A brief about fifth infallible Imam (A)

By: Fatimah

Hazrat Imam Muhammad Baqir (A), the 5th infallible descendant of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S), was born on 1st Rajab in 57 AH enlightening the whole world with his refulgence.

It is narrated that one of the companions of the Holy Prophet (S) Jabir Ibn Abdillah Ansari (R) was in the presence of the Holy Prophet (S) when the Prophet (S) told him: “O Jabir, you will have a long life, and although you will go blind, but 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 will meet him, give my salaams to him”.

As predicted by the Holy Prophet (S) Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari (R) 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 (A). Each morning he would come out from his house, sit by the roadside and wait for the sound of the footsteps to recognize the 5th Imam (S). One such day while he was waiting in the street of Madina, he heard someone walking towards him, the sound of footsteps reminded him of the way Holy Prophet (S) used to walk. Jabir (R) stood up, stopped the man and asked his name. He replied, “Muhammad”, Jabir asked, whose son? he replied “Ali Ibnil Hussein (A)”. Jabir immediately recognized the man he was talking to was the 5th Imam (A). He kissed his hands and told him the message from the Holy Prophet (S) that he (S) sent his salaams to him.

Imam Baqir (AS), present in Karbala at the time of the gruesome tragedy of the wholesale massacre of his grand father Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions, was given the title of al-Baqir because he ripping through the depths of knowledge accessed the bottom of the knowledge, knew its fine subtleties and secrets.

Imam Baqir-ul-Uloom said, 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.

Imam al-Baqir (A) was martyred at 57 and is buried in Janna-tul-Baqee, which was demolished ruthlessly on 8th Shawwal in 1926 by Aal-e-Saud.

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