Bezels of Knowledge

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz
Following is a special feature on the occasion of the month of Safar, which provides us opportunities to strive for gaining the proximity of God by treading the footsteps of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams.
“The scholar who derives benefit from his knowledge is better than 70,000 devotees.”
What you read was one of the bezels of wisdom scattered for the benefit of humanity by a person, who was the most knowledgeable of his age, and who according to a narration was born today on the 3rd of Safar in the Prophet’s city Medina in the year 57 AH. Although we celebrate the birthday of the Prophet’s namesake and 5th Infallible Heir, Imam Mohammad Baqer (AS) on the 1st of Rajab, this date of Safar also provides us the opportunity to cast a glimpse on his fruitful life. We should remember that these days are the equally tragic aftermath of the tragedy of Karbala, and during these days in the year 61 AH, Imam Baqer (AS), who was then a 4-year old boy, was being dragged in chains and fetters, along with his parents and family members to the court of the tyrant, Yazid, in Damascus. At such a tender age, he had suffered imprisonment, but nonetheless was calm and composed like his father, Imam Zain al-Abedin (AS).
As Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) had foretold, he was known as “Baqer al-Uloum” or Splitter and Spreader of Sciences, during his 19-year imamate. Now we understand why the forces of darkness sought to persecute, imprison, and martyr the spotlessly pure progeny of the Prophet, because they knew that as long as the Ahl al-Bayt were in the midst of the society, their claim to be caliphs (political heads) of the Muslims was open to doubt. The 5th Imam enlightened people with the correct meaning and interpretation of the Revealed Word of God Almighty – the holy Qur’an. Accounts of the life of the Prophet were written on his authority, and he even made Muslims familiar with incidents in the life of the Prophets of the past. No wonder, his name, as the authentic narrator of hadith, is found in books of all denominations of Islam, including the Sunnis and Shi’ites – which means loyal adherents of the path of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt. Until his martyrdom in the year 114 AH at the age of 57 as a result of a poisoned saddle sent to him by the tyrannical Omayyad caliph, Hesham Ibn Abdul-Malik, the 5th Imam spared no efforts to uplift the minds and hearts of the ummah.
Here, in order to remove any misconceptions regarding the word “Shi’ite”, as the followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt are known, we refer to one of the famous statements of the 5th Imam to his disciple, Jaber al-Ju’fi: He said: \"O Jaber! It is not enough that a person says; I am a Shi\'ite and I love the Prophet (SAWA) and the Prophet\'s family and the Imams. By Allah, a Shi’ite is the one who is perfectly pious and obedient to Allah\'s commandments. Anyone else is not a Shi’ite, no matter how much they say they love Imam Ali (AS) and no matter what they call themselves. O Jaber Our Shi\'ites are known by these signs:
1) They are truthful, trustworthy and loyal;
2) They always remember Allah;
3) They offer their prayers, observe fasts, and (regularly) recite the Qur\'an;
4) They help their neighbours, take care of orphans, and say nothing but good of people;
5) They act nicely towards their parents;
6) They are worthy of peoples trust and confidence.
Wonderful statement indeed! In view of this fact, let us examine ourselves in the light of this statement of the Prophet’s 5th Infallible Heir, whether we really measure up to this honoured epithet. Since in the month of Safar we continue to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Baqer’s grandfather, Imam Husain (AS), it would be interesting to know that the famous Ziyarat or salutation of the day of Ashura was taught by the 5th Imam to his disciple Alqama bin Hazrami. The Imam stressed the regular recitation of this Ziyarat almost every day. He said: “With face turned towards the shrine of Imam Husain (AS), first send salaams upon him and imprecate his killers. Then after performing a two-rak’at prayer, recite the Ziyarat Ashura.
\"O Alqama! If you recite this Ziyarat in this manner, it is as if you have performed the pilgrimage of Imam Husain (AS) in the manner of angels, and Allah will write for you thousands and thousands of rewards and forgive your thousands and thousands of sins. The one who recites this Ziyarat will be exalted by 100,000 degrees while his reward would be equal to those martyred along with Imam Husain (AS), to the extent that he will share the rewards of the martyrs (of Karbala) and will be recognized as from among them. His rewards will also equal the rewards of pilgrimages performed by every Prophet and Apostle since the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS) till this day. Alqama, if possible, perform the pilgrimage of Imam Husain (PBUH) every day by (recitation of) this Ziyarat.\"