abi Talib and Ibn Abbas , two influential figures in early Islam. Another distinct ruling of al-Baqir
5130-462: The famous companion of the Islamic prophet. Abu al-Qasim al-Ijli and Abu Basir al-Muradi , both notable jurists and traditionists, were associates of al-Baqir and al-Sadiq. Abu Hamza al-Thumali and Abu Khalid al-Kabuli , were two followers of al-Baqir and earlier of al-Sajjad. In particular, some traditions narrated by Abu Hamza are of miraculous nature. Zayd ibn Ali Zayd ibn ʿAlī ( Arabic : زيد بن علي ; 695–740), also spelled Zaid ,
5225-465: The father of Isma'ili and Zaydi jurisprudence. Finally, he significantly contributed to Twelver exegesis of the Quran. Most of al-Baqir's disciples were based in Kufa , in present-day Iraq , many of whom later became outstanding Shia jurists and traditionists. Some of these, such as Zurara ibn A'yan , may have occasionally disagreed with al-Baqir, who disapproved of such independent views if they went beyond
5320-597: The gallows in Al-Kunasa neighborhood." After Zayd left, As-Sadiq said, "Woe be to those who hear his call but do not help him!" In one hadith , the Sunni Imam Abu Hanifa once said about Imam Zayd, "I met with Zayd and I never saw in his generation a person more knowledgeable, as quick a thinker, or more eloquent than he was." However, in another hadith, Abu Hanifa said: "I have not seen anyone with more knowledge than Ja'far ibn Muhammad." Imam Abu Hanifa
5415-538: The general theological and legal framework provided by (Shia) imams. In Sunni Islam , al-Baqir is regarded as an authority in law and prophetic tradition, but portrayed as anti-Shia and proto-Sunni. Muhammad al-Baqir died around 732, poisoned by the Umayyads, according to most Shia reports. He is buried in the Baqi' Cemetery in Medina, but the shrine that stood over his grave has been demolished twice by Wahhabis . Al-Baqir
5510-601: The hereditary nature of imamate in al-Baqir's doctrine closed the field to outside claimants. Nass is often accompanied in Shia sources by inheritance of secret religious scrolls and the prophet's weapons. The latter paralleled the Ark of the Covenant for the Israelites . In al-Baqir's doctrine, imams are distinguished by their esoteric knowledge, which they inherited from Ali. In turn, Ali received this knowledge from
5605-401: The imam was divine. Mughira has also been accused of falsifying al-Baqir's traditions. Similarly, al-Baqir denounced Bayan ibn Sam'an, who apparently claimed to be a prophet. Some miracles are attributed to al-Baqir in Shia sources. He is reported to have conversed with animals, returned sight to a blind, and foretold future events, such Zayd's death in battle, collapse of the Umayyads, and
5700-486: The imamate of his son Muhammad, who was about thirty-seven years old. He lived a quiet pious life in Medina, like his father, but was nevertheless harassed by the Umayyads, especially by Caliph Hisham. Muhammad, however, enjoyed certain liberties because the Umayyads were more lenient in this period, or perhaps because they were busy infighting and quelling revolts. During the next twenty years or so, Muhammad al-Baqir thus expounded Shia doctrines and laws, attracting
5795-448: The inspiration for the Zaydi sect, a school of Shi'a Islam that holds that any learned descendant of Ali can become an Imam by asserting and fighting for his claim as Zayd did (the rest of the Shi'as believe, in contrast, that the Imam must be divinely appointed). However, all schools of Islam, including the majority Sunnis , regard Zayd as a righteous martyr ( shahid ) against what
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#17327661647945890-591: The latter. The divinely-inspired knowledge of imams and prophets are similar but imams could only hear (and not see) the archangels, according to al-Baqir. According to al-Baqir, imams also inherit certain spiritual and primordial lights ( nur ) referenced in the Quran. Their divine knowledge and spiritual light protect imams from sins, for which al-Baqir cited the verse of purification . Already in his lifetime, some followers of al-Baqir regarded him as infallible. By implication, al-Baqir's doctrine gave imams absolute spiritual authority over Muslims, resting on
5985-842: The martyrs who fought along with God's Prophet (s) or Ali (s) or Al-Hassan (s) or Al-Hussein (s) Uyun Akhbar al-Reza – The Source of Traditions on Imam Ali ar-Ridha Imam Ali ar-Ridha said: .. He (Zayd bin Ali) was one of the scholars from the Household of Muhammad and got angry for the sake of the Honorable the Exalted God. He fought with the enemies of God until he got killed in His path. My father Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim narrated that he had heard his father Ja'far ibn Muhammad say, "May God bless my uncle Zayd ... He consulted with me about his uprising and I told him, "O my uncle! Do this if you are pleased with being killed and your corpse being hung up from
