Life History of Ahle Bayt and Their Families (as)

Imam Muhammad Baqir (as)

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s) was born in the 58th year of the Hijra, on the third day of the month of safar, in the city of Medina. His honoured father is Imam Sajjad and his revered mother, Fatema, daughter of Imam Hassan (a.s). Imam Sajjad (a.s), according to the command of Allah and the decree of the prophet, appointed his son, Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, to Imamate and leadership of the people, and introduced him as such.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s), like the other Imams, in knowledge and science had no equal. Great learned men benefited from his knowledge and science and used to ask him to solve their problems.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s) instructed people in percepts of religion, taught them the ethics of life, and used to strive very hard to educate, culture and guide the people. During the course of his life, he taught the people thousands of theological and religious principles, as well as scientific subjects, and his teachings have been handled down to us. His wisdom and learning was so much that he was called Baqir ul-ulum, which means "the opener of sciences".

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s), lived in this world for a period of 57 years, and in the 114th year of the Hijra, on the seventh day of the month of Zul-Hijjah, in Medina he left this world. His body was buried in Baqi cemetry alongside the graves of Imam Hassan and Imam Sajjad (a.s) in Medina.

Imam Ali al-Hadi (as)

Our tenth Imam is al-Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s), who is also called al-Imam Ali-al-Naqi. He was born to al-Imam Muhammad al-Jawad (a.s) on 15th Dhul al Hijjah, in one of the villages around Medina. According to the Divine decree and the command of the Prophet (s.a.w), al-Imam Muhammad al-Jawad designated Ali al-Hadi (a.s) as his successor, the Imam and leader of the people after himself.

Like his father, al-Imam Ali al-Hadi (a.s) attained the position of Imamate at a very tender age, and in this position he guided and led the people.

From his early childhood al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) was a perfect model of Islam. He was free of all faults and defects, and was adorned with all good qualities and virtues. It was for this reason that the people called him al- "Naqi" which means pure and holy, and al- "Hadi" which means guide.

With great determination and effort al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) worked hard to guide the people, and he taught them the correct manner of living. The people were extremely fond of him, and they benefited greatly from his guidance, his knowledge and his awareness. Through him they found the right path in life.

Al-Mutawwakkil, the bloodthirsty Abbasid tyrant, was envious towards al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) and fearful of the Imam's powerful influence. For this reason he summoned the Imam from al-Madinah to Samarra, in present day Iraq, and placed him under surveillance in an army camp.

Al-Imam al-Hadi (a.s) lived in this world for forty years. He was always opposed to the oppression of the ruling Abbasids, and used to condemn their tyranny and oppression. The result was that on 3rd Rajab, 254 A.H, he was martyred in Samarra through poison. His sacred body was buried in Samarra. May eternal peace be upon him.

Hazrat Muslim ibne Akeel (as)

Imaam Hussain's caravan left Madina on 28th Rajab, 60 A.H. and reached Mecca on the fourth of Shabaan. Imaam had not yet made up his mind on where to go. For the time being he decided to stay in Mecca at least until the month of Dhul-Hajj and perform the pilgrimage.

The people of Kufa in Iraq heard of what had happened in Madina. Kufa was an important Shiah centre. The Shiahs there had long suffered under Muawiya. They feared even greater sufferings under Yezid. They felt that slowly Islam would be totally destroyed by the greed for power and glory of these two men.

They were anxious to preserve the teachings of the Holy Prophet. They needed an Imaam who would teach the tafseer of the Holy quraan and relate to them the true sayings, ahaadees, of the Holy Prophet.They a held a meeting in the house of Sulayman bin Surad and decided to write a letter to Imaam Hussain inviting him. In this letter they wrote: "We invite you to come to Kufa as we have no Imaam to guide us. Through you Allah will unite us on the path of truth."

A messenger took the letter to Mecca and gave it to Imaam Hussain. A few days later the people of Kufa sent an emissary, a special messenger, to Imaam to persuade him to go to Kufa. His name was Qais ibne Musheer as-Saydawi.

There followed hundreds of other letters and many special emissaries from the people of Kufa to Imaam Hussain.The Governor in Kufa was a man called Nu'amaan bin Basheer. Although he was a follower of Muawiya and Yezid, he was not by nature a cruel man. The people of Kufa believed that Imaam would be safe in Kufa.

When Imaam Hussain received so many petitions and messages from Kufa he decided to send Hazrat Muslim as his emissary to Kufa to study the situation there and report to Imaam. Imaam would go only if there would be no danger to the people of Kufa or to Imaam or any of his companions or family.

