Al-Baaqir Anecdotes and Sayings

1
Al-BaaqirAnecdotes and Sayings

• By A.S. Hashim. MD
• Sayings of Imams taken from http//www.ezsoftech.
  com/islamic/infallible10.asp
• Ziyarah of Imams taken from
• http//www.ziaraat.org/

2
About this slide show

• This slide show deals with
• Al-Baaqir during his Imamah works
• A number of his Duaas
• Many of his sayings
• Incidents and Anecdotes
• Ziyarah for him with its translation
• It also shows his burial place

3
Lineage
Father Zainul Abideen
Grandfather Al-Husain
Al-Baaqir
Mother Fatima
Grandfather Al-Hasan
4
Al-Baaqirs Imamah

• Imamah from Age 38 Yr through 57 Yr
• It Started in 95H
• It Ended in 114H
• Length of his Imamah 19 years
• Most recorded sayings were during his Imamah
  period

5
During Al-Baaqirs Imamah

• The institute of Ahlul Bayt grows
• Up to 300 scholars graduate over a period of 18
  years
• Graduates write about 100 books
• Al-Baaqir himself wrote the book of Tafseer, in
  which he registered numerous Hadiths.
• Numerous knowledge seekers traveled from far away
  (and lived in Medina) to attend Al-Baaqirs
  discourses
• He argued with the Kharijis (deviators) and
  Ghulaat (exaggerationists).

6
The Institute Expands

• During Al-Baaqirs time, 300 Scholars graduated.
• The 300 Scholars wrote 100 books
• The graph shows relative numbers

7
The Institute graduatesEducational works of
Al-Baaqir versus Zainul Abideen

• During Al-Baaqirs time, 300 Scholars graduated.
• During Zainul Abideens time 160 Scholars
  graduated
• The graph on the right shows relative numbers
• This is remarkable, since it was in spite of the
  heavy political pressure on Ahlul Bayt

8
Regions of Religious Movements at the Time of
Al-Baaqir
IN MEDINA Ahlul Bayt Ibn Abbas Ibn Omar IN SYRIA Jabriah Qadariyah Jamaah
IN KUFA Murji'ah Khariji Shi'a IN EGYPT Ibn Abbas Ibn Omar
IN BASRAH Murji'ah Mu'tazila Khariji IN KHURASAN Shi'a Jamaah Jah'miyyah  
9
Corpus of Knowledge

• Alis writings during
• Abu Bakr,
• Omar, and
• Uthmans Khilaafah
• Corpus of Knowledge consists of the following

• Quran in chorological order
• Tafseer (Mushaf Fatima)
• Hadith (Saheefa of Ali)
• Ahkaam
• Al-Jafr
• White Jafr Prophets and early times
• Red Jafr Rules of war in Islam

10
The Golden Chain of Narration

• Numerous Hadiths were quoted through Al-Baaqir. 
• He often said, "My Hadith is the Hadith of my
  father, and his is the Hadith of his father, then
  from Ali, who directly narrated the Hadith from
  the Prophet (pbuh)."  
• This became known as the Golden Chain of
  Narration.
• The quoted Hadiths were of immense importance,
  since they corrected people who wrongly quoted
  Hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh)

11
Golden Chain of Narration (so far)???????
???????
12
Golden Chain of Narration (so far)???????
???????
13
Condition of the Ummah (at Al-Baaqirs time)

1. Karbala kept haunting the Ummah
2. Yazid's bloodshed in Medina
3. Devastation done in Mecca
4. Al-Hajjaj in Iraq and Persia
5. Public works and charities exclusively in Syria
6. Syrian Troops in Garrisons all over the Ummah
7. Mawaali Deep Resentment of the Rulers

14
Al-Baaqir and his Students

• Often surrounded by Knowledge Seekers of
  different ages, many of them scholars already,
  Al-Baaqir was the haven to their inquiries. 
• No matter what questions they asked, Al-Baaqir
  answered eloquently, always giving the Islamic
  detail necessary. 
• Al-Baaqir never got tired of their questioning,
  never said no, never absented himself on the
  contrary, it was all his to give. 
• Intellectuals of various levels flocked to him,
  be it at Haj times or others. 
• He was the repository of Islamic knowledge, the
  one sought after by the notables of Fiqh
  specialists, the forerunners of intellectuals, as
  well as the ordinary seekers of knowledge

15
The Subjects Taught (Derived from the Corpus of
Knowledge)

1. Tafseer ????? of the Holy Quran.
2. Hadith, ??????as quoted by each Imam from his
   father, up to Ali, then Muhammad (pbuh).
3. Al-Ah'kaam, ???????which grew with time, since
   new religious problems were to be solved
   according to the Shari'ah.
4. Fiqh,????? as diversified due to the Ij'tihaad
   of the Jurisprudents.
5. Halal and Haram, ?????? ???????
6. Ethics, Mu'aamalaat, ??????? ??????????among
   other important Islamic subjects.
7. Irfan ??????? (Islamic theological philosophy).
8. Adab ????? High forms of Arabic literature.

