Imams of al-Baqi': Difference between revisions

'''Imāms of al-Baqiʿ''' (Arabic:{{iarabic|أئمَّة البَقيع}}) refers to those four [[Shiite]] Imams buried in [[al-Baqi' Cemetery]] in [[Medina]] including [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]], [[Imam al-Sajjad (a)]], [[Imam al-Baqir (a)]] and [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]]. The graves of Imams (a) had tombs and shrines built upon them which were [[Demolition of al-Baqi'|demolished]] in [[1344]]/1926 by [[Wahhabis]].  

'''[[Al-Hasan b. Ali (a)]]''': He was the second Shi'a Imam and the son of [['Ali ibn Abi Talib (a)]] and [[Lady Fatima (s)]]. He became Imam and [[caliph]] of Muslims at the age of 37 and agreed to the [[Peace Treaty of Imam al-Hasan (a)|Peace Treaty with Mu'awiya]] in 41/661. Imam al-Hasan (a) was the caliph of Muslims for six months and three days. After the peace treaty Imam (a) moved to [[Medina]] where he lived for ten years and he was martyred there. His body was buried in [[al-Baqi' Cemetery]].<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 168-169.</ref>

'''[[Ali b. al-Husayn (a)]]''': He is known as Imam al-Sajjad (a) and Zayn al-'Abidin is the fourth Imam of Shi'a Muslims. His [[Imamate]] lasted for 34 years. Imam al-Sajjad was present in the [[Battle of Karbala]] and he was imprisoned and moved to [[Kufa]] and [[Syria]] along with other captives. According to Shi'ite narrations, Imam al-Sajjad (a) was poisoned and martyred by the order of [[Walid b. Abd al-Malik]].<ref>Shabrāwī, ''al-Itḥāf bi-ḥubb al-ashrāf'', p. 143.</ref> He is buried next to his uncle's grave Imam al-Hasan (a).<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 138.</ref>

'''[[Ja'far b. Muhammad (a)]]''': He is known as Imam al-Sadiq (a). Imamate of the sixth Shi'a Imam lasted for 34 years. Imam al-Baqir (a) passed away at the age of 65 and he is buried next to his father's grave in al-Baqi' Cemetery.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi imāmān-i Shīʿa'', Imam Sadiq section.</ref>

As [[Ibn Jubayr]], Andalusian Muslims tourist, stated the tombs built on the graves of [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Abbas b. 'Abd al-Muttalib]] were built high.<ref>Ibn Jubayr, ''al-Riḥla'', p. 155.</ref> In addition, [[Ibn Batuta]] (probably narrated from Ibn Jubayr's book) described the tomb on Imam al-Hasan (a) and Abbas's graves as high and glorious,<ref>Ibn Baṭūṭa, ''Safarnāma-yi Ibn Baṭūṭa'', vol. 1, p. 128.</ref> in the first half of the 8th/14th century.  

Based on the travel accounts of Farhad Mirza al-Qajar in 1293/1914 and Muhammad Husayn Khan Farahani in 1303/1924, tombs and shrines were built on the graves of the four Shi'a Imams in [[Al-Baqi' Cemetery]] before their demolition.<ref>Farhānī, ''Safarnāma-yi mīrzā Muḥammad Ḥusayn Ḥusaynī Farāhānī'', p. 228-234.</ref>

The tombs and shrines built on the graves of Imams were demolished by [[Wahhabis]] in 1221/1805 However [['Abd al-Hamid II]], an Ottoman Sultan ordered to rebuild the shrines. But again they were demolished by the orders of Amir Muhammad the governor of [[Medina]] and his father's order [['Abd al-'Aziz]] Saudi king.<ref>Najmī, ''Tārīkh-i ḥaram-i Aʾimma'', p. 51.</ref>