To the Highest Paradise
The poison acted quickly on the body of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. So, death approached fast. During his last hours, he gathered all his feelings and sentiments, and cleaved to Allah, the Most High. He began reciting the Holy Koran. He asked Allah's forgiveness. While his tongue busy praising Allah, death came to him. So, his great matchless soul ascended to its Creator after it had enlightened the cultural scientific life in Islam. When the Ima`m died, the most wonderful stage of the Islamic message,
which provided the Islamic community with the elements of awareness, development, and prosper, ended.
His Preparation (for Burial)
Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, prepared the holy body for burial. He washed it and shrouded it. He was weeping bitter tears for the missing of his father, who was the best person under the sky in knowledge, outstanding merits, and devoutness.
His Burial
The people carried the great body from al-Hamima.
2 They gathered around it. They were shouting: "There is no god but Allah! Allah is Great!" They were happy to touch the coffin of the Ima`m. They were mentioning the laudable and favors of Ima`m Abu Ja'far
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1. Usul al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 307.
2. Al-Hummayma was the name of a village putside Medina. 'Ali b. al'Abbas and his sons owned the village during the time of the Umayyad givernment. Ibn Tolon has mentioned that in his book, Tarikh al-A'imma al-Ithna 'Ashar, p. 281."
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(al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. Then they reached at Baqi' al-Gharqad. They dug a grave alongside the grave of his father, Zayn al-'Abidin, the greatest Ima`m, peace be on him, and besides his great-uncle, Ima`m al-Hasan, the Lord of the Youth of Heaven, peace be on him. Then Ima`m al-Sa`diq buried his father in his final resting place. He buried with him knowledge, clemency, and kindness to people.
The death of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, was the greatest loss for the Moslems then. For they missed the leader, the pioneer, and the guide, who spared no effort to spread knowledge and cultural awareness among Moslems.
His Holy Age
The historians and narrators have differed over his holy age. The following are
some of their views:
1. He died at the age of 73.
1
2. He died at the age of 63.
2
3. He died at the age of 61.
3
4. He died at the age of 60.
4
5. He died at the age of 58.
5
6. He died at the age of 56.
6
7. He died at the age of 55.
7
The narrators fully know that the Ima`m, peace be on him, died at the age of 58. One of the above-mentioned narrations indicates that.
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1. Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63. Ibn 'Asakir, Tarikh, vol. 51, p. 39. Ibn al-Jawzi, al-Muntazam, vol. 7, Abi al-Fida', Tarikh, vol. 1, p. 214. Ibn al-Athir, Tarikh, vol. 4, p. 217. Ibn al-Wardi, Tarikh, vol. 1, p. 184.
2. Abi Ishaq al-Shirazi, Tabaqat al-Fuqaha', p. 36.
3. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 11, p. 63.
4. Al-Fakhuri, Mukhtasar Tarikh al-Islam, p. 85.
5. Al-Shaykhani, al-Sirat al-Sawi, p. 94, Tarikh al-Khamis, vol.2, p. 319. Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63.
6. Tarikh al-A'imma, p. 5.
7. Al-Nafha al-Anbariya.
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The Year of his Death
The historians differed over the year in which the Ima`m died. The following are
some of their views:
1. He died in the year 127 A. H.
1
2. He died in the year 118 A. H.
2
3. He died in the year 117 A. H.
3
4. He died in the year 116 A. H.
4
5. He died in the year 114 A. H.
5
6. He died in the year 113 A. H.
6
These are some of the views the historians have mentioned. It is famous that Ima`m
al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, died in the year 114A.H.
The Moslems condoled Ima`m al-Sa`diq.
The Moslems were full of sadness. So, they hurried to Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on
him, to condole with
him on the death of his father. Among the condolers was Sa`lim b. Abi Hafsa, who said: "I said to my companions: 'Wait for me. For I want to go to Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq) to condole with him on the death of his father.’ I went to him and condoled with him and said to him: 'To Allah we belong and to Him is our
return. By Allah, the one who used to say: 'Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said,’ has passed away. He was not asked about what was between him and Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. I have never seen the like of him." He Sa`lim added: "Ima`m Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him, kept silent for an hour. Then he turned to his companions and said to them: Allah, the Great and Almighty said: 'Some of My servants give part of a date as alms. So, I
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1. Al-Fakhuri, Mukhtasar Tarikh al-Islam, p. 85.
2. Khalifa Khayyat, Tarikh, vol. 2, p. 236.
3. Safwat al-Safwa, vol. 2, p. 63.
4. Ibn al-Wardi, Tarikh, vol. 1, p. 184. Abi al-Fida', Tarikh, vol. 1, p. 214.
5. 'Imam al-Din al-Asfahani, al-Bustan al-Jami'. Al-Nafha al-'Anbariya. Shadharat al-Dhahab, vol. 1, p. 149.
6. Wajjdi, Da'irat al-Ma'arif, vol. 3, p. 563.
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will grow (the alms) for them, as they grow the foal.’
Then Sa`lim went out. He admired Ima`m Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him. Hence, he turned to his companions and said to them: "I have not seen (any person) more wonderful than this (Ima`m). We regarded as great Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, who used to say without any authority: 'Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, said.’ Abu` 'Abd Allah (al-Sa`diq), peace be on him, said to me without an authority: 'Allah said.’"
1
Ima`m al-Sa`diq, peace be on him, took his traditions from his fathers, who took their sciences from their grandfather, Allah’s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family.
With this I will end my talk about the life of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him. Before I turn this last page, I would like to underline that this book, thought comprehensive, has not encompassed the life of Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him. Rather, it sheds light on some of the aspects of his character. As for encompassing his character and recording his sciences, his wonderful wise sayings, and his excellent literature, they surely require a large encyclopedia. Before I see off gentle readers, I would like to
thank my brother Shaykh Ha`di al-Qarashi for his valuable notes concerning the chapters of this book. In this connection, I would like to thank my son 'Abd al-Husayn, who encouraged me to serve the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. It is an act of kindness to end my book with the following commandments of Ima`m Abu` Ja'far (al-Ba`qir), peace be on him, to his student Mohammed b. Moslem: "Do not let the people deceive you (with vain hopes). For the affair will come to you without them. Do not let the day prevent so-and-so from you. For there is with you the one who counts against you. Consider not as small the good deed you do. For you will see it where it pleases you. Consider not as small the evil deed you do. For you will see it where it displeases you.
Do good (to people). For the good deed erases the past sin. The fear of Allah is not in long worship. Rather, the fear of Allah is in refraining from the suspicion.
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1. Al-Shaykh al-Tusi, al-Amali, p. 125.