6080-401: The necks of the people." Imam Husayn narrated that his grandfather Muhammad prophesied his death: The Holy Prophet put his sacred hand on my back and said: "O Husayn, it will not be long until a man will be born among your descendants. He will be called Zaid; he will be killed as a martyr. On the day of resurrection, he and his companions will enter heaven, setting their feet on the necks of
6175-405: The notion of gradated iman . Under Umayyads, predestination, the belief that God has pre-ordained everything, was likely promoted to justify their rule and encourage moral complacency. In contrast, there were others who believed in free will. Among this latter group, some held that all that is good is created by God and everything bad is from men. Al-Baqir rejected both views, saying that there
6270-457: The overall design and intention of God. The doctrine of bada' thus describes an intermediate position between predestination and free will: God's decision on some matters remain suspended, according to al-Baqir, subject to advancement and postponement, until the autonomous choice of His creatures has occurred. Only then His definite decision is made. In turn, bada' is closely tied to the concept of abrogation ( naskh ) of some verses of
6365-575: The people." In AH 122 (AD 740), Zayd led an uprising against the Umayyad rule of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in the city of Kufa . Yusuf ibn Umar al-Thaqafi , the Umayyad governor of Iraq, managed to bribe the inhabitants of Kufa which allowed him to break the insurgence, killing Zayd in the process. There are two shrines for Zayd, One is in Kafel, Iraq , the other is in Karak , Jordan. The shrine in Jordan
6460-586: The pillars of iman . Al-Baqir thus identified an intermediate state between iman and kufr (disbelief). This gray area was further characterized by his successor al-Sadiq, who held that a Muslim who does not harbor enmity towards the Ahl al-Bayt and their followers is neither mu'min nor kafir (disbeliever). That is, such non-Shias are considered Muslims, with their due legal rights, but not (true) believers. By implication, al-Baqir considered righteous action as an integral component of iman ,
6555-477: The prominent Sunni jurist, Abu Hanifa , who issued a fatwa in support of Zayd against the Umayyads. To Twelver and Isma'ili Shias however, his elder half-brother Muhammad al-Baqir is seen as the next Imam of the Shias. Nevertheless, he is considered an important revolutionary figure by Shias and a martyr ( shaheed ) by all schools of Islam, Sunnis and Shias. The calling for revenge for his death, and for
6650-432: The prophet and al-Sadiq. Muhammad al-Baqir may have been the first Shia imam who systematically taught Shia beliefs. Even though he lived in Medina, the main following of al-Baqir was in Kufa, where he attracted a number of distinguished theologians. Basra , Mecca, and Syria were other places where al-Baqir's students were based. More than four hundred and sixty names are listed as students of al-Baqir in al-Rijal ,
6745-419: The prophet's inheritance and for claiming to be the Mahdi. Like his father, al-Baqir was politically quiescenct, to the point that some have suggested that he did not claim the imamate. Indeed, al-Baqir's notion of imamate was based primarily on knowledge rather than political power, although he also considered Shia imams entitled to the latter. Al-Baqir instead focused on religious teaching, attracting
6840-415: The prophet, a reference to the well-known prophetic tradition, "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its gate." In particular, imams know the true exegesis ( ta'wil ) of the Quran, a reference to the famous hadith of the thaqalayn , attributed to the prophet. Al-Baqir's doctrine of imamate was thus primarily based on knowledge rather than political power, although he also considered imams entitled to
6935-533: The prophet. According to al-Baqir, fearing backlash from some, the prophet was reluctant to publicly announce the walaya of Ali until he was spurred to do so (at the Ghadir Khumm) by the verse of tabligh . The prophetic traditions that al-Baqir invoked include the hadith of the Ghadir Khumm and the hadith of the position . A hotly debated issue at the time was whether the Quran, thought to be
7030-532: The ruler of Rustamids , the son of Farīdūn (a descendant of Rostam Farrokhzād ), Abd ar-Rahman ibn Rustam . It is narrated in the Shi'a book, Uyun al-Akhbar al-Ridha it says that it is narrated from Fudhayl ibn Yasar, one of Zayd ibn Ali 's companions who fought alongside him that : I went to see Zayd ibn Ali ibn Al-Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (s) on the morning of the day on which he revolted in Kufa . I heard him say. ‘Which of you men will help me fight with
