Welcome to this week’s episode of the series Let’s Know Islam. Today, we study the Imamate of two Infallible Imams of Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), and Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS).

The Prophet of Islam’s infallible Household adopted a variety of approaches to safeguard Islam, guide people, and campaign against corruption and injustice, in accordance to temporal conditions. These prominent and venerable figures, at times via staging a movement and uprising, and at other times, via deep-rooted ideological and cultural campaign, followed this major and grand prophecy. The lifestyles and stands adopted by the Infallible Imams were tied to their temporal conditions. Upon a brief review of the governing conditions within the era of each of these Imams, we realize that there were no contradiction and conflict between their ideological principles and foundations; and they all followed a unified goal, although, at times, they seemingly adopted different strategies to attain their purpose.

Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) was the venerable and infallible son of Imam Sajjad (AS), and Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS) was the infallible son of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS).  The period of Imamate of these two Infallible Imams spanned 53 years, as of the year 95 AH to 148 AH. These years were concurrent with two major developments. The first development was the fragility and collapse of Omayyad Dynasty and transference of power to Abbasid Dynasty; and the second development was the continuous bombardment of the Islamic community with the philosophical views of Greece, and expansion of theosophical and ideological discussions.

The rush of Greek thoughts could have been dangerous for the Islamic community and could have derailed Islamic views. Therefore, these two Infallible Imams, upon consideration of the existing situation, focused on publishing, teaching, and safeguarding Islamic teachings.

Meanwhile, the spiritual and scientific characteristics of the Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household, and their proximity to the Prophet of God, and especially the martyrdom of the Third Infallible Imam of the Prophet’s Household, Imam Hussein (AS), had further inclined people’s hearts and souls toward the Prophet of Islam’s Household; gradually rising the number of supporters of Ahl al-Bayt. In the era of Imamate of Imam Mohammad Baqer, people were further exposed to genuine teachings of Ahl Al-Bayt.  Thus, whenever Imam Mohammad Baqer entered Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, large numbers of people gathered round him, asking him questions about jurisprudential, scientific, and ideological topics of importance.

Given that for a long number of years, the Ulema who were affiliated to Omayyad royal courts, presented fake hadiths in favor of the Omayyad Dynasty, the scientific circles of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), and Imam Jafar Sadeq (AS) raised a golden opportunity to counter fake hadiths and to separate reliable hadiths from fake ones.
These two Infallible Imams stood firm and showed the righteous path in the face of the deviations from Islamic teachings, caused by Omayyad rulers within a period of hundred years.

The elevated scientific status of Imam Mohammad Baqer was evident in his teachings. This Infallible Imam managed wide-scale cultural and scientific reforms in the World of Islam, while the community was under pressure. The Infallible Imam’s strategy was the establishment of major scientific and educational centers, introducing pure Islamic thoughts and sciences. Imam Mohammad Baqer was determined to stand up against emergence of fake and derailed beliefs.

Note that in addition to the infiltration of Greek thoughts within Islamic lands, some of the deviated currents and thoughts which were supported by the Omayyad rulers were also widespread. This Infallible Imam stood firm against derailed ideas upon reference to the ayahs of Holy Quran.

Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), throughout his scientific and cultural uprising, developed the hidden talents of the Islamic Ummah. According to the scientists, contemporary to Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), the Infallible Imam was the pioneer thinker of his era, and he played an important role in development of theology. At a time, in which the suppressive Omayyad rulers had prohibited contemplation on religious topics, Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), throughout his lectures, urged people to ponder and contemplate, while putting emphasis on wisdom and prudence as one of the sources for interpretation of Islamic rulings.

In his efforts to prevent any derailment from the righteous path, this Infallible Imam focused on two key sources of Islamic teachings which were Holy Quran and the tradition of Prophet Mohammad’s Infallible Household. The Infallible Imam underlined the elevated status of Holy Quran, as a source of assessment and separation of righteousness from falsehood. He also presented a transparent and clear exegesis of the ayahs of Holy Quran, presenting pure Quranic facts to people.

In the view of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS), the second criterion for separation of righteousness from falsehood is the tradition of the Prophet of Islam and his infallible Household.

Given the profound understanding of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) of Islamic sciences and culture, the seekers of knowledge converged on Medina, gathering round the Infallible Imam in order to learn pure Islamic teachings. This Infallible Imam, within the framework of his scientific school of thought, groomed and presented prominent thinkers, for the Islamic Ummah, some of which played pivotal roles in the development and progress of sciences such as exegesis of Holy Quran, science of jurisprudence, science of hadith, and theosophy, in addition to other branches of Islamic sciences.

Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) was very modest toward people. He was well-known for his forgiving and generous nature. He assisted his disciples and associates in difficult tasks. The Infallible Imam cultivated farmlands and palm groves throughout the sweltering heat of summer season, and donated the corresponding revenues to the poor and needy. The Infallible Imam was well-mannered, pleasant, and kind, thereby drawing the admiration of everyone, even his opponents.

The era of Imamate of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) was concurrent with the rule of a number of Omayyad rulers; the last of which was Hesham ibn Abdul-Malek, who was known for his suppressive rule. This Omayyad ruler was deeply concerned over the ever-increasing approval of Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) among masses of people. Thus, this tyrant made strenuous efforts to obstruct the influence of this Infallible Imam among people, but to no avail. Hence, this ruthless Omayyad ruler decided to martyr Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS). Ultimately, this Infallible Imam was poisoned and martyred upon the order of the suppressive Omayyad ruler, Hesham ibn Abdul-Malek.

MR/ME