Webinar “Role of Imam Muhammad Baqer (a.s.) in the Unity of the Islamic Ummah” (Summary)

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Thursday, 07 July 2022

The webinar “Role of Imam Muhammad Baqer (a.s.) in the Unity of the Islamic Ummah” was held on Thursday, July 7, 2022, on the anniversary of the martyrdom of that Imam, in the conference hall of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

On Thursday, July 7, 2022, on the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Imam Muhammad Baqer (a.s.), the webinar “Role of Imam Muhammad Baqer (a.s.) in the Unity of the Islamic Ummah” was held by the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly in collaboration of Velayat TV, in the conference hall of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly.

In the webinar, Hojat al-Islam Dr. Abbas Ali Barati, a university professor, and Hojat al-Islam Abolfazl Sabouri, a missionary active in Europe and Africa, gave their speeches on the subject.

On the life, history, and teachings of Imam Baqer (a.s.) in different fields of Hadith, Fiqh, Theology, and many other Islamic sciences that he provided for his students in the university he built at that time in Medina, which was the center of Islamic scholars, Dr. Barati as the first speaker said, “Imam Baqer (a.s.) used the opportunity that Imam Sajjad (a.s.) didn’t have because of the pressure of the Umayyad caliphs at that time. But, because of the decline of the Umayyad Dynasty, in a situation that Imam Baqer (a.s.) experienced five different caliphs, and the dictator leadership was about to fall, the Imam used the opportunity to revive the Islam. During the era of the Umayyads, people were living in ignorant and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) was ignored and forgotten, to the level that even how the Holy Prophet performed Hajj pilgrimage was forgotten. Therefore, it is narrated in Sahih Muslim that the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet about pilgrimage, is revived by Imam Baqer (a.s.).”

“He also revived the Islamic civilization which was neglected at the time of those (Umayyad) tyrants that were just paying attention to the development and expansion of the territories of Islam, neglecting the ideology, theology and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). So, Imam revived, redescribed, and redefined the legal basis, the jurisprudential and human bases of the Islam; the religion that was altered in a way that only emphasized on the battles and conquest. Therefore, Imam Baqer (a.s.), contrary to that, emphasized on the fact that the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) was the prophet of Mercy: “رحمة للعالمین” (The Mercy for the worlds/creatures),” Dr Barati added.

Then in the webinar, Dr. Sabouri mentioning the verse of holy Quran: “قُلْ لَا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلَّا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَىٰ” (Say, ‘I do not ask you any reward for it except the love of [my] relatives.’) (Holy Quran, Surah: Ash-Shura, Verse: 23) shed light and defined the two Arabic terms “مودة” and “رحمة” both of which have been translated to “Love” in English.

He also defined two Arabic words “القربي” and “ذي القربي” and explained who are the “ذي القربي”, the progeny of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h). He then focused on the Quranic Verse: “يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْكُمْ” (O you who have faith! Obey Allah (s.w.t) and obey the Messenger and those vested with authority among you.) (Holy Quran, Surah: An-Nisa, Verse: 59). He explained that the “أُولِي الْأَمْرِ” are not ulama and scholars because they are not infallible. Because this wajib (obligation) which is the order of Allah (s.w.t) has no condition, in other words, it is an unconditionally obedience. This kind of obedience should only be for the Infallibles (a.s.). The infallible Imams (a.s.) are those who the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h) introduced in an authentic hadith, and Imam Baqer (a.s.) was of those Twelve imams after the Prophet (p.b.u.h).

The role of Imam Baqer (a.s.) in the unification of the Ummah was clarified by Sheikh Sabouri. The Imam (a.s.) many times advised caliphs like Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz to be good with the people. He also advised his followers to take part in Salat al-Jom’aa (Friday Prayers) which was in that time full of denominations, rather than Shia.

Imam Baqer (a.s.) also encouraged Shiites to Taqya (ostensible denial of religious belief). Defining the Taqya, Sheikh Sabouri said that it has two meanings, one of which should be performed by a person whose life is in danger, so he should hide his belief in order to save his life, and sometimes it is not hiding but respecting others’ belief and tolerating and have coexistence with the others. This is the other meaning of Taqya is to respect and love others.

Regarding the mentioned issue, Sabouri pointed out a Hadith narrated by Zorarah that Imam Baqer (a.s.) stated, “It is not true that all those who do not follow us are going astray and won’t be in paradise”. There are many exceptions, one of which is Mustaz’afin, means those who are kept under pressure and banned from getting pure knowledge. The other group is those who hope in Allah (s.w.t), and as a proof, one of the rulings of Islam is to pay Zakat, the Sharia tax, to the followers of other religions to attract their hearts to the Islam and its ideology.

As another point Sabouri mentioned the Quranic verse, “فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ* الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ” (So give good news to My servants* who listen to the word [of Allah] and follow the best [interpretation] of it) (Holy Quran, Surah: Az-Zumar, Verses: 17, 18). Listening to others’ ideas is one of the things that Imam Baqer (a.s.) emphasized based on the Quranic verses.

Sabouri also mentioned the verse, “وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا” (Hold fast, all together, to Allah’s cord, and do not be divided) (Holy Quran, Surah: Al Imran, Verse: 103). From the sunnah of Imam Baqer (a.s.) we see that he was follow the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), and he reunified the Islamic ummah, although that in time many scholars tried to negate Imam and his rank, but Alhamdulillah he was a brilliant person and personality that his knowledge never could be denied, in a way that one of Sunni ulama said, “I see that scholars and scientist were not as inferior in the presence of anyone, as they were in the presence of Imam Baqer (a.s.)”. Therefore, Imam Baqer (a.s.) was a pioneer of the unification of the ummah.

To see the photos of the webinar click here.

Tags

• AhlulBayt (a_s_) World Assembly
• Imam Muhammad Baqer (a_s_)
• Islamic Ummah
• Webinar