7125-580: The six-volume Musnad al-Imam al-Baqir , compiled by A. al-Utaridi. Al-Baqir may also be regarded as the father of Isma'ili and Zaydi jurisprudence. Finally, al-Baqir significantly contributed to Twelver exegesis of the Quran and two commentaries are attributed to him. Al-Baqir's doctrine of imamate, further elaborated by his successor al-Sadiq, characterized the necessary qualities of imams, particularly their divinely-inspired designation ( nass ), their esoteric knowledge ilm , and their infallibility ( isma ), all of which distinguished imams as
7220-647: The transition of the Shia community to completely rely on their own imams in matters of law and rituals. As for religious dues, al-Baqir accepted gifts but did not collect khums ( lit. ' one fifth ' ), another Islamic alms which was likely enforced by later imams. Several traditions of al-Baqir are against the Ghulat ( lit. ' exaggerators ' . These often conferred divinity on Shia imams or had other extreme beliefs, such as anthropomorphism and metempsychosis . For instance, al-Baqir condemned Mughira ibn Sa'id al-Bajali, who said that
7315-499: The two brothers is described as cordial. The quiescent al-Baqir even attempted to dissuade the politically active Zayd from rebellion. In 740, not long after al-Baqir's death, Zayd took up arms against the Umayyads but was defeated and killed by Caliph Hisham. Zayd's activism initially gained him a larger following than al-Baqir, especially because the former accommodated some of the majority views. For instance, even though Zayd regarded Ali ibn Abi Talib more qualified to succeed
7410-713: The word of God, was created or eternal. Those who believed in pre-determination argued that the Quran was eternal for God has always known the events referenced in the Quran. In contrast, those who advocated for free will thought that the Quran was created in time. Al-Baqir held that the Quran was neither created nor eternal. Rather, it is the word of the Creator. More generally, al-Baqir held that all attributes of God were eternal but only as adjectives. For instance, 'Knowing', 'Hearing', 'Seeing' are how God characterizes Himself. These help believers understand something about God but are not to be confused with Him. In al-Baqir's view, God
7505-469: The writer of the famous Shi'ah book Kitab al Irshad described him as, " ... a devout worshipper, pious, a jurist, God-fearing and brave." Imam al-Baqir narrated: The Holy Prophet put his sacred hand on Al-Husayn bin Ali's back and said: "O Husayn, it will not be long until a man will be born among your descendants. He will be called Zaid; he will be killed as a martyr. On the day of resurrection, he and his companions will enter heaven, setting their feet on
7600-510: Was Fatima Umm Abd Allah , while his maternal grandfather was Hasan. Hasan and Husayn were the eldest sons of the first Shia imam , Ali ibn Abi Talib , through his first wife, Fatima , daughter of the Islamic prophet. Muhammad's kunya is Abu Ja'far, and his honorific title is al-Baqir , short for baqir al-'ilm , which means either 'the one who splits knowledge open' (brings it to light) or 'the one who possesses great knowledge', both of which are references to Muhammad's fame as
7695-522: Was a small child, his grandfather Husayn and most of his male relatives were massacred in the Battle of Karbala by forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid . Muhammad was present in Karbala and witnessed the carnage. Muhammad's youth coincided with power struggles between the Umayyads, Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr , and various Shia groups, while Muhammad's father, al-Sajjad, stayed aloof from politics. When al-Sajjad died around 712, most of his followers accepted
7790-469: Was a third position between predestination and free will. He argued that God is too merciful to force his creatures to sin and then punish them and that He is too mighty to will a thing that would not transpire. In words of his successor al-Sadiq, God predestined some things but left others to man. Closely related is the early doctrine of bada' , that is, advancement or postponement of an act of creation, depending on circumstances, without any change to
7885-545: Was born in Medina in 695 CE . He was the son of Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin . Ibn Qutaybah in his book "al-Ma'ārif", republished in 1934 in Egypt, writes (at page 73) that one of the wives of the 4th Shia Imam was from Sindh (present-day Pakistan ) and that she was the mother of Zayd ibn Ali. A similar claim has also been made in the book "Zayd Shaheed" by Abd al-Razzaq al-Hasani, published in Najaf . Zayd's mother Jodha
7980-532: Was known by Muslim chroniclers as Jayda al-Sindiyya. Zayd was a revered member of the Bayt (Household) of Muhammad . Scholars, Saints, Sufis and Imams alike, all spoke of him in respectful terms. When the ascetic Umayyad Caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was the Governor of Madinah during the reign of Al-Walid and Suleiman, he was an associate of Zayd ibn Ali. Zayd continued to correspond and advise him when he became
