Al-Qasim b. Muhammad b. Abi Bakr: Difference between revisions

'''Qāsim b. Muḥammad b. Abi Bakr''' was among the elders of the [[Tabi'un|Followers]] and one of the seven scholars of [[Fiqh]] in [[Medina]] at the time of [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]]. He was the father of [[Imam al-Sadiq]]’s (a) mother and among the close and trustworthy [[:category:Companions of Imam al-Sajjad (a)|companions of the fourth]] and [[:category:Companions of Imam al-Baqir (a)|fifth]] [[Imam]]s (a). He has narrated many [[hadith]]s which have been referred to by different narrators.

== His Birth and Lineage ==

Qasim b. Muhammad b. Abi Bakr was born in Medina in 36 AH. His father, Muhammad b. Abi Bakr was son of Abu Bakr, the first caliph. He was Imam Ali’s (a) adopted son and among his special companions. According to a famous report, his mother was daughter of the Yazdegerd III, the last Sasanid king. Thus, Qasim b. Muhammad is regarded cousin of Imam al-Sajjad (a), since it is said that Yazdegerd had three daughters, one of whom married Imam al-Husayn (a), another married Muhammad b. Abi Bakr and the third married ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar.

According to famous historical reports, Qasim b. Muhammad was the father of Imam al-Sadiq’s (a) mother and Umm Farwa, Imam al-Baqir’s (a) wife was one of her daughters. Qasim had two sons whose names were Muhammad and ‘Abd al-Rahman. He also had a daughter whose name was Umm Hakim.

== His Titles and Kunyas ==

For Qasim, two kunyas of Abu Muhammad and Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman have been mentioned. His title is Madani due to his life in Medina.

Qasim b. Muhammad grew up learning from Imam al-Sajjad (a) and was considered among his companions. Some also regard him a student of Imam al-Baqir (a). There are praises and descriptions about him in the words of Imams (a). Imam al-Sadiq (a) regarded him among the three elders who had a great position before Imam al-Sajjad (a). Also, another report says, “Sa’id b. Musayyib, Qasim b. Muhammad and Abu Khalid Kabuli were among narrators and Shia who were trustworthy before Imam al-Sajjad (a).”

It is narrated from Imam al-Rida (a) that about Qasim b. Muhammad and Sa’id b. Musayyib, he said (a), “these two were on the path of Alawi Wilaya and the true Islam.”

Qasim b. Muhammad is among transmitters of hadiths who is reliable and trustworthy in the eyes of both Shia and Sunni scholars. Positive description about him has been mentioned in most Tarajim and Rijal of both groups.

In his Sahih, Bukhari has introduced him the most knowledgeable man of his time.

 

Muhammad b. Sa’d, the author of Tabaqat al-Kubra, quotes from Muhammad b. ‘Umar (Waqidi) and introduces Qasim b. Muhammad a great, trustworthy pious faqih.

Ibn Haban, Ibn Khalkan, Ibn Hijr and some other Sunni scholars have mentioned similar descriptions about Qasim b. Muhammad in their books. These praises suggest the credit of Qasim b. Muhammad before Sunni scholars.

In his Rijal, Shaykh al-Tusi introduces Qasim b. Muhammad among Shia narrators of hadiths.

In his Majalis al-Mu’minin, Qadi Nur Allah Shushtari quotes from Ibn Dawud al-Hilli, among Shia scholars of Rijal, and introduces Qasim b. Muhammad a faqih and scholar among the companions of Imam al-Sajjad (a).

In his Bihar al-Anwar, ‘Allama Majlisi has mentioned Qasim b. Muhammad among Shia trustworthy scholars.

 

Qasim b. Muhammad was so famous in the knowledge of hadith and fiqh that about him Abu al-Zanad said, “I have not seen anyone in tradition more knowledgeable than him.” He was one of the seven scholars of Fiqh in Medina and according to historical reports, he was the reference for answering questions of his time.

Also, his accuracy in keeping and transmitting hadiths is among his characteristics which Rijal scholars have mentioned.

In his Qamus al-Rijal, Muhammad Taqi Shushtari has quoted from Tarikh Ya’qubi that after the martyrdom of Imam al-Hasan (a), when ‘Ayisha, riding a horse, shouted, “I do not allow anyone be buried in the house of the Prophet (s)!” Qasim who was still a teenager went to her and said, “O aunt! The memory of the battle of Jamal is not yet forgotten when you rode a horse! Do you want to do something, people again say, “once again she has got on the horse and has lit fire of another mischief?!”

About the date of his demise, historical reports are different mentioning years between 101, 102, 108 and 112 AH. The more famous report about his demise is in 101 AH in a place called Qudayd between Medina and Mecca. Qasim had made a will that he would be buried with his own clothes.