AL-HUDA
Foundation, NJ U. S. A
the Message Continues ... 3/88
Newsletter for December 2008
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THE LIFE AND THE TIMES OF
by Dr. Syed Haider Hussain Shamsi (Excerpted from the Author's book: "And The Message Continues, The Lives Of The Twelve Imams Of The Ahlul Bait."
In Madinah he lived a life of peace and piety, and
remained under the patronage of his father Imam Ali Zain
al-Abideen for thirty-four years. Imam Baqir grew
under the care of his father and was appointed Imam by
him before his martyrdom by poisoning in 95 AH by the
Caliph Walid bin Abd al-Malik.
The reign of the Umayyad Caliph
Walid bin Abd al-Malik ended at his death in 96 AH, and
was succeeded by his brother Salaaming bin Abd alMalik.
However, the rule of Sulayman lasted for only three
years until 99 AH.
Umar bin Abd al-Aziz became the next ruler of the Muslim
world. He was the onlyjust ruler the people saw in
a long chain of Umayyad tyrants. He is popularly
known as Umar, the pious. It was during his reign
that the long standing claim of the fertile groves of
Faddak, originally launched by Fatima binte Muhammad was
finally recognized by a ruler of the land, and was
returned to the family of the rightful claimants.
It was also by his orders that the ignoble tradition of
throwing abuses on Imam Ali during the congregational
prayers (started by Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan) was finally
discontinued.
The rule of Umar bin Abd al-Aziz was also short- lived
and lasted for only two years. He was succeeded by
Yazid bin Abd al-Malik who ruled the land between the
years 1O1 AH and 105 AH. After him, a relatively
longer reign of Hisham bin Abd al-Malik followed from
the year 105 AH to 125 AH. The Umayyad rulers came
and went, and did what pleased them, but the Imam
continued his services to the believers and to the faith
of Islam. He gathered a sizeable galaxy of students and
learned disciples who took his message to the far comers
of the Muslim world.
The jurist Abu Hanifa attended the school of leaming
under the Imam in Madinah before returning to Iraq.
Abu Hanifa left Madinah with a tremendous respect and
acclaim to the Imads knowledge of the Wan and the Sunnah.
The Imam disagreed with Abu Hanifa on his method of
resolving issues of Shatiyah (canonic law) by
Raai (individual personal logic) or Qiyas
(speculative derivation).
Hishain bin Abd al-Malik could not see the growing
popularity of the Imam and had him martyred with poison
in the year 114 AH. The Imam appointed his son
Ja'far to take charge of the duties of the hnarnate to
serve the faith and the faithful.
By the time of his martyrdom, he
had spent twenty years of his life as the Imam of his
time. A wealth of quotes and interpretations were
collected by his followers.
REFLECTIONS ON THE LIFE OF IMAM MUHAMMAD BAQIR Imam Baqir was a complete reflection
of the life of his father in sincerity, piety, knowledge
and worship. His superlative conduct is considered
to be the criterion for these fine qualities in the
human being.
The greatest of the learned are dwarfed by the grandeur
of his wisdom and knowledge. He earned the title
of al-Baqir as a result of the depth of his knowledge.
He is well known for his depth of
knowledge and for the vastness of his quotes and
interpretations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. This
material was collected by his students and companions
and is available for guidance today.
Abu Hanifa, a famous jurist of his
time and an Imam to a large sector of the Sunni Muslims,
was a student of Imam Baqir. He acknowledged the
superior knowledge of the Imam on the Qur'an and the
Sunna.
THE INSTITUTION OF MAJALIS
The majalis
(religious gatherings specifically intended to educate
masses about the mission of Imam Husain) are the
tradition of Zainab binte Ali who held her first
majalis while the captives were still in Damasus.
Although they were continued by Imam Ali Zain al-Abideen
during his times, Imam Muhammad Baqir formalized them
into an institution of leaming. Since then they
have served as a unique method of propagating the Truth
to the masses throughout the ages.
As the followers and the devotees of Ahle Bait visited
the Imam they enquired about the tragedy which the
members of Ahle Bait had to sustain. The Imam took
the opportunity to retell the causes of the conflict,
the events of the suffering, and in the process, was
able to teach and preach Islam to them. Since the
people came already receptive to listen and to learn the
Imam was able to spread the Message of Islam with case
and continuity. This institution of majalis
has evolved with time, and has continued to be an
effective vehicle for the dissemination of the teachings
of the school of the Ahle Bait.
Selected Sayings
1.
The best combination is knowledge with forbearance.
2. Three things are
counted the best of deeds in the world and hereafter:
(i)
forgiveness over someone's cruel behavior;
(ii)
kindness to someone who has broken relations with you;
(iii)
tolerance to someone's foolish behavior.
3. One
who does listen to the call of his conscience cannot
benefit from advice from others.
4. There
are many who say, "may Allah see the down fall of your
enemies," although Allah may Himself be that person's
enemy!
5. To
seek help from the newly made rich is like retrieving a
coin from the snake's mouth: that there is need for it
but not without danger!
6. There is vast
wealth in four things:
(i)
keeping your deprivation a secret to yourself,
(ii)
giving charity without announcing it;
(iii)
not making your pain apparent to others;
(iv)
not making your troubles public.
7. The
best of public behavior is to sit at a lower level than
your status, wish well to one you see ahead of you, and
not indulge in wasteful arguments even when you know you
are right.
8.
Modesty and Faith are two intertwined jewels. If
you lose one, the other goes with it.
9. Keep
away from laziness and inipatience. A lazy person
cannot deliver the dues of others, and the impatient
person lacks the elements of forbearance.
IO.
To give sadaqa (a form of charity) in the morning
is to protect you from the mischief of
shaitan (devil). |
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