Remembering Imam Al-Baqir—The Scholar-Martyr Of Ummah Who Combated Extremism And The Extremist Groups (Ghulāt) Within Islam
By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam
6 June 2025
His legacy laid the foundation for balanced Islamic scholarship, calling for truth, justice, and patience as antidotes to extremism and manipulation.
Main Points:
1. Imam al-Baqir fought extremism through knowledge and reform, not violence—emphasizing scriptural understanding, moderation, and spiritual depth.
2. He rejected exaggerated beliefs and extremist groups (Ghulāt), rescued Islamic teachings from distortion, fanaticism, and manipulation, ensuring theological moderation within Islam.
3. He condemned superficial religiosity and corrupt scholars who distorted the Qur'an for political or sectarian gain.
4. He promoted rational faith, ethical leadership, and intellectual resistance against blind following (Taqlid) and misuse of religion by rulers.
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“Whoever among our followers is tested and shows patience, Allah will grant him the reward of a thousand martyrs.”
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (A.S)— the fifth Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt
Yesterday, we solemnly commemorated the martyrdom of Imam Muhammad ibn Ali al-Baqir—the fifth Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt (A.S) — and a towering figure whose life and legacy remain foundational to the intellectual and spiritual traditions of Islam. Imam Baqir (A.S) lived during a time when authentic Islamic beliefs were being eroded. He recognized the dangers of widespread misguidance, especially extremist thoughts and corrupted beliefs and took a proactive role in reviving the spiritual and intellectual foundations of Islam. He set a glaring example in combating extremism and distortions within Islam during a time of significant religious and political upheaval. But his approach was scholarly and spiritual at the same time—intellectual as well as mystical—focusing on purifying Islamic teachings from misinterpretation, distortion, manipulation, excessive and false religiosity. In a time marked by political unrest, theological conflict, and social upheaval, Imam al-Baqir (A.S) stood as a shining beacon of knowledge, integrity, and resistance. His title “Baqir al-‘Uloom” — the one who “splits open knowledge” — was not merely an honorific; it reflected his ability to dissect and illuminate the deepest truths of the Qur’an, Islamic jurisprudence, and theology.
Imam al-Baqir (A.S) fought extremism ideologically, not militarily. He combated the extremist groups not with a military force, but with knowledge, reform, and prophetic wisdom. His legacy teaches us that the fight against extremism must include the reform of religious discourse, the correction of religious leadership, and the education of the masses. He preached Islam as a religion of balance, not extremes, and his idea of ‘authenticity in belief’ (al-isalah fid-din) lays great emphasis on scriptural knowledge, correct interpretation, patience, and resistance to both tyranny and fanaticism.
Here’s how this scholar-martyr of the Ummah and the fifth Imam of Ahl al-Bayt addressed and countered religious extremism:
Rejecting Excessive Harshness (Ghulu) in Religion
Imam al-Baqir (A.S) openly opposed the trend of extreme piety especially among the clergymen that manifested as unnecessary hardship and social rigidity. When a visitor disapproved of the Imam’s comfortable living conditions, expecting austere poverty from a religious leader, the Imam recited this verse from the Qur’an:
“Who has forbidden the adornment of Allah which He has brought forth for His servants?” (Qur'an 7:32)
This was a direct rebuke to those who saw luxury or beauty as inherently un-Islamic. Here Imam al-Baqir (A.S) emphasizes that moderation and gratitude were more Islamic than self-imposed deprivation.
Condemning Rigidity and Superficial Piety
Imam al-Baqir severely condemned those who reduced religion to appearances—obsessed with outer rituals while lacking inner understanding. Therefore, he warned against the following categories of Ulema and the clerics:
· Scholars who outwardly uphold the Qur'an but distort its meanings to suit political or sectarian agendas.
· Clerics who “preserve the letters of the Qur’an but alter its boundaries,” meaning they maintain the scripture but twist its intent.
· “They are with the powerful and wealthy… their knowledge does not go beyond worldly interests”, he said. (Ref: Rawdat al-Kāfī)
Refusing Exaggerated Claims of Status (Ghulāt)
Imam al-Baqir (A.S) actively distanced himself from the extremist groups within Islam (Ghulāt) who attributed divine or supernatural qualities to the Imams. He rebuked individuals like Mughirah ibn Sa‘id who claimed the Imams had knowledge of the unseen ('ilm al-ghayb) or other divine traits. He refuted such beliefs, knowing they could mislead ordinary Muslims and lead to theological corruption. When Mughirah proposed spreading the belief of his divine knowledge to rally support, Imam al-Baqir expelled him and had him publicly rebuked.
Promoting a Theology of Balance, Knowledge, and Patience
Imam al-Baqir taught that true religiosity comes through understanding, not emotional excess, spiritual discipline, not public shows of piety, and patience and