He wrote a letter to the people of Kufa and gave it to Hazrat Muslim. In this letter Imaam said, "I am sending my cousin and one of the most trusted ones from my family, Muslim ibne Aqeel, to report to me about your affairs. If his report agrees with what you have writ_ten I will soon be with you. You must be clear of the fact that the Imaam is only one who follows the book of Allah, and serves Allah in all matters and affairs with justice, honesty and truth."

Who was Muslim ibne Aqeel? He was the son of Aqeel ibne Abu Taalib. He was a famous warrior. He married Ruqayya binti Ali, Imaam's sister through another mother. We know of his four children. Abdullah aged about 15 years, Muhammad who was about ten years old, Ibraheem who was eight and young Ruqayya who was just five or six. All these children had travelled with their parents and were in Mecca.

As Hazrat Muslim was preparing for the journey, Imaam Hussain went to him and said: "Muslim, the whole world knows that you are one of the bravest warriors. It is just possible that seeing you in Kufa some people may think that our intention is to fight Yezid. Take your two sons Muhammad and Ibraheem with you. When they see you with such young children, they will know that our intentions are peaceful.

Hazrat Muslim and his two sons said good-bye to all and left Mecca. Their journey through the desert in the heat of summer was very difficult.

They arrived in Kufa towards the end of Dhul Qaad. They were received extremely well by the people of Kufa. Very soon more than eighteen thousand people appeared before Hazrat Muslim and pledged their allegiance to Imaam Hussain as their Imaam.

Hazrat Muslim reported to Imaam Hussain that most of the people in Kufa were ready to receive him as their Imaam and advised that Imaam should proceed to Kufa. Amongst the people of Kufa there were many spies employed by Yezid to report to him direct. When Yezid heard from them of the invitations to Imaam Hussain and the arrival in Kufa of Hazrat Muslim he was filled with fury.

He sent a message to his Governor in Basrah, Ubaydullah ibne Ziyad, to go to Kufa and take over the position of Nu'amaan ibne Basheer. Ibne Ziyad was also told to arrest Muslim and kill him and do all that was necessary to suppress the Shiahs in Kufa.

Ibne Ziyad was a cruel and unjust man. He arrived in Kufa on the evening of 2nd Dhul Hajj. On the following day he went to the mosque and addressed the people of Kufa. He first announced his appointment as Yezid's governor. He then threatened any one who was engaged in any activity against the government with immediate death, and ordered them to surrender Hazrat Muslim to him.

Ibne Ziyad sealed Kufa in such a way that no one could go in or out of the city without the governor's permission.

At this time Hazrat Muslim was staying with Al Mukhtar. At the invitation of Hani bin Urwah, another leading member of the Shiah community, he moved to Hani's house. This was done secretly and except for a few people no one knew where Hazrat Muslim was. Through a spy who pretended to be a Shiah, Ibne Ziyad found out where Hazrat Muslim was. Hani was arrested and thrown into prison. Not wishing to endanger the lives of his friends, Hazrat Muslim and his two sons left Hani's house.

He left the children with Qadhi Shurayb, a judge, and went into the desert to try and get back to Imaam Hussain to warn him not to go to Kufa. This was the seventh of Dhul Hajj. That whole day and the following day Hazrat Muslim tried to get out of the city. He found all the exists sealed and guarded by Ibne Ziyad Soldiers.

On the eighth, late in the evening, tired, hungry and exhausted, Hazrat Muslim knocked at the door of a house on the outskirts of the city. A lady opened the door. Hazrat Muslim requested for a little water to quench his thirst. The lady gave him water. When she learnt who he was, she invited him in and offered him shelter for the night. This lady was called Tau'aa. She gave Hazrat Muslim some food and water and took him to a room where he might spend the night.

Late that night Tau'aa's son came home. When he learnt that the man Ibne Ziyad was looking for was in his mother's house, he felt that he would be rewarded by the governor if he got Hazrat Muslim arrested. Unknown to his mother he slipped out in the darkness of the night and gave the information to a captain in ibne Ziyad army.Early the next morning, five hundred soldiers surrounded the house of Tau'aa and demanded Hazrat Muslim's surrender. Hazrat Muslim came out holding his sword. Three times he drove the enemy away. Twice Ibne Ziyad had to send in reinforcements.

While Hazrat Muslim was fighting, some soldiers went up the rooftops and began throwing stones and lighted torches at him. Others dug a trench in the path of Hazrat Muslim and covered it with grass. Although badly wounded and totally exhausted, Hazrat Muslim kept on fighting. Then he fell into the trench. More than fifty soldiers pounced upon him and chained him. He was dragged to the court of Ibne Ziyad.