16
Subjects of Discussions
Discussions
17
To seek his knowledge, they Hailed from many
areas
18
The Institute of Ahlul Bayt

• Al-Baaqir Quietly productive despite the
  jaundiced political atmosphere
• 300 Scholars tutored
• The 100 Books of Usool
• He wrote Book of Tafseer
• Categorization of Iman and Ibadat, and other
  subjects
• Halal and Haram
• Hadith and Ahkaam

19
Close Students

• Abban ibn Taghlib Was an authority in
  jurisprudence, exegesis, Hadith, and language.
• Zurara An ample expertise in Hadith,
  Jurisprudence, and Shia leaning.
• Kumait Asadi A poet, unmatched in the language
  and literature, and in criticizing brutal rulers.
  He defended Ahlul Bayt by the mould of beautiful
  poetry verses.
• Mohammad ibn Muslim Earned the title
  jurisprudent of Ahlul Bayt. He was one of those
  about whom Imam Al-Saadiq said, "The knowledge
  and learning of Ahlul Bayt remained alive and was
  established through him.

20
Sample Books Written by his Students

• Intricate diction of the Holy Quran written by a
  famous lexigrapher of the Quran.
• Commentary for Tafseer of the Quran, written by
  an acclaimed scholar of recitation.
• Biography of the Prophet (pbuh) by the renowned
  Al-Du'ali.
• Tradition, Tafseer, and Jurisprudence written by
  Al-Ju'fi (quoted by Sahih Muslim).
• Science of Kalaam (Logic and philosophy), also
  jurisprudence, by the distinguished A'yun.
• Halal and Haram, the 400 problems, by the famous
  Ibn Muslim.

21
They say about him

• Al-Makki was quoted,
• "I never saw scholars shrink as I saw them
  in the presence of Muhammad Al-Baaqir.  I saw Ibn
  U'yainah, despite his greatness, looking like a
  young boy before his teacher."
• Ibn Muslim, one of Imam Al-Baaqir's students, was
  quoted,
• "Every time I faced a complex theological
  problem, I had to seek its solution from Imam
  Al-Baaqir, till I asked him about 30,000
  Hadiths."meaning numerous Hadiths.

22
The Piety-Minded Community at the Time
School of Ahlul Bayt School of Ibn Abbas School of Ibn Omar They demanded equity, fairness, and true Islamic practices. Cautioned against the self-serving and Islamicly weak people Often they brought Karbala's cause, motives, and conviction to the foreground. They made people aware of the atrocities committed against Ahlul Bayt. Cries to avenge for Imam Al-Husain from the many Mawaali and disadvantaged Arabs.
23
Al-Baaqir about Karbala

• Al-Baaqir emphasized on people to
• Hold Majlis on the anniversary of Karbala,
• Visit the tomb of Imam Al-Husain,
• Understand the endeavor of Imam Al-Husain, and
• Understand and emulate the works of Imam
  Al-Husain.

24
Excerpts of Duaa Sahar
O Allah I ask Thee to give me by way of Thy Glory in its Glory, and all Thy glory is glorious, O Allah I beseech Thee in the name of all Thy glory. O Allah I ask Thee to give me by way of Thy Grace in its highness, and all Thy Grace is graceful O Allah I beseech Thee in the name of all Thy Grace. O Allah I ask Thee to give me by way of Thy Majesty in its grandeur, and all Thy Majesty is sublime O Allah I beseech Thee in the name of all Thy Majesty. O Allah I ask Thee to give me by way of Thy Greatness in its enormity, and all Thy Greatness is great O Allah I beseech Thee in the name of all Thy greatness. O Allah I beseech Thee to give me by way of Thy Illuminating Light, and all Thy Light is illuminating O Allah I beseech Thee in the name of all Thy Illuminating Lights. ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ?????????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ???????????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ??????? ?????????? ????????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ???? ??????? ???????????? ??????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ?????? ?????????? ????????? ???????
25
With Ibn Munkader ??? ???????

