Baqir means to split open. He is known as Al-Baqir for two reasons.
1. Baqir ul Ulum – One who split open knowledge.
The Prophet had said “God sends a person in every century with the responsibility of revitalising and spreading the religion” (Mujaddid).
In the 1st century it was Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (A) His Imamate was during a time when several threats faced Islam.
(i)With the conquest of Iran and Rome, philosophy and new ideas came to Arabia. The simple minded Arabs got deviated and started ‘Innovations’-Kiyaas [this means they tried to use their own reasoning when they faced questions or problems (masail).
(ii)The Khalifa’s were occupied in achieving more power, ‘looting’ of new countries but were reluctant at having new converts to Islam as this would stop jizya (tax paid by non-Muslims) to come to the treasuries.
Islamic rule extended from Marrakesh to Mongolia.
He poisoned the 4th Imam.
Was drunk most of the time.
Once sent a slave girl dressed in his clothes to lead fajr prayers.
Was very fond of eating.
Died of overeating.
Allowed slave girl Hubaba to judge.
When she died lived with her corpse as normal.
Wouldn’t allow her to be buried.
Who poisoned 5th Imam.
Imam used to worship Allah with such devotion that from prostrations his forehead had split. This is another reason for his title Baqir.
ie. One cannot call oneself a Shia without these two qualities.
Humility, fear of Allah, trustworthiness, remembrance of Allah, fasts, prays salaa, is good to parents, good to neighbours, is responsible towards widows, orphans & children, fulfils his/her vows, pays back his/her debts, & recites the Qur’an.
When Umar bin Abdul Aziz became Khalifa in 99 A.H. he called Imam and asked him for some advice.
In an environment where conversion to Islam was discouraged and where the Khalifas were engrossed in the world and had no morals and were unjust; it was the light and character of Imam Mohammed Al-Baqir (A.S.) which kept the message of the true Islam alive.
It was he who collected the saying of the Prophet and ‘Aimma in the form of books establishing the laws of Fiqh as we know them today.
Once a Christian asked the Imam about the Muslim belief that the fruits of Paradise are not reduced by eating and asked if such an example was available in the world. Imam replied that it was like a lamp. One may have a hundred thousand lamps lit from one lamp, but it would still not reduce the light of the original lamp.
Before his death he called the people of Madina saying that it would be Imam Ja’fer As-Sadiq (A) who would give him ‘ghusl’ and ‘kafan’, thus informing them of the next Imam.
The Imam gave much importance in having majlis for Imam Husayn (A); encouraging them as much as possible.
Mohammed bin Munkadir; a great ‘Shaykh’ of the time once saw Imam working in the fields under the hot sun. He went up to the Imam and told him if death came to him then (whilst working in the fields) what would he do as he was seeking worldly benefit. Imam answered that if death came to him then it was whilst be was obeying God; he would only fear if death came whilst he was disobeying Allah.
