On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Muhammad Baqir (a.s), the fifth Infallible Imam, the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL) congratulates [the Imam of our time (atfs), all righteous scholars, believers, and the whole world.
 
Imam Muhammad was born to Imam Ali ibn Husain (as) al-Zainul Abideen (as) and his wife lady Fatima (sa) the daughter of Imam Hasan (as), in 57 A.H. (676 CE). He was martyred  in 114 A.H. (732 CE) at the age of 57, and buried in Jannatul Baqi, Madinah. His grave was destroyed on March 8 1925 by the despotic Saudi regime.
 
 
On the evidence of the most authentic Hadith narrated by Sunni and Shia historians, one of the companions of the Holy Prophet Jabir Ibn Abdallah Ansari was in the presence of the Holy Prophet. He asked the Prophet about the names of descendants from his daughter Hazrat Fatima and ‘Ali (as) . The Prophet told him,
“O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, you will meet the 5th in line of my descendants whose name will be my name, who will walk like me and who will be the 5th Imam of the time. When you meet him, give my salaams to him”.

As predicted by the Holy Prophet Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari had a long life and became blind in his old age. But he devoutly waited for the time when he would meet the 5th Imam. Each morning he would come out from his house, sit by the road side and wait for the sound of the footsteps to recognize the 5th Imam. One such day while he was waiting in the streets of Madina, he heard someone walking towards him, the sound of footsteps reminded him of the way Holy Prophet used to walk. Jabir stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied, “Muhammad”, Jabir asked, whose son?, he replied “‘Ali Ibnul Husayn”.
Jabir immediately recognized the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam. He kissed him and told him the message from the Holy Prophet and that the Prophet sent his salaams to him. Imam took him to his home, asked his friends to gather as many people as they could. When they all assembled in his house, the Imam asked Jabir to tell the whole story again.
 
 
Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) was born in a time when the usurping caliphs were busy with their conquests, and after the quiet life of Imam Zainul Abideen (as) they did not fear any rebellion from the Ahlul Bayt (as). These conditions were divinely created by Allah, so that Imam Baqir (as) was allowed to continue with his mission – that of opening up learning institutions, and training people in the tenets of real Islam of the Prophet (saww).  Indeed his title Al-Baqir, Splitter of Knowledge, derives from his immense detailed knowledge of the faith and other sciences.  Imam (as) is said to have had as many as 25000 students and left a legacy of 400 books of hadith written under his supervision.

 
Let us not forget that Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) also witnessed the tragic events of Karbala as a child, seeing his grandfather Imam Husain (as) martyred, and also was taken in captivity as a child along with his father Imam Zainul Abideen (as), his mother, aunts and sisters (as). But despite these trials, the Imam’s life and legacy is one of hope: he developed a legacy of hadith literature and Quranic explanations of laws, which previous Imams could not due to the oppression they faced. This legacy he left and built with the full knowledge that this would survive to guide future generations of Muslims to the true uncorrupted path of Islam.
 
Imam left some wonderful sayings:

 "Our followers are of three kinds, one who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections, but the best are those who are like gold, the more they suffer the more they shine”.

 “I admonish you regarding five things; if you are wronged, do not commit wrong doing 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 much greater calamity then 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.”
 
On this remarkable day, we thank Allah for sending us perfect guides. WABIL congratulates you on the birth of this symbol of hope and prays that you may adhere to the example and teachings of Imam Muhammad Baqir (as).
 
 
Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL)
London, U.K

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