THE HOLY QURAN – PART 30

IMAM AL-BAQIR (A.S.) & THE HOLY QURAN-(SECTION 2)

HIS KNOWLEDGE OF QURAN

One of the titles of the fifth Imam of Ahlul-Bayt (as) is that of al-Baqir. Al-Baqir in Arabic has its roots from Baqr, which means ‘to split open’ or ‘to rip open’ or ‘to cut open’. Imam (as) was called al-Baqir because of his profound knowledge of everything including the Holy Quran, which he (as) had inherited from his grandfather, the Messenger of Allah and which, he (as) split open to impart to others.

Imam al-Baqir (as) himself has been quoted saying: “We have been taught the language of the birds and bestowed with knowledge of everything”.

                                                                          (Manaqib Aali Abi Talib)

Jabir bin Abdullah al-Ansari (r.a.) has narrated:

[The Holy Prophet (saww) had told me, “O Jabir! I hope you be alive till you meet a son from the progeny of my grandson al-Husayn whose name shall be Muhammad. He will split open the knowledge of religion and impart it to others. O Jabir! When you meet him, convey my salutation to him”.

Thereafter, I always searched for this young man. Finally, when I met him, I witnessed the attributes in him, which the Messenger of Allah had described to me. I conveyed the salutation of his grandfather to him and said, “O Baqir (Splitter)! You are the Baqir in truth. You are for certain the one who will split open the knowledge”.] (Ahsan al-Muqaal)

DO NOT INTERPRET QURAN WITH YOUR OPINION

Qutadah bin Da’amah visited Imam al-Baqir (as) and the following conversation ensued between them.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Are you the scholar of the people of Basra?”

Qutadah: “This is what the people say”.

Imam (as): “Do you interpret the Quran with knowledge or with ignorance?”

Qutadah: “Ofcourse I interpret it with knowledge”.

Imam (as): “Alright then, if you are interpreting the Quran with knowledge, I will ask you a question”.

Qutadah: “Please do so”.

Imam (as): “Tell me what does Allah (SWT) mean in the following verse: ‘…And We had ordained the course through them: Travel through them in safety, night and day’.?”

Qutadah: “This refers to one who departs from his home with the intention of visiting the sacred mosque (Masjidul-Haraam). He gathers his provision for the journey and hires his transport all through Halaal means. Such a person is in safety until he returns to his family”.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Take the oath of Allah and tell me. Do you know of any person who has departed from his home for the House of Allah and arranged for his provision and paid for his transportation all through Halaal means yet robbers attacked him, took away his possessions and physically injured him?”

Qutadah: “Yes! Indeed I know of such a person”.

Imam (as): “O Qutadah! Woe unto you! (In such a case) if you are interpreting the Quran with your own opinion then you are misled and have misled the people. And if you are interpreting it from what you have heard from others, then again you are misled and have misled the people. Woe unto you O Qutadah! This verse refers to one who departs for the House of Allah after arranging his provisions and paying for his transportation from Halaal means and in addition, he is also cognizant about our rights (the rights of Ahlul-Bayt) then Allah (SWT) will most certainly incline his heart towards us, just as He (SWT) says: ‘So make the hearts of a part of the people fond of them…’ (14:37) By Allah! We are the answered prayer of Ibrahim (as). Whoever inclines his heart towards us, his Hajj shall be accepted otherwise not. O Qutadah! If one performs Hajj in this manner (as stated) then on the Day of Judgement he shall be safe and protected from the Hell-fire”.

When Qutadah heard this, he said, “By Allah! I will henceforth interpret the Quran as you have taught”. Thereupon, Imam al-Baqir (as) added, “O Qutadah…only he truly understands the Quran whom the Quran addresses”. (Rawdhat al-Kaafi)

mulla@almahdi.org.uk