Our deepest condolences to the Muslim Ummah and especially to the lovers of Ahlul Bait A.S.,
on the 1,318th Shahadat Anniversary of our 5th Imam, Imam Muhammad Bakir A.S.

Our 5th Imam, Imam Muhammad Bakir A.S. was born in 57 A.H. in the great city of Madina-e-Munnawarah.  He enjoys the unique position of having both paternal and maternal grandfathers as Imams.   His father was our 4th Imam A.S., son of Imam Husain A.S. and his mother, Shahzadi Fatimah, the daughter of Imam Hasan A.S.

Imam (A) was brought up for 3 years by his grandfather, Imam Husain (A).  He was present in Karbala at the time of martyrdom of Imam Husain (A) and his friends.  He also spent a year in the prison of Damascus with his father and the rest of the children and ladies of the martyrs of Karbala.  He lived for over 50 years in Madina after returning from the prison of Sham.   

Imam (A) was left in relative peace by the rulers because the Bani Umayyah were busy in trying to control the rebellions and wars that were breaking out all over the Muslim empire. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Imam (A) set up and conducted classes on the teachings of the Holy Prophet (S) and the Ahlul Bayt (A).  Under his guidance, his pupils compiled various books on different branches of science and arts.  Imam (A) also began to teach new sciences like Mathematics and Chemistry for the first time in Arabia.

Imam A) gave much importance to holding Majalis where the event of Karbala would be remembered.  At the same time, practical instructions about the teachings of Islam would also be given.  These meetings were also encouraged by Imam Ja'far Sadiq (A) and Imam Ali Riza (A) in later years.

One of the Caliphs at the time of Imam (A) was Waleed bin Abdul Malik. Once, the ruler of Rome wrote to Waleed saying that the Roman coins, which were also used by Muslims, would now carry anti-Islamic phrases. The Caliph decided that a new coin should be minted.   A problem arose as how to fashion the new coin.  When consulted, Imam (A) suggested that the phrase "Laa Ilaha Illallah" be printed on one side, and "Muhammadur Rasulullah" on the other.  This advice was accepted, and the first Islamic coin was thus minted.

The Holy Prophet (S) had told his companion, Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari, that he would live to see the Fifth Imam (A) whose name would be Muhammad.  He asked him to convey his Salaams to this Imam (A), which Jabir managed to do shortly before he died.   Just before our 5th Imam's death, he called the people of Madina and told them that his son Ja'far (A) would be the Imam after him, and that he should give him Ghusl and Kafan.  Imam (A) breathed his last on 7th Zilhajj 114 A.H. at the age of 57 years and was buried in Jannatul Baqee next to his father.

Imam said, "I hate the person who is jobless and who merely lies on his back and says, 'O Allah! Give me sustenance!

Imam said, "Our followers are of three kinds, one who follows us but depends on others, one who is like a glass involved in his own reflections,
but the best are those who are like gold, the more they suffer the more they shine."

ICA - Project Enlightenment