On the occasion of the birthday of Imam Baqir (A) we are going to take an important lesson from him concerning the Shiite principles.
The fifth infallible imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A) was born in the 57th year of the Hijra (676/AD) on Friday the first day of the month of Rajab, in the city of Medina, and he was martyred in (733/AD). [1] On the occasion of his birthday we are going to have a brief look at one of his traditions and abundant wisdom which are reported from this infallible Imam. He is the one who splits open knowledge and highly respected by Sunni Muslims for his knowledge and Islamic scholarship as a leading jurist of Medina. [2]
One of the most important lessons that all the followers of this infallible Imam (A) must take from him is that according to him (A) no one could consider himself as a Shiite and true Muslim except for those who obeys the Almighty Allah (J). Imam al-Baqir (A) says the best follower of the infallible Imams (A) is the one "who obeys Allah (J), and the one who disobeys Allah then he is an enemy for us (Ahlul-Bayt)." [3]
From the mentioned narration of Imam Baqir (A) it can be understood that even if a son of the Imam (A) does not obey the Almighty Allah (J) then he cannot be considered as a true Muslim, rather, he would be the enemy of the infallible Imams. It is really one of the most crucial criterions that must be taken into consideration while studying Shiite Islam and the traditions of the infallible Imams; Because, some of the opponents of the Shiite religion might accuse this religion of being a racial and ethnic religion, which is based on the tribal or racial values.
Since all the twelve Infallible Imams are the progeny of the holy prophet of Islam (P) and Shiite Muslims respect the progeny of the Prophet (P) it might be miss understood that Shia as a school of thought or religion that favors racial values over Islamic principles. But it must be explained that a true and respected Muslim, according to the Shiite teachings, is just the one who obey Allah and follow Quran as well as the prophet and his successors.
Notes:
[1] See: A Brief History of The Fourteen Infallibles. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. 2004. p. 117.
[2] Tabatabai, Muhammad Husayn (1975). Shiite Islam. Translated and Edited by Seyyed Hossein Nasr. State University of New York Press, pp. 68,179.
[8] مَنْ کَانَ لِلّهِ مُطیعَاً فَهُوَ لَنا وَلِیٌّ وَمَنْ کانَ لِلّهِ عاصیاً فَهُوَ لَنا عَدُوٌّ. کافی, ج 2, ص 75