Religion

The marriage of the Prophet’s daughter, Lady Fatima and First Imam of Shia, Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon them) is one of the most important events in Islam. The marriage took place for the establishment of a family, by which a fundamental and essential part of Islam’s history was created, and by which the pure successors of the Prophet would all come into existence. Also, examples of Islamic values became clear in Lady Fatima’s marriage.

The extraordinary virtues of Lady Fatima (peace be upon her) on one hand, her blood relations with the Prophet on the other hand, and the nobility of her family furthermore, caused many of the high-ranking supporters of the Prophet to propose to her; but all heard negative answers. Each time, the Prophet would usually answer them, saying: “Her matter is in the hands of her Lord.”
The people were speaking of these very things when suddenly it was heard everywhere that the Prophet wished to give his only daughter to Ali ibn Abi Talib in marriage. Imam Ali did not have access to wealth and possessions rather, instead he was from head to toe full of faith and real Islamic values.

Indeed, this blessed historical marriage was a heavenly revelation, because the Prophet himself said: “An angel of God came to me and told me that God sends you greetings and says: ‘I have made Fatima the wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib in the highest heavens already, so you should also marry her to him on earth.’” (Dhakair al-Abqa)

When Imam Ali went to the Prophet with his marriage proposal for Lady Fatima, his face was red with shyness. When the Prophet saw him, he became cheerful and smiled, asking him why he had come. But Imam Ali, because of the imposing presence of the Prophet, could not put forth his wish and, as such, remained silent. Aware of Imam Ali’s intentions, the Prophet said: “Maybe you have come for marriage proposal of Fatima?” He replied: “Yes, I have come for that very purpose.” The Prophet said: “Ali, before you, other men had come for proposal of Fatima. Whenever I informed Fatima of this matter, she would not show her approval. Right now, let me inform her of this conversation.”

It is true that the marriage was heavenly and must take place. But especially because of the high status of Lady Fatima, and to demonstrate the respect and freedom of women in choosing their husbands, it was necessary that the Prophet of Islam should not go ahead in this matter without the consent of Lady Fatima.

When the Prophet described the virtues of Imam Ali for his daughter, he said: “I wish to make you the wife of the best of God’s creation. What is your opinion?” Lady Fatima, who was submerged in shyness and modesty, lowered her head saying nothing and denying nothing. The Prophet raised his head and spoke this historical sentence, “God is the Greatest! Her silence is the proof of her agreement.” Following these events, the marriage contract was concluded.

The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “In the event that Ali would not have been created, there would have been no one worthy to be Fatima’s spouse.”

Muhammad b. Ali popularly known as Imam Muhammad Baqir (as) (677 AD), the Shiite 5^th Imam who led the Shiite community for a period of 19 years. According to the hadith narrated by Jabir b. Abdullah Ansari, before the birth of the Imam, his name Muhammad and nickname Baqir (splitter) were given to him by the prophet of Islam. He was nicknamed as Baqir al-Ulum (the splitter of knowledge), Shakir (one who shows gratitude), Hadi (one who guides) and Amin (the trustworthy). His most famous nickname was Baqir. Yaqubi writes (he was name Baqir because he split knowledge). In this regard Shaykh Mufid said that Imam Baqir (as) was the best in knowledge, asceticism and greatness of all his brothers, his prestige was greater and everyone praised him for his greatness.

Most historians believe that his birth was in 57 AH; so he was born 4 years before the event of Karbala, and was present in this tragic with his noble father. His father was Imam Ali b. Husayn (as), known as Zain ul-Abidin the 4^th imam, and his mother was Fatima daughter of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (as), the second Imam. Since the noble lineage of Imam Baqir from both mother and father’s side was connected to Imam Ali (as) and Hazrat Fatima (sa), he was called Alawi  Bayn al-Alawiyyin and Fatimi Bayn al-Fatimiyyin.

What is established is that Imam Baqir (as) with the mysterious and secret plan of Husham b. Abdul Malik, was poisoned and martyred, although the cause and manner is not clear. According to some writers Ibrahim b. Walid b. Yazid b. Abdul Malik (Hisham’s nephew) was the one that poisoned the Imam, but according to others Zaid b. Hassan by the order of Hisham, rubbed poison on the horse’s saddle and brought it to Imam Baqir (as) and insisted that the Imam ride on it; the Imam inevitably rode on it and the poison affected his body, so that his thighs became swollen and he fell seriously ill for three days and was finally martyred.

