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Written by Arsalan Rizvi
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Wednesday, 24 June 2009 22:48 |
 Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) was born on the first day of
Rajab, in the year 57 AH. As Shias, we take great pride in the religious and
academic contributions of our Imams, in particular Imam al-Baqir, who laid the
foundation for Shia jurisprudence in the holy city of Medina and served as
teacher and mentor to many scholars and thinkers of other schools of Islamic
thought. As we commemorate his birthday this week, let us take a moment to
ponder on our identity as Shia Muslims, and how the Imam himself describes his
true Shias and followers:
"Our Shias fear Allah and obey Him. They are humble and pious. They pay the
trust. They praise Allah very much. They perform the prayers and the fasting.
They obey the parents. They take care of the poor neighbors, the needy, the
debtors, and the orphans. They are truthful in talking. They recite the Qur'an.
They hold back their tongues from (speaking against) people except good. Thus,
they are the custodians of their tribes over all things." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
"Your strong one should help your weak one. Your rich one should be kind to your
poor one. The man should be loyal to his brother as he is loyal to himself. Keep
our secrets. Do not force the people to follow us. Consider carefully our affair
and what has been mentioned on our authority. If you find it in agreement with
the Qur'an, then put it into effect. If you find it contrary to the Qur'an, then
leave it. If you doubt the affair, then stop and ask us to explain it to you." (Diya
al-Amilin)
"The Shias of Ali, peace be on him, sacrifice their lives for our authority.
They love each other, for they love us. They visit each other to enliven our
affair. When they become angry, they do not do wrong. When they are pleased,
they do not go too far (in pleasure). They are a blessing for him who is their
neighbor them. And they are peace for him who associates with them." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
"Recite my greetings to my Shias. Order them to fear Allah, the Great. Their
rich one should visit their poor one. Their sound one should visit their ill
one. Their living one should attend the funeral of their dead one. They should
meet each other in their houses. Indeed their meeting each other enlivens our
affair. May Allah have mercy on the one who enlivens our affair and puts into
effect the best of it. Say to them: We will suffice nothing for them with Allah
except through the good deed. They will not obtain our intercession but through
piety and hard work. Indeed the most intense of all people in regret on the Day
of Judgment is the one who describes a certain deed, and then he does other than
it." (Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Atha)
"Does it suffice for one who claims to be our follower to just express his
friendship with the members of the Holy Household? I swear by God that no one is
our true follower unless he fears God and obeys Him. Our followers are known for
their humbleness and frequent remembrance of God; fasting; praying; helping the
orphans, the needy, the ones in debt, and needy neighbors; reading the Quran;
and talking properly with the people. They have always been trustworthy in their
tribes. O' Jabir! Do not let the various sects affect you. Do you think that it
suffices for one to say that he likes Imam Ali and he is his follower, but does
not do anything to support his claim? Or he says that he likes the Prophet, who
is even better than Imam Ali, but does not take his example and follow his deeds
and act according to the Prophet's tradition? Just having love for the Prophet
is of no use for him. Therefore, fear God, and act in such a way as to attain
what is near God, since there is no relation of kin between God and anyone. The
one most loved by God is the one who is the most pious, and the noblest one is
the one who fears God and obeys Him. I swear by God that it is not possible to
get close to God unless by His obedience, and we do not hold the key to relief
from the Fire of Hell, and no one has any authority over God. Whoever is
obedient to God is our friend, and whoever disobeys God is our enemy. No one can
attain our friendship unless by having nobility and piety." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
"[Our Shias] are like strong fortress, their chests are trustworthy, they are
men of prudence and self-control, they are not extravagant, they are neither
oppressors nor ostentatious, they are devoted worshippers at night and brave
like lions during the day." (Mishkat al-Anwar)
"The servant who loves us, Allah will raise him from the dead with us. Religion
is nothing except love (for us). Surely, Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said in
His Book: 'Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and
forgive you your sins.'" (Uyun al-Akhbar wa Funun al-Atha)
"No one is our Shia except by the fear of God and His obedience, and they are
not recognized except by their humbleness, reverence, trustworthiness, and
abundance of remembrance of God." (Tuhaf al-Uqool)
Source: Islamic Insights
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