• Ibn Munkader ??? ??????? was a notable mystic
  who spent a great deal of time in worship.  He
  depended on other people for his livelihood.
• One day Ibn Munkader saw Al-Baaqir in a suburb of
  Medina. It was extremely hot, Al-Baaqir was
  sweating profusely, since he had just finished
  working in his orchard. Ibn Munkader, said to
  Al-Baaqir, "It does not behoove you to hanker
  after worldly matters in scorching heat while you
  are of the high ranking of Quraish.  In what an
  unseemly condition should death find you, if it
  comes now."
• Al-Baaqir looked him in the eye and retorted, "If
  death visits me now, it will find me busy in a
  sublime form of worship, since I am worshiping
  Allah in earning livelihood and saving myself
  from dependence on others for the livelihood." 
• Thus Imam Al-Baaqir had graciously reminded Ibn
  Munkader that work for livelihood was a sublime
  form of worship.

26
Anecdotes

• One day a Khariji asked, "Whom do you worship?"
• Al-Baaqir answered, "I worship Allah Almighty."
• The Khariji retorted, "Have you seen Him?"
• Al-Baaqir answered,
• "I have seen Him not with my physical eyes, but
  with my heart by the perfection of the faith. 
  Allah can neither be traced by conjecture nor by
  physical senses.  Allah has not the likeness of a
  human being.  Allah's signs manifest only His
  attributes. Allah's gnosis can be secured by
  intellect.  Allah does not commit injustice in
  His decrees.  He is Allah, beside whom there is
  no deity."

27
Al-Baaqirs advice to Al-Ju'fi

• "I admonish you regarding five points
• If your are maligned, do not malign or commit
  wrong-doing to others,
• If you are betrayed, do not betray others,
• If you are called a liar, do not be furious,
• If you are praised, do not glorify yourself,
• If you are criticized, do not brood thinking it
  castigating.....

28
Al-Baaqir Advices Omar (son of) Abdul Aziz

• Pay heed to what company you like to be with when
  in the presence of your Lord, and
• Look at what you loathe to be with when you are
  in His presence
• Wish not to have a commodity that is of no use to
  those before you, since it won't be of use to
  you.
• O Omar! Open your door to the public, be
  accessible, be just, and repeal all acts of
  injustice.
• With three qualities you will have advanced your
  faith in Allah
• The satisfied person whose satisfaction does not
  lead him to commit falsehood wrong doing,
• The angry person whose anger does not lead him to
  commit wrong,
• and The man of power who does not permit his
  power take what is not his

29
Select Sayings about Knowledge

• Knowledge is the signpost of the Garden of Bliss.
  It is an intimate in loneliness, a companion in
  exile, a friend in estrangement, a guide to ease,
  a help against affliction, adornment with
  friends, and a weapon against enemies.
• By knowledge Allah promotes some people to make
  them leaders for the good, so that people follow
  their example and report their works.
• Learn, for learning is protection. Seeking
  knowledge is worship, studying it is
  glorification of Allah, looking for it is jihad,
  teaching it to others is alms, and giving it to
  those who are appropriate for the knowledge is
  nearness to the Almighty.

30
Select Sayings about Virtue of Scholars

• Whoever teaches an avenue of guidance, will have
  the same reward of those who put that guidance
  into practice. Nothing of the rewards of those
  (who put guidance into practice) will be
  decreased.
• Whoever teaches a gate to the wrong, will have
  the same burdens of those who put that wrong deed
  into effect. Nothing of the burdens of those (who
  put error into effect) will be decreased.
• The scholar of whose knowledge people make use,
  is better than seventy thousand worshipers

31
Select Sayings about Appreciating Knowledge

• The Zakat (alms) of knowledge is that you teach
  it to the servants of Allah
• Whoever learns knowledge will have the same
  reward of him as he who teaches it, and will be
  better than him. Learn knowledge from scholars.
  Then teach it to your brothers as the scholars
  have taught it to you.
• He who seeks knowledge to vie with the scholars
  for glory or to dispute with the foolish or to
  know the prominent figures, then he shall be
  doomed. Indeed leadership is inappropriate for
  anyone except those who are deserving of it.

32
Select Sayings about Some Attributes

• Verily, the prayer which brings about an
  immediate recompense goes to the man who does
  good to his family relations.
• It often happens that the people who are wicked,
  but do good to others, gain a lot of wealth and
  property. I swear by Allah that, when the people
  take false oaths and treat others unjustly, their
  families are ruined, and their houses become
  empty of their owners.
• And also there is no one, who is niggardly in
  spending money in Allah's cause, but that he will
  perforce spend several times more than that
  amount in the way, which will bring about Allah's
  displeasure.

