Marja’iyyat as a Legacy of Al-Baqir - Maulana Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi

Shahadat of 5th Imam Muhammad Al Baqir (AS) May 24th 2026 7th Dhul Hijjah1447 Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a) was known as “Baqiru Ulumi ’n-Nabiyyin,” the one who uncovered and spread the knowledge of the prophets through systematic teaching and scholarship. He formally established the training of scholars among his companions, creating a foundation for preserving and transmitting the teachings of Ahlul Bayt (a). The companions documented hadith in notebooks, later organizing them thematically, eventually leading to the famous 400 Usul used by scholars like Shaykh al-Kulayni. This scholarly tradition continued through major Shi‘a scholars such as Shaykh al-Saduq and Shaykh al-Tusi, preserving the teachings of the Imams for future generations. The institution of Marji‘iyyat and the system of ijtihad and taqlid can be traced back to Imam al-Baqir (a) and Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq (a), who trained companions to guide the Shi‘a community. Taqlid is described as a rational practice where non-experts follow qualified scholars in religious matters, similar to how patients rely on doctors for medical guidance. The Qur’an supports seeking guidance from knowledgeable scholars, and Shi‘as are instructed to follow the most learned and capable jurist, known as the Marja‘u ’t-Taqlid. The Imams of Ahlul Bayt (a) repeatedly directed followers to trusted companions such as Muhammad bin Muslim, Abu Basir, Zakariyya bin Adam, and Yunus bin Abd al-Rahman for religious guidance when direct access to the Imam was not possible. Imam Ja‘far as-Sadiq (a) clarified that only jurists who are pious, self-controlled, obedient to Allah, and protect their religion deserve to be followed, condemning blind following of corrupt scholars. Imam al-Baqir (a), an eyewitness to Karbala as a child, carried the tragedy throughout his life. Before his martyrdom by poison on 7 Dhul Hijjah, he requested that marsiya be recited for him in Mina for ten years, keeping the memory and message of Karbala alive. Donate towards our programs today: https://jaffari.org/donate/ Jaffari Community Centre (JCC Live)