Father: Imam Ali al-Sajjad
Mother: Umme Abdullah, the daughter of Imam Hasan
Kunniyat (Patronymic): Abu Jafar
Title: Al-Baqir
Birth: The Holy Imam was born in the holy city of Madina on first day of the month of Rajab in the year 57 A.H
Martyrdom: The Holy Imam was martyred in Madina by poisoning in the year 114 A.H. and was buried at Baqi cemetery beside his holy father
The Birth of Imam Muhammad Baqir
The members of the House (Ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, received the baby with much rejoicing and pleasure. They were very happy with him, for he was in whom the elements of the two grandsons (of the Prophet), al-Hasan and al-Husayn, mixed.
Those noble origins through which Allah strengthened the Arabs and the Moslems mixed in him, too. As for the noble backbones and the pure from which he branched, they are:
His Mother
As for his mother, she was a pure chaste woman. She was Fatima, the daughter of Imam al-Hasan, the Lord of the youth of Heaven. She was given the kunya (agnomen) of Umm Abd Allah (the mother of Abd Allah).
She was among the Hashimite women. Imam Zayn al-Abidin called her al-Siddiqa (the very truthful one). It is enough for her highness that she was part of the plant of the sweet basil of the Apostle of Allah (i. e. Imam al-Hasan), and that she grew up in the houses which Allah permitted to be exalted and that His name may be remembered in them. She brought up Imam al-Baqir, peace be on him, in her pure lap. She poured upon him rays of her pure soul. She fed him with her noble ideas that became part of his qualities.
His Father
His father Imam Zayn al-Abidin was the Lord of the Prostrators (in worship) and ornament of the worshipers. He was the best of all the Moslem figures in jurisprudence, knowledge, and religious piety.
The Great Baby
The world shone on the birthday of the pure Imam (Mohammed al-Baqir). The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, had given good news to him before his birth. The members of the House (Ahl al-Bayt), waited for him impatiently. That is because he was among the Imams of Moslems. Namely, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, nominated those Imams.
He made them leaders for his community and related them to the Koran. Imam Mohammed al-Baqir was born in Medina, on the third day of the month of Safar, in the year 56 A. H. It was said (that he was) on Friday, during the early days of the month of Rajab. He was born three years before his grandfather, Imam Husayn, peace be on him, was killed. It was said (that he was born) four years, as he, peace be on him, said, (before the martyrdom oh his grandfather). It was also said (that he was born) two years and some months (before the murder of his grandfather). The last date is unusual. No one accepts it. The religious rituals such as adhan and iqama in his ears were performed for him when he was born. Other rites were also performed for him on the seventh day of his birth: His hair was shaved. The weight of his cut hair in sliver was given to the needy as alms. A ram was sacrificed for him and was given to the poor as alms.
He was born during the time of Muawiya. At that time, the Islamic countries were full of oppression. Moreover, they were full of disasters and misfortunes. That was because of the oppression of Muawiya and the injustice of his governors who spread terrorism and oppression in the country. Imam al-Baqir talked about that dreadful injustice.
His Name
His grandfather, Allah`s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family, named him Mohammed. He also gave him the Kunya of al-Ba`qir. That was ten years before al-Baqir was born. That was among the Prophet`s prophecies, as some researchers said. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, knew from the unseen that his grandson would do such as proclaiming knowledge among his community. Thus, he gave good news to his community about him. He also sent him his greetings through the great Companion (of the Prophet), Ja`bir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari. We will mention that in the following (chapters). His Title He had only one kunya. It was Abu Jafar. He was called by the name of his son, Jafar al-Sadiq, peace be on him, who renewed the life of this community and split open the fountains of wisdom in the earth.
His Features
Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari said that his features were similar to those of Allah`s Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. His morals were also similar to the Prophet`s high ones that distinguished him from the other prophets. Some contemporary people have described Imam al-Baqir as follows: He was a man of medium height. He was brown. He had soft skin with moles. He had a thin waist. His voice was good. He always bowed his head.
His Early Childhood
Imam al-Baqir, peace be on him, was clever and genius during his childhood. The reporters said that Jabir b. Abd Allah al-Ansari, though an old man, came to him, sat before him, and learned from him. Jabir admired the Imam-s abundant knowledge and sciences. Thus, he said: "Baqir, you have been given wisdom while you are still a boy. The Companions (of the Prophet) knew that the Imam was endowed with outstanding merits and abundant knowledge. Therefore, they consulted him concerning the problems, which they did not understand. The historians said that a man Abd Allah b. Umar about a certain problem. However, Abd Allah could not answer the problem. So, he said to the man: "Go to that boy, he pointed at Imam al-Baqir, ask him, and tell me about his answer." The man went to the Imam and asked him. The Imam, peace be on him, answered his problem. Thus, the man came back to Abd Allah b. Umar and told him about the Imam`s answer. So, the latter admired the Imam, saying: "They are the knowledgeable members of the House. Allah singled out the Imams of the members of the House, peace be on them, with knowledge and outstanding merits. He granted them absolute perfection, which He had granted to His prophets and His apostles. The historians said that the Ima`m was nine years of age when he was asked about difficult problems and answered them.
His Residence
The Imam, peace be on him, resided in Medina throughout his life. He did not leave it for another city. In it, he was the first teacher and great pioneer for scientific cultural movements. He used the Prophetic Mosque as school for him. There he gave his lectures to his students.
Source: imamreza.net