IBN ABDIL AZIZ'S rule also did not last long.

IBN ABDIL AZIZ'S rule also did not last long. Following his death, HISHAM IBN ABDIL MALIK assumed power. HISHAM was a cruel and tough man who openly demonstrated his hatred towards the Prophet's offspring. IMAM AL-BAQIR suffered from his cruelty to some extent, though less than he suffered during the era of other rulers. It is related that HISHAM one day summoned IMAM AL-BAQIR (AS) and asked him to tell him of his need which he promised he would meet.

The only request the Imam made was to let him return to Al-Medina so that he would be able to carry on his lessons in Islamic sciences. HISHAM agreed, and the Imam returned to the mosque of his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah (P.B.U.H). he carried on his mission, giving religious lessons to his students who were ever-increasing in number, whether old or young. Thus, the Prophet's family enjoyed the respect of all Muslims.

IMAM AL-BAQIR possessed sound and deep knowledge which his students learned and spread in different cities and towns. They spread the Imam's instructions throughout all towns and villages and conveyed his religious verdicts which became widely known everywhere. HISHAM'S mercenaries felt the great danger that the Imam's lessons endangered the authority of the rulers through exposing facts that were previously hidden.

Yet the mercenaries could do nothing to stop the Imam's lessons or halt the people's new awareness. The UMAYYAD control of the affairs of the Muslims was getting weaker and weaker, and people everywhere confronted the oppressive rulers and rejected their injustice. Hence, IMAM AL-BAQIR managed to proceed with his lessons while his students kept increasing in number throughout the Muslim world.

AHLUL BAYT UNIVERSITY IMAM AL-BAQIR (AS) passed away in the year 114 of HIJRA after he had entrusted his son JA'FER AL-SADIQ (AS) with the Imamate. HISHAM IBN ABDIL MALIK was more worried because AL-SADIQ (AS) carried on his father's lessons more actively and vividly, since he was a young man, only 31 year old, full of energy and strength.

AL-SADIQ'S great concern was the school of thought of AHLUL BAYT which was established by the leader of the believers, IMAM ALI IBN ABI TALIB (AS), and which survived through his sons and grandsons, especially IMAM AL-SADIQ'S father, IMAM AL-BAQIR (as). The university established by Imam AL-BAQIR (AS) encompassed branches of different sciences. It played a great role in safeguarding the Islamic teachings from deviation and distortion.