Ibne Ziyad told Hazrat Muslim that he would be killed and asked him if he had any last wishes. Hazrat Muslim said: "I owe a debt which should be discharged by selling off my sword and armour. Secondly I want my body to be given a proper burial. Thirdly I want a message sent to Imaam Hussain advising him not to come to Kufa." Ibne Ziyad agreed to the first request but refused to do anything about the second and third requests. He then ordered Hazrat Muslim to be taken to the roof of the palace to be executed and his body thrown to the ground.

Hazrat Muslim was calm and composed as he was dragged up the steps. He was reciting "Allahu Akber" until the last moment. Then there was an absolute silence followed by a thud as Hazrat Muslim's body fell to the ground.

This was on 9th Dhul Hajj. Immediately after Hazrat Muslim was killed Hani bin Urwah was dragged to the roof top and executed.

Hazrat Muhmammad and Ibrahim (as)

Hazrat Muslim had taken with him his two sons Muhammad and Ibraheem. After Hazrat Muslim was killed, Muhammad and Ibraheem were also arrested and put into a dungeon. It is said that Muhammad was just eight years old and Ibraheem was ten years old.

On the 20th of Dhul-Hajj in 60 Hijrah, when the jailer came to give the children their evening meal, he saw them saying their prayers. The jailer waited. When the boys had finished their prayers, he asked them who they were. When the jailer learnt that they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel and the grandsons of Hazrat Ali, he let them escape.The children came out of the prison.

It was a dark night. Their first thought was to go to Imaam Hussain and warn him not to go to Kufa. Everywhere they went, they found the roads blocked by Ibne Ziyad soldiers. It was impossible to get out of Kufa. Now it was almost day-break. Where could these two young boys go?

They found themselves by the side of the river Euphrates. They drank some water from the river and then went up a tree to hide for the day. Just then a woman came to the river to get water. She saw the two young boys and asked them who they were. Ibraheem said, "We are two orphans, could you please leave us alone and not tell any one that you have seen us?" The woman asked them to accompany her to her mistress who would help them.

The woman's mistress was a kind lady. After talking to the boys for a while she realized who they were. She gave them food and said to them, "You can spend the day here and I will try to help you. Unfortunately my husband Harith is working for Ibne Ziyad. He is out at the moment. You can rest in the spare room but make no noise otherwise when he comes back, he will find out you are here".

The children said their prayers and went to sleep. In the evening Muhammad woke up and started crying. Ibraheem asked him why he was crying. Muhammad said "I saw our father in a dream. He was calling out for us". Ibraheem said, "Brother, be patient. I also saw our father in a dream beckoning us to him". They both started weeping.

Harith, who had come back heard the children crying. He opened the door and asked the children who they were. On learning they were the sons of Muslim Ibne Aqeel, he tied both the boys to a pillar. Harith's wife tried to stop him, but he beat her up. Harith wanted to collect the reward which Ibne Ziyad had offered to anyone capturing the children.

The children spent the whole night tied to the pillar. In the morning Harith dragged them to the river-bank. He took out his sword. Ibraheem asked him, "Harith, are you going to kill us?". Harith said "Yes !". Ibraheem said, "In that case give us time to finish our morning prayers". The two boys said their prayers.

They raised their hands and cried out "Inna Lillaah wa Inna IIay-hi Rajeeoon! O Allah we are coming to you. Give our mother courage when she hears of our death and judge between us and our killers!!" The sword came down! There were splashes in the water. Two young bodies were seen floating away in the waters of the river Furaat.

Imam Ali (as) - Our First Imam

Born inside the Holy Kaaba in Mecca on Friday the 13th Rajab, 30 Amulfeel, 11th October 599 A.D. His father was Hazrat Abu Talib, his mother was Bibi Fatema Binte Asad, his wife was Bibi Fatema Binte Muhammad and he was the father of Imam Hassan (AS), Imam Hussein (AS), Bibi Zaynab (AS) and Bibi Kulthum (AS).

At the age of twelve, Imam Ali (AS) was the only one who stood up and declared his allegiance and full support for the Prophet Muhammad's (SAW) mission. In return, the Prophet blessed Imam Ali (AS) and said, From now on you are my helper, my Wazeer and the Khaliph after me on Earth. History bears witness that all his life Imam Ali (AS) fulfilled this pledge and supported the Prophet of Islam in his mission.

On the famous night of the migration of the Prophet (SAW) from Mecca to Medina, when 40 swordsmen were preparing to murder the Holy Prophet (SAW), Imam Ali (AS) occupied the Prophet's bed while the Prophet, on instructions from Allah (SWT), escaped their evil intentions in the darkness of the night.

