Imam Muhammad al-Baqir was born at Medina on Tuesday, 3rd Safar, 57 A.H. His mother was the daughter of Imam Hasan. Thus Imam Muhammad al-Baqir combined in himself the families of Imam Hasan and Imam Husayn.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir became imam after his father in 96(/95) A.H. He is said to have been very learned, and many of his sayings are reported. Because of his vast knowledge, he was given the title of al-Baqir, which means 'the exponder of knowledge'.
Prayers (Salat): Five times every day, Muslims from all parts of the world face towards the Ka‘bah located in the city of Makkah and perform their prayers.
The first prayer is in the morning before sunrise, the second at noontime, followed by the afternoon prayer. Just after sunset is the evening prayer, concluded by the night prayer. Thus a Muslim begins the day with prayer, and ends it in the same way.
The Qur’an is a record of the exact words revealed by Allah through the Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his close companions and written down by the scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime.
Not one word of the 114 chapters (Surahs) in it have been changed or tampered with over the past 1400 years since its revelation.
Muhammad was born in the city of Makkah in the year 570 A.D. Since his father died before his birth and his mother shortly afterwards, his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh brought him up.
As he grew older, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity such that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.
The month of Ramadhan has been singled out for special worship (`Ibadat) and exclusive favors. It is a month unlike other months. One reason for this, as defined by the Qur'an, is because the Holy Qur'an was revealed in this month. Says Allah in Sura alBaqarah: The month of Ramadhan, that in which the Qur'an was sent down; a guide for mankind, and clear signs of guidance and distinction (2:185). In fact, according to a hadith of the 6th Imam, the other holy books were also revealed in this month.
The Ka‘bah which is located in the city of Mecca in the present-day Saudi Arabia, is a place of worship that Allah commanded Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael to build over four thousand years ago.
The Shi‘a and Sunni schools of thought form the two wings of the Islamic nation that allow it to fly and carry out its lofty objectives. A great Muslim scholar once said, “Those who attempt to cause division between the Shi‘a and Sunni are neither Shi‘a nor Sunni.” Written under this premise, the book in hand should clarify some common questions and inquiries about the philosophy and practice of Shi‘a Islam. The Shi‘a and Sunni schools of thought differ primarily in jurisprudence and have far more similarities than differences. Every school of thought in Islam must be respected because they all can lead people to salvation.
Shias in Iraq are of different ethnic roots.Arabs, Kurds, Shabakis and Turkmen are being hunted by the takfiri terrorists both for their ethnic descent as well as their religious beliefs.
Some verses of the holy Qur’an consider gratefulness to God as a requisite for having faith in God and serving Him. Other verses have in different ways encouraged or recommended people to be grateful to God.
The 5th of Sha'ban, in the year 38 after Hejira marks the birth anniversary of Imam Ali ibn Hussein, Zainu'l-Abedin (AS).
Like his grandfather, Zainu'l-Abedin (AS) was busy cultivating land and palm-date orchards. He offered two raka'ts of prayer near each palm-date tree. During the prayers he would get he so absorbed that he did not have any attention towards anything but God. He traveled from Medina to Mecca twenty times on foot. He continuously guided people through the melody of Qur'anic verses.
By: Ayatullah al-Uzma Naser Makarem Shirazi
WITHOUT RESURRECTION, LIFE IS VOID
WE BELIEVE that all men and women will be raised up in a certain day after death. They all will be judged, and those who are good and virtuous shall live in PARADISE (THE GARDEN OF BLISS), and the sinners will join the fire in Hell.
"Allah, there is no God but He. Of a surety He will gather you all together in the resurrection day about which there is no doubt, and whose word can be truer than Allah?"
THE HOLY QURAN _ S4: 87
