Imām Muḥammad ibn ‘Alī al-Bāqir (ʿa)
Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir (ʿa) was the son of Imām ‘Alī Zayn al-‘Ābidīn (ʿa) and the fifth Imām among the twelve divinely appointed successors of the Prophet Muḥammad (s).
He was famously known as “al-Bāqir”, meaning the one who splits open, due to his vast and profound knowledge. He was given this title because he “split open” the knowledge of the Prophet (s), bringing it to light and teaching various sciences to many students who later became great scholars. Some even described him as an “ocean of knowledge”, as he would answer every question without hesitation.
Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir (ʿa) was also present at Karbalāʾ, though he was approximately four years old at the time. He endured the tragedy along with the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) and was imprisoned in Shām with his father, Imām ‘Alī Zayn al-‘Ābidīn (ʿa).
The Imām resided in Madinah throughout his life and used the Prophet’s Mosque as a centre of learning, where he would deliver lectures to his students.
His Talents and Knowledge
The talents of Imām al-Bāqir (ʿa) were reflected in his mastery of various fields of knowledge, including ḥadīth, theology, philosophy, and jurisprudence.
After the martyrdom of his father, the Umayyad regime had significantly weakened and was struggling to maintain its authority. This created an opportunity for Imām al-Bāqir (ʿa), and later his son Imām Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq (ʿa), to widely teach and spread the true teachings of Islam.
Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir (ʿa) also continued the tradition of organising gatherings (majālis) to mourn his grandfather Imām Ḥusayn (ʿa) and to preserve the memory of Karbalāʾ. This noble practice was continued by all the Imāms of the Ahl al-Bayt (ʿa) after him.
His Contribution to the Muslim Economy
During the rule of Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān, the Muslims were still relying on Roman currency for trade. A dispute arose between the Muslims and the Roman Emperor, who then refused to allow the use of their currency. This created a major crisis for the Caliph. After failed attempts to negotiate, he turned to Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir (ʿa) for a solution.
Upon understanding the issue, the Imām advised the Caliph to introduce an Islamic currency, independent of foreign powers. He gave detailed instructions regarding the amount of gold and silver to be used, the standard weight of the coins, and what should be inscribed on them. In doing so, Imām al-Bāqir (ʿa) played a vital role in safeguarding the economic independence of the Muslim nation.
His Final Days
When Hishām ibn ʿAbd al-Malik became Caliph, he felt threatened by the Imām’s popularity and widespread admiration among the people. Fearing the influence of Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir (ʿa), he eventually ordered his arrest and, later, his poisoning.
Imām al-Ṣādiq (ʿa) buried his noble father beside Imām ‘Alī Zayn al-‘Ābidīn (ʿa) and his great-uncle Imām al-Ḥasan al-Mujtabā (ʿa) in Jannat al-Baqīʿ in Madinah.