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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shi'a and Their Beliefs The Fifth Imam He is Imam Mu9ammad al-B"qir (the splitter open of knowledge), son of !Al: (a.s.) and his mother was F"Uima daughter of Imam .asan (a.s.). He was born on a Monday the 3rd of the month of £afar (it is also said to be on the 1st of Rajab) of the year 57 A.H. (16th December 676 C.E.). He is the first of the Alids who is of Alid parents.

He died of poison on a Monday the 7th of the month of DhYl-.ijja in the year 114 A.H. (28th January 733 C.E.) at the age of 57 years. His funeral was conducted by his son Imam Ja!far al-£"diq (a.s.) and he was buried in the cemetery of Baq:! in Medina. He was extremely virtuous, noble, and religious. He had abundant knowledge, great clemency, and beautiful character, and he was worshipful, humble, generous, and tolerant.

Once a Christian said to him: ‘You are a cow (baqar).’ He said: ‘Rather I am b"qir. The Christian said: ‘You are the son of a scullery maid.’ Imam B"qir said: ‘That was her profession.’ The Christian said: ‘You are the son of a licentious black negro woman!’ He said: ‘If you have spoken the truth then may Alla>h forgive her, and if you have lied then may Alla>h forgive you.’ At this, the Christian accepted Islam.256 He was a sea of knowledge and would answer any question posed to him without hesitation.

Ibn !AU" al-Makk: said: ‘I have never seen anyone else before whom the scholars are so humbled more than before Mu9ammad al-B"qir (a.s.). I saw al-.akam ibn !Utayba, despite his greatness in the eyes of the people, before him like a child before his teacher.’257 Mu9ammad ibn Muslim said: ‘Whenever anything troubled my heart I would ask AbY Ja!far (Mu9ammad al-B"qir) until I asked him about thirty thousand traditions.’258 He was constantly remembering Alla>h.

His son Imam £"diq said: ‘My father remembered Alla>h much. I would walk with him and he would remember Alla>h, eat with him and he would remember Alla>h, and even when he spoke to the people it would not distract him from remembrance of Allah.’259 He was much disposed to night prayer and worship and wept profusely.

Hadith from Imam Baqir (A) ‘The practice of Islam is founded on five matters: upholding of the daily prayers, purification of the wealth (giving the Khums and Zaka>h), performing the Hajj pilgrimage, Fasting during the holy month of Ramad}a>n, and allegiance to the authority (wala>yah) of the us the Ahl-ul-Bayt.