Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH) was born on the 1st of Rajab or the 3rd of Safar, 57 A.H. in Medina, Saudi Arabia. He was referred to as Baqir ol-Uloom, which means the “science breaker” and the “opener of gates of knowledge”.
Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) was the son of Imam al-Sajjad (A.S.), the fourth Imam of the Shi'a faith. His mother was Umm 'Abd Allah, daughter of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (A.S.).
His epithets were, al-Baqir, al-Shakir (the thankful to God), and al-Hadi (the guide), the former of which is the most famous. The meaning of "al-Baqir" is "splitter."
He fought against skewed thinking during his 19 years as an imam by developing the discipline of studying, removing scientific obstacles, and solidifying the purity of Islam based on the Qur'an's guiding words.
Imam al-Baqir (A.S.) made a great scientific movement that reached its peak at the time of his son Imam al-Sadiq (A.S.). His narrations in religion, the conduct of the Prophet (PBUH), Qur'an sciences, moral conduct, and manner are more than what remained from the children of Imam al-Hasan (A.S.) and Imam al-Husayn (A.S.).
Thus, during his imamate, a great step was taken towards the organization of Shi'i thought in different fields including ethics, jurisprudence, theology, exegesis, etc.
A famous saying of the Imam is, “I admonish you regarding five things; if you are wronged, do not commit wrongdoing to others, if you are betrayed, do not betray anyone, if you are called a liar, do not be furious, if you are praised, do not be jubilant, if you are criticized do not fret and think of what is said in criticism, if you find in yourself what is criticized about you, then you are falling down in the eyes of God; when you are furious about the truth, it is a much greater calamity than your falling down in the eyes of the people. And if you are opposite of what is said (in criticism) about you, then it is a merit you acquired without having to tire yourself in obtaining it.”
The period of Imam al-Baqir (PBUH)'s life
The period of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH)'s life is divided into two parts. The pre-Imamate part lasted for more than 35 years, during which his father Hazrat-e Ali -Ibn-al-Hossain (PBUH) was the leader.
The second part of Imam's life was the period of his leadership. In this period he founded his scientific government. For 50 years, that honorable man taught in religious universities and revealed the religion's truth to his students also told them about the hundred-year Islamic history, from the death of Hazrat-e Mohammad (SW) till his time.
The validity of his Imamate
1. Hazrat-e Mohammad (SW)'s narration about the introduction of the twelve Imams (PBUH).
2. The special narration about Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH) said by Hazrat-e Mohammad (SW).
3. The Jabir Ibn-Abdollah Ansari's testify about the prophet (SW)'s glad tidings for the birth of Imam Mohammad Baqir (PBUH).
4. The Imam Sajad (PBUH)'s certification about the Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (PBUH)'s Imamate.
5. The Hazrat's speeches about himself and the Imamate's continuance till the 12th Imam.
Imam al-Baqir (PBUH) paid particular attention to hadiths (or traditions) from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the extent that Jabir b. Yazid al-Ju'fi narrated 70,000 traditions from the noble Prophet (PBUH) from him.
The Umayyad Caliph Hisham ibn Abdul Malik was not happy with the progress the 5th Imam was making in reaching out to the people of not only Madinah but throughout the Muslim lands. This spiritual influence would change into political influence and this would jeopardize the Caliph’s position as head of the state.
The more the Umayyad Government learned about the Imam’s prestige and popularity, the more intolerable his existence became. At last, they resorted to the same soundless weapon, a poison that used to be applied by the cunning monarchs quite often to eliminate their opponents or suspects.
A saddle was presented to the Imam in which poison was applied most skillfully. When he mounted on it the poison affected his whole body. After a few days in pain, the Imam passed away at the age of 57.
Reported by Amin Mohammadzadegan Khoyi