8075-476: Was limited to Shia imams as the only authoritative interpretors of the Quran and the prophetic tradition ( sunna ). Muhammad al-Baqir is credited with the Quranic exegesis Kitab al-Baqir ( lit. ' book of al-Baqir ' ), narrated by his disciple Ibn al-Mundhir. Parts of this work have survived in Tafsir al-Qummi , written by the Twelver scholar al-Qummi ( d. 919 ). This commentary
8170-437: Was not unfamiliar to early Muslims. When Ammar , an early companion of the Islamic prophet , renounced his faith under torture, Muhammad is said to have approved his conduct. The Quranic verse 16:106 is often connected to this episode. Other Quranic verses suggest that Abraham and Joseph both practice dissimulation, the former when he said he was ill and the latter when his brother was accused of theft. Al-Baqir also taught
8265-436: Was poisoned by his cousin, Zayd ibn al-Hasan, once the latter failed to wrest control of the Islamic prophet's inheritance from al-Baqir. Muhammad al-Baqir is buried in the Baqi' Cemetery in Medina. A shrine stood over his grave until its demolition in 1806 and then again around 1925, both times carried out by Wahhabis . After al-Sajjad, most of his followers accepted the imamate of his eldest son Muhammad. These were
8360-404: Was politically quiescenct but was nevertheless harassed by the Umayyads, especially by Caliph Hisham ( r. 724–743 ). Muhammad al-Baqir led a pious and scholarly life in Medina, attracting a growing number of followers, students, and visitors. He is credited with laying the doctrinal and legal foundations of Twelver Shi'ism during some twenty years of his imamate. He may also be regarded as
8455-519: Was pursued and killed. Zayd's rebellion inspired other revolts by members of his clan, especially in the Hejaz , the most famous among these being the revolt of Muhammad al-Nafs az-Zakiyya against the Abbasids in 762. Zaydi agitation continued until 785 and re-erupted in Tabaristan under the leadership of the Zayd's son, Hasan ibn Zayd ibn Ali . His revolt attracted many supporters, among them
8550-540: Was recognized as the next imam by most followers of his father. These were the Imamites, the forerunners of Twelvers and Isma'ilis , which now constitute the majority of Shia Muslims. At the time, however, this quiescenct group was a minority compared to other rival Shia groups, who actively worked against the Umayyads. One such rival group were Zaydis . These followed Zayd ibn Ali , a much younger half-brother of al-Baqir, who staged an unsuccessful revolt shortly after al-Baqir's death. In contrast, like his father, al-Baqir
8645-417: Was reportedly a student of Imam Ja'far, like another great Imam of Sunni Fiqh , that is Malik ibn Anas . The Sufi scholar, Mujtahid and mystic, Sufyan al-Thawri , respected Imam Zayd's knowledge and character, saying "Zayd took the place of Imam al-Husayn . He was the most versed human concerning Allah's holy book. I affirm: women have not given birth to the likes of Zayd ... " Al-Shaykh Al-Mufid
8740-428: Was saddened by his son's illness, he did not mourn his death, because he considered this to be an act of opposition to God. In his lifetime, al-Baqir was regarded as a prominent transmitter of prophetic traditions. As a Shia imam, al-Baqir's own sayings and deeds have also been recorded in Shia sources, including some fifteen percent of the traditions collected in the celebrated Man la yahduruhu al-faqih . Such
8835-423: Was succeeded by his eldest son, Ja'far al-Sadiq, who further developed Shia theology and law. Muhammad al-Baqir was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad , through both of his grandsons, namely, Hasan and Husayn , who were the second and third of the twelve Shia imams , respectively. More specifically, al-Baqir's father was Husayn's son, Ali al-Sajjad , the fourth of the twelve imams. Muhammad's mother
8930-399: Was that wiping one's footwear before prayer, though common at the time, was unacceptable as a substitute for washing one's feet. Al-Baqir also forbade all intoxicants, whereas Kufan jurists of his time permitted fermented drinks ( nabidth ). He also maintained that, under threat of death or injury, self-protection through dissimulation ( taqiya ) is obligatory. Finally, al-Manasik
9025-537: Was the son of Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin , and great-grandson of Ali ibn Abi Talib . He led an unsuccessful revolt against the Umayyad Caliphate , in which he died. The event gave rise to the Zaydiyya sect of Shia Islam , which holds him as the next Imam after his father Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Abidin. Zayd ibn Ali is also seen as a major religious figure by many Sunnis and was supported by
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