In Medina Imam was always with the Prophet and his presence was felt at every battle that was fought to defend Islam: Badr, Ohad, Khandaq, Khayber, Honain were all fought and won under the command of Imam Ali (AS).

He regarded it his duty as the Holy Imam to give advice on religion, to whoever asked him. The famous historial Yaqubi puts Imam Ali's name on the top of the list of jurists at the time of the first three Caliph's. After the death of the third Caliph, Hazrat Uthman (RA) in 36 A.H, people of Medina bespeeched him to accept the mantle of Caliphat, which he reluctantly accepted saying that :

Had they not swom unconditional allegiance to me, had they not sworn their gratefulness in my accepting their rulership and had Allah (SWT) the Almighty not taken a promise from the guides of religion to put a check on the luxurious and vicious lives of the oppressors and tyrants, as well as to reduce poverty and starvation of the oppressed, I would even now have left the rulership of the State and would have allowed it to sink into anarchy and chaos as i did in the early days. The pomp and glory of a vicious life is to me worth less than the sneeze of a goat.

Bibi Khadija (as)

Bibi Khadija's father was a merchant like most of the tribe of Quraysh in Makka. He sent caravans to other cities to trade in the summer and winter. Her mother and father both died within 10 years of each other. Their wealth was divided amongst the children but it was bibi khadija who took over the family business and expanded it. With the profit she made she helped the poor, widows, orphans, sick and the disabled people of Makka.

She had a cousin called Waraqa bin Naufal who was very learned man and who was not an idol worshipper. Both Waraqa and Bibi Khadija believed in one Allah.

Becauise of her excellent Akhlaq the Arabs (who at that time used to look down upon women) called her Tahira - the pure one. She was also known as the 'princess of Makka' because of her wealth. A lot of Arab nobles and princess wanted to marry her but she refused all of them.

In 595 AD, Bibi Khadija was looking for someone to be in charge of her caravan to Syria. Abu Talib suggested the Prophet to her. She had heard of his trustworthiness and agreed to employ him although he did not have much trading experience. To help him she sent her slave Maysara. The trading caravan was a great success and when Bibi Khadija heard of the Prophet's skills and excellent conduct, she became his admirer.

Soon it was arranged for Bibi Khadija to be married to the Prophet (S.A.W). Abu Talib read the Nikah on behalf of the Prophet whilst Waqara read it for Bibi Khadija. Abu Talib paid the mehr for his nephew and fed the people of Makka for 3 days in celebration. Bibi Khadija too fed the people. The marriage was a very happy one and their first child was a son called Qasim. The second was Abdullah. Both died in infancy. Their third and last child was Bibi Fatema Zahra (A.S).

When the Prophet used to go to meditate in the cave of Hira on Jabel An Noor, it was Bibi Khadija herself who would climb up there to give him his food and necesseries. Bibi Khadija was the first person to accept Islam as taught by the Prophet (S.A.W).

In 616 AD, the Quraysh isolated the Bani Hashim (the family of the Prophet) and they took refuge ina ravine called Shib e' Abu Talib. Bibi Khadija was there too and it was her wealth (which she donated for Islam) that sustained the Muslims at that time. The seige lasted for 3 years during which time they experienced hunger, thirst, and the cold and heat of the desert.

In 619 AD, Bibi Khadija died. When she died nothing was left of her wealth. Abu Talib died in this year too. The Prophet called the year Aamul Huzn (the year of grief).

Imam Hassan Askari - A Brief Look at his Life Name: Hassan. Title: Al-Askery. Kuniyya: Abu Muhammad. Birth: 10th Rabi-ul Aakher 232 a.h. in Madina. Mother: Bibi Sulail (or Hudaitha). Father: Imam Ali un Naqi (a.s.) Death: 8th Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. in Saamarra Buried: In Saamarra.

Birth & Childhood

When he was born his father said that it was an order from the prophet s.a.w. that he should be named Hasan. It was so well known that the last Imams father would be called Hasan that people had previously looked for the 12th Imam amongst the sons of Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba (a.s.)

His mother was Sulail (or Hudaitha) who was a slave of the 10th Imam whom he had freed and subsequently married. The 10th Imam said of her that she was one who was free from all vice and pollution and that she was one of the righteous ones. After the 11th Imam's martyrdom he left all the "orders" of Imamate with her (his mother).

Once when Imam Hasan Al-Askery (A.S.) was a young child he fell into a well near their house. His father Imam Ali An-Naqi (A.S.) was praying and didn't even notice the commotion around him of the ladies crying. When he finished praying and asked what had happened, he was told. He went towards the well. The water rose and all saw the 11th Imam sitting peacefully on the water and playing.

Bahlool once saw the young Imam crying in the street where all the other children were busy playing with their toys. He asked whether Imam was crying because he had no toys to play with. Imam replied: "We have not been created to play!"

Bahlool asked where he had learnt his from and the Imam said :

"Have you not read the Qur'an where it says - "Do you think we have created you in vain and that you will not be returned to us". When Bahlool heard this he asked Imam for some advice. Imam talked about death, barzakh and qiyama and cried so much, he fainted. When he came to, Bahlool asked him why he was so fearful as he was not even baligh yet. Imam said:

"I have watched my mother light a fire; she uses the little twigs to get the big pieces of wood to burn; I fear that on qiyama Allah too will use little ones to light the big ones.

Title: Al-Askery

The 10th and 11th Imamayn were both called Al-Askery as they lived in an area of Samarra called Askery.

Another reason that the 11th Imam was called Askery is said to be that once Mutawakkil wanted to show the Imam the strength of his army of 90,000 men and so he asked his men to fill their sacks with sand and pile all the sacks up. He then showed Imam this mountain of sacks. Imam asked Mutawakkil, to look through his (Imam's) two fingers, where he saw a an army of armed Angels. Imam told him that they were at his disposal but he would not use them. (An army is called Askery).

Life & Works

Ahmed Bin Ishaq relates that when he heard of the death of the 10th Imam he went to Samarra and asked for the whereabouts of the 11th Imam. He was told that Imam had been imprisoned by Mo'taz Billah. After bribing the guards he was able to visit Imam one night. He described the prison as a tunnel under the Khalifa's home where there was no space to stretch ones legs nor room to be able to stand. Ahmed says he cried when he saw Imams condition. Food was only one glass of water and a piece of dry bread a day.

He was imprisoned because all the rulers knew of the justice that was promised to come with the coming of the 12th Imam and they wished to prevent anyone being born of the 11th Imam. Whilst in prison he told his companions to accumulate all the masails of Fiqh and he completed the masails on the chapters that were found missing.

He introduced the institution of "Taqleed" advising people to follow those who were learned, "Muttaqi", and just, as he was in prison and it was extremely difficult for people to meet him. Khums was collected through his representative and masails too asked to him, Abu-Ja'fer Uthman bin Saeed, who was later to become the representative of the 12th Imam.

There was once a severe drought in Samarra and a Christian priest came who whenever he raised his hands caused rain to fall from the heavens. The Muslims faith started wavering and the Khalifa Mo'taz Billah got worried for if they left Islam he would have none to rule over.

He went to the 11th Imam saying that Imam's grandfathers religion was in trouble. Imam asked him to call all the people outside Samarra with the Christian priest. He asked the Christian priest to pray for rain. When he raised his hands to pray it started to rain. Imam asked for whatever was in this hands to be taken away and then asked him to pray for rain again.

There was no rain this time. Imam showed that what the priest had in this hand was the bone of a Prophet which whenever placed under the open sky caused it to rain. Imam then prayed for rain and it rained. Mo'taz could not re imprison Imam for some time for when the people saw the miracle they all wanted to visit Imam and asked where they might find him. Imam pointed to the Khalifa and asked them to ask him. Mo'taz told them that Imam was staying at the house where the 10th Imam used to reside.

Bibi Nargis was there and it was in that year that the 12th Imam was born. Imam was allowed out of prison for 13 months after which he was rearrested.

Martyrdom

In the six years of his Imamate several attempts were made on his life. On the 1st of Rabi-ul Awwal 260 a.h. Mo'tamad arranged for Imam to be poisoned in prison and then sent him home. Imam was in great pain and difficulty for 8 days. On the 8th of Rabi-ul Awwal he asked his son, the 12th Imam, to bring him some water and then leave him. He died that day and was given ghusl & kafan by his son, the 12th Imam.

Burial

The funeral prayers were led by the 12th Imam and it was then that a lot of Shia's saw him for the first time. A large number of people attended the funeral and he is buried in Samarra.

Additional Notes

The 11th Imam was once asked of the signs of a mo'min (believer).He listed the following signs.

He is one prays 51 rakaats of salaa daily. He prostates on Khake Shafaa. He wears rings on his right hand. He repeats the verses of Azhan & Ikama. He recites "Bismillah" loudly in Salaa. He prays his Fajr Salaa before the stars disappear and his Dhuhr prayers before the sun starts to decline. He recite Qunoot in Salaa. He dyes his hair and beard. He recites 5 takbirs in Salatul Mayyit.