His holy tomb is in Baqi Cemetery in Saudi Arabia; Baqi is the first burial mausoleum that was created by the order of the Holy Prophet (SAWA) with the help of the early Muslims of Islam. In this holy shrine there are the graves of four holy Imams -Imam hasan Mujtaba, Imam Sajjad, Imam Baqir and Imam Sadiq (as). This cemetery is the most important Islamic cemetery, which contains an important part of the history of Islam and is a great book and narration of the history of Muslims. In 1220 AH, the first destruction of the holy tombs of the Imams in Baqi by the Saudi Wahhabis took place during the time of the fall of the first Saudi government by the Uthman government. After this historical-Islamic event, with the investment of Shiite Muslims and the use of special facilities, the destroyed shrine was rebuilt in the most beautiful way and with the construction of a dome and a mosque. Baqi became one of the most beautiful pilgrimage shrines and in fact a place of pilgrimage-tourism for Muslims. The second and in fact the most painful historical-Islamic incident of contemporary era occurred on 8th Shawwal (1344 AH) after the coming to power of the third Wahhabi government of Saudi Arabia; the year when the Wahhabis scholars issued a fatwa to their leaders on insulting and humiliating the Shiite shrines. The holy shrines of the Imams and the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet (SAWA) were subjected to their second savage attack, turning Baqi into a ruined tomb, which was in fact abandoned and unknown.

Knowledge and cultural biography of Imam Mohammad Baqir (as)

Imam Baqir (as) during his imammate, despite the unfavorable conditions that overshadowed the field of Islamic culture, with a serious and extensive effort, he designed a great movement in the field of science that advanced to an extent that led to the establishment of a prominent Islamic university, the dynamism and greatness of which reached its peak during the time of Imam Sadiq (as).

Many narrations have been narrated from Imam Baqir (as) in the fields of jurisprudence, monotheism, the Prophetic tradition, the Qur’an, ethics and etiquette. Also during his Imamate, the compilation of Shiite views in various fields such as ethics, jurisprudence, theology, interpretation were initiated.

Imam Baqir (as) by establishing the field of study, fought with distortions, eliminating scientific challenges, consolidating the foundations of pure Islamic teachings and principles, relying on the guiding verses of the Qur’an, and examined all the jurisprudential and doctrinal topics from the Qur’anic point of view, he  devoted himself to the nurturing of scientists ,intellectuals of his time and the great scientific movement; to the extent that  a scholar like Jabir bn Yazid Ja’fi  whenever he wanted to talk about knowledge- despite the huge amount of knowledge he possessed  –  would say: “God’s successor and inheritor of the knowledge of the prophets Muhammad bn Ali (as) told me this” and because he sees little of his knowledge in comparison to the position of the Imam, he would not make any personal comment.

Abdollah Ibn Atta, who was one of the prominent personalities and great scientists of the Imam’s era, says: I have never seen the scholars of Islam in any circle and assembly to be scientifically inferior and small as the circle of Imam Muhammad Baqir  (as). I saw “Hakam Ibn Utaybah” who was famous in science and jurisprudence in the service of Muhammad Baqir, like a child in front of the great master, with his kneels humbly on the ground and  so fascinated and captivated by Imam’s words and personality.

It is stated in the Shiite traditions that Abdul Malik bn Marwan at the suggestion of Imam Baqir  (as) started the minting of Islamic coin. Before that, transactions were done with Roman coins. Though this incident took place during the time of Imam Sajjad (as), some have attributed the suggestion of minting coins to Imam Sajjad (as) and some have said that Imam Baqir (as) made this proposal by the order of Imam Sajjad (as), Imam Baqir (as) also provided a ground for Imam Sadiq (as) that was not available to any other Imams (as), this  ground help  Imam Baqir (as) and Imam Sadiq (as) to leave behind a legacy of views on jurisprudence, interpretation and moral in their jurisprudential and hadith books. Therefore, narrators such as Muhammad bn Muslim have narrated 30,000 hadiths and Jabir Ja’fi has quoted 70,000 hadiths from Imam Baqir(as). Imam Baqir’s fame in knowledge was widespread not only in the Hejaz, but also in Iraq and Khorasan, to the extent that a narrator was saying: People from Khorasan circle around the Imam and ask him about their scientific problems.
It is said that Sheikh Tusi counted the number of companions and disciples of Imam Muhammad Baqir  (as) who narrated hadith from him as 462 men and 2 women.
According to Shiite scholars, Zararah Ibn Ain, Maroof Ibn Kharbuz Makki, Abu Basir Asadi, Fadhil Ibn Yasar, Muhammad Ibn Muslim Taifi and Barid Ibn Mu’awiyah Ajli are among the prominent jurists of the early days of Islam from the companions of Imam Baqir  (as) and Imam Sadiq (as).

