Imam for 19 years: Imam al-Baqir (as) became the Imam after his father's passing, around 95 AH. He led the community for about 19 years, until around 114 AH.
A time of change: His time was one of great change. The Umayyad government was becoming weak. Rulers were busy fighting each other, so they watched the family of the Prophet (saww) a little less closely than before.
A school, not a rebellion: Imam al-Baqir (as) used this opening wisely. He did not start a rebellion. Instead, he opened a school of knowledge in Madina, where students from many lands came to learn.
Buried in Jannat al-Baqi: He passed away in Madina, around 114 AH, and is buried in Jannat al-Baqi, next to his father Imam Sajjad (as) and his uncle Imam Hasan (as).
Example
A door opens: When a door opens even a little, a wise person walks through it to do good. Imam al-Baqir (as) used a time of political change to open the door of knowledge.
Key Terms
- Jannat al-Baqi (جنت البقیع) — the historic graveyard of Madina
- Umayyads (بنو امیہ) — the ruling family, growing weak in this period
- Imamate of 19 years — from about 95 AH to about 114 AH
Fresh diagram to be drawn: Timeline — 57 AH birth → 61 AH Karbala as a child → about 95 AH becomes Imam → about 114 AH passing away in Madina.
- Imam al-Baqir (as) became Imam around 95 AH and led for about 19 years.
- The Umayyad government was weakening, which gave him some room to teach.
- He is buried in Jannat al-Baqi in Madina.