33
Select Sayings about Character

• The acme of good character is reached when
• a person has attained full knowledge of religious
  matters,
• When he faces the vicissitudes of life with
  patience and fortitude, and
• He leads his life economically (That man should
  spend according to his means, so that he may not
  have to depend on others).

34
Select Sayings about Demeanor

• There are three things which lead to distinction
  and eminence in the hereafter
• If somebody treats you unjustly, yet you forgive
  him.
• If somebody does wrong to you, yet you show him
  kindness.
• When your place and right is unknown and
  undermined, you show patience and forbearance.

35
Select Sayings about Etiquette

• When two believers meet and shake hands, Allah
  will place his hand with them, favoring the one
  who loves his brother the most. 
• When you meet each other start with greetings of
  peace and shake hands, and when you part, do so
  with entreating Allahs forgiveness. 
• The good deed rewarded promptly by Allah is when
  you keep communicating with relatives in gracious
  manner. 
• Imam Al-Baaqir said "My father, Imam Ali Ibn
  Al-Husain used to tell his children to avoid big
  and small lies in earnest or in jest for he who
  tells small lies will soon have the audacity to
  tell big ones." 
• Verily they fear Allah only those of His servants
  imbued with knowledge.

36
Describing his devotees
"By Allah our Shi'a is he who obeys Allah, is pious, and upright. He obeys Allah, is pious, and upright. Our Shi'a are recognized for their modesty, humility, excessive worship, frequent offering of Salat, observance of fast, and they honor their parents. Our Shi'a care for neighbors, the disadvantaged, the needy, the indebted, and the orphans, Our Shi'a always speak the truth, recite the Holy Quran, hold their tongue against speaking ill of others, and Our Shi'a are trustworthy in all matters of social and spiritual relationship. ????? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ???? ???????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ???? ?????????? ????????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???
37
Ziyarah of Al-Baaqir in Baqii

• ?????????? ?????????? ????????? ????????
  ?????????? ?????????? ?????? ???????????
• ?????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????? ?????
  ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ????????
  ??????????? ??? ???????????? ????????????????????
  ? ?????????? ?????? ??????????? ??????????
  ?????????? ??? ??????? ??????? ??????????
  ?????????? ?????? ???????????
• ???????? ????????? ???? ??????????? ????????????
  ???????????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????????
  ?????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????
  ????????? ???????????? ?????????????
  ?????????????? ??????? ??????????? ???????????
  ??????? ?????????? ?????????????????????
  ?????????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ??????
  ?????????

38
Ziyarah of Al-Baaqir in Baqii

• Peace be upon you O Leaders of Guidance Peace be
  upon you O Masters of Piety,
• Peace be upon you O Proofs of Allah on the people
  of the earth
• Peace be upon you who were Steadfast in dealing
  with justice.
• Peace be upon you O people of the Chosen One.
• Peace be upon you the Family of the Prophet of
  Allah,
• Peace be upon you O people whose souls converse
  to the Almighty,
• I bear witness that you had Proclaimed and
  Advised and had Persevered for the sake of Allah
• And that you were belied and mistreated, yet you
  forgave
• And I bear witness that you are the rightly
  guided leaders and that obedience to you is
  incumbent and that your speech is correct and you
  had invited to the Truth but were not answered
  and you commanded but were not followed

39
Imam Al-Baaqir dies

• Just as Zainul Abideen and Al-Husain, Imam
  Al-Baaqir died at the age of 57 years.
• Al-Baaqirs death was mourned by numerous people
• Al-Baaqir designated his son, Al-Saadiq, as the
  subsequent Imam
• He gave him a will containing a treasure of
  wisdom
• He handed him the books constituting the Corpus
  of Knowledge which Imam Ali had previously
  written.
• Imam Al-Baaqir was buried in Al-Baqii, by the
  burial site of Imam Al-Hasan and Imam Zainul
  Abideen. 

40
Picture of Al-Baqii Before After 1925
Al-Baqii after it was destroyed Al-Baqii before 1925

41
In Conclusion

• Al-Baaqir means the one who has delved in Islam
  to its very heart
• Discussed were the following
• Al-Baaqir during his Imamah works
• A number of his Duaas
• Many of his sayings
• Incidents and Anecdotes
• Ziyarah for him with its translation
• It also shows his burial place

42
For Details Go to

• Islamicbooks.info then choose
• Series of Islamic Books
• Life of Ahlul Bayt Vol. II

43
Be in Allahs Care

• Thank you and May God Bless you.
• Dr. A.S. Hashim