Muslim b. Aqil was the paternal cousin of Imam Husain (peace be on him). He is known in history as the ambassador of the Imam who was martyred in Kufa. He was a well-known and successful soldier and scholar and four of his sons had left Medina in the caravan of Imam Husain.
The caravan of Imam Husain was on its way to Kufa in 679 CE; the Imam sent Muslim as his ambassador to the people of Kufa with a letter where he addressed them thus: I am sending to you my cousin and one of the most trustworthy person of my household, Muslim b. Aqil, to you so that I may be informed of your affairs. If his reports are in accordance with what you have written to me, I will soon join you. You must know that the Imam is the only (true) follower of God’s Book and he serves God with justice, honesty and truth in all affairs.
He took his two young sons, Muhammad and Ibrahim, with him to Kufa. Muslim and his sons were welcomed and hosted warmly in Kufa. Very soon, more than 18 thousand people gave allegiance to him. As a result, Muslim wrote a letter to the Imam informing him of the state of affairs in Kufa.
However, some of Yazid’s spies were also among the people of Kufa and informed him of the events that were occurring there. Yazid ordered one of his governors, Ubaydullah b. Ziyad, to go immediately to Kufa and gave him the orders of capturing and killing Muslim and to do whatever was necessary to put pressure on the followers of Imam Husain (peace be on him) so that they would not support him.
When Ubaydullah reached Kufa the next morning, he went to the mosque and spoke to the people. He first announced his governorship and then proceeded to threaten to anyone who would work against the government in any way with death and asked them to turn Muslim over to him. He also closed off Kufa so that no one would be allowed to enter or leave the city without the permission of the governor.
At this time, Muslim was in the house of Hani b. Urwa and no one knew of his presence there except a few people. However, a spy informed Ubaydullah of where he was hiding. Hani was arrested and imprisoned and Muslim, to prevent his friends falling into danger, left Hani’s house with his sons. He sent his sons out of Kufa with Qazi Shorayh so that they may return to Imam Husain through the desert but was unable to leave the city himself.
Late on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar) Muslim was walking in the outskirts of Kufa and was extremely tired. An old woman was waiting in front of her house for her son to return home. Muslim greeted her and asked her for a glass of water. She complied and upon learning of his identity, she invited him into her home and provided him food and a place to rest. Her name was Tauaa.
When Tauaa’s son returned home late that night and realized that the person who the governor is after is in his house, he secretly informed Ubaydullah’s people without his mother knowing in order to receive the promised reward. Early the next morning, a large group of soldiers surrounded the house; Muslim left the house, sword in hand and fought valiantly.
Tired of fighting and injured, he leaned against the wall of the house and the enemy was able to capture him by deceiving him into believing that if he stopped fighting he would be safe. At first he didn’t believe them, but on their insistence he finally laid down his arms. He was surrounded and his sword was taken from him. It was at this moment that he lost hope and started crying. One of the men mocked him and said to him that one who seeks what you seeking (i.e. the reason for his coming to Kufa and what he sought to do) and then gets caught does not cry. Muslim replied: I am not sorrowful for myself… my tears are for my family who are coming towards me and for Husain and his family  (Mufid, p. 361)
He was taken to Ubaydullah and the promise of safety that he was given was denied by him and he promised he would kill Muslim. Muslim asked to be allowed to make a will and then made it to one  of the people present. He asked him first to pay off a debt that he had when he had come to Kufa, second, he asked that after he was killed, his body be taken from Ubaydullah and buried and third, to send a messenger to Imam Husain asking him to turn back as he had previously written to him telling him that the people are with him and he had no doubt that the Imam was on his way. The first of his requests was met; however, the other two were not carried out.
The governor gave the order for him to be taken to the terrace of the governing palace and killed. He was taken there all the while reciting supplications and seeking forgiveness and sending salutations to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him and his household) and his household and said: O God! You judge between us and these people who betrayed us and lied to us and did not help us. They then beheaded him and threw his head down the building, with his body following (Mufid, pp. 363-366).
According to some historians (and contrary to what was promised by the governor), the bodies of Muslim and Hani, who was killed after him, were dragged through the bazaars of Kufa (Qummi, p. 100).

http://www.eslam.de/begriffe/m/muslim_ibn_aqil.htm
Mufid, Muhammad. 1388 AP. Tarjuma-yi Irshād-i Shaykh Mufīd, Sire-yi Aimme-yi Aṭhar [a translation of Shaykh Mufid’s Irshad on the conduct of the Imams]. (Hasan Musawi Mujab, Trans.). Qom: Surur Publications.
Qummi, Abbas. 1381 AP. Damʿ al-Sujūm: Tarjume-yi Kitāb-i Nafasul Mahmūm [translation of Abbas Qummi’s Nafasul Mahmum]. (Abul Hasan Shaʿrani, Trans.). Qom: Hijrat Publications.

Compiled by: N. Bayani
Translated by: Rashed

The Day of Arafa: A day of ascending from the self to the Creator

The ninth of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijja, which is one day before Eid al-Adha, is considered a very important and holy day for Muslims. In the sources of narrations there are certain deeds that are advised to be performed on this day, most important of which are praying and asking Allah for forgiveness. The Ziyara of Imam Husain and reciting Dua al-Arafa is also highly recommend.
“Arafa” is an Arabic word which means to comprehend and understand alongside thought and reflection about the impact of events. The name “Arafa” was derived from the land of Arafaat (a place in Makkah where pilgrims lodge on this day). It is said the land of Arafaat is called such because it is a defined and known land among the mountains. Another reason mentioned is that in this land people admit to their sins and show patience upon distress, and patience is also one of the meanings of “Arafa”.
There are numerous narrations that mention the day of Arafa as a special day in which Allah forgives and answers our prayers.
Also, the Shia Imams considered this day sacred and advised people to venerate this day. They never sent away a needy person empty handed on this day. A narration says that one year, on the day of Arafa, Imam Sajjad (as) heard a needy man asking people for help, he said to him, “Woe upon you, do you ask other than Allah for help on this day? On this day there is hope that even children in the womb would become fortunate by Allah’s mercy.”
Of the most important deeds on this day is reciting Dua al-Arafa of Imam Husain. These are some of the significant highlights in the Dua:

• Expressing true belief, pondering upon signs, remembering the endless blessings of Allah upon mankind and praising and thanking Him for it.
• Expressing humility to Allah, admitting to one’s sins, asking for forgiveness and turning towards goodness.
• Getting to know the Prophets, strengthening our relationship with them, and increasing awareness of the hereafter.
• Getting to know Allah, His attributes, and renewing our oath with the Creator
• Praying for our needs, beginning with sending peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and his progeny, asking for guidance, blessings, bounties, increase in sustenance, reward in the hereafter, and …
  In reality Dua al-Arafa is a pathway which starts with knowing ourselves and ends with knowing Allah. As we know one of the most important foundations of embedding virtues in ourselves and reaching spiritual perfection is to first know ourselves. Until we do not put this hard stage behind ourselves, we cannot reach higher spiritual stations. For this very reason, great teachers of spirituality emphasize that one who wants to tread the path of spirituality, must first know themselves and by no means ignore this important prerequisite.
  The famous Hadith “Whoever knows himself will know his Lord,” points to this very concept. In the book Bihar al-Anwar, Book of Prophet Idris, Chapter 4, which is related to wisdom it says “Whoever knows the creation shall recognize the Creator, and he who understands sustenance will know the Sustainer, and one who knows himself will know his Lord.”
  If a person realizes the greatness of this day and understands the depths of Dua al-Arafa, he will experience a day full of awareness of Allah, inshaAllah.

Compiler: Safura Taraqi
Translator: Fatima Zahra