Birth Anniversary of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p), 1446 A.H.

January 1, 2025

Thursday, January 2nd, 2025, is the 1st of Rajab, 1446 A.H. which marks the birth anniversary of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p)

A Scholar’s Test, An Imam’s Answer

One day, a Christian scholar, known for his intellect and sharp questioning, approached Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p). The scholar, curious and perhaps testing the Imam’s knowledge, began with a pointed question.

“Are you among the learned of this community or the ignorant?” he asked.

Imam al-Baqir (p), known for his humility and wisdom, replied, “I am not among its ignorant ones.”

The scholar, intrigued by this response, sought permission to ask another question. The Imam (p) graciously encouraged him to proceed.

The scholar then posed a theological challenge, “How can you claim that the people of Paradise eat and drink, yet neither defecate nor urinate? What undeniable evidence supports this claim?”

With calm confidence, the Imam (p) offered a response that was both profound and irrefutable: “Does not the fetus in its mother’s womb receive nourishment without defecating or urinating?”

The scholar was stunned. Such a simple yet deeply logical answer had never occurred to him. Amazed by the Imam’s insight, he exclaimed, “Did you not claim that you are not among the scholars of this community?”

Imam al-Baqir (p) smiled gently and replied, “Nor am I among its ignorant ones.”

This brief yet powerful exchange demonstrated the Imam’s mastery of wisdom and his ability to explain profound truths with clarity and humility. The scholar, left in awe, departed with a newfound respect for the Imam and his knowledge.

[Allama al-Majlisi, Bihar al-Anwar, Volume 69, Page 185]

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For more information on Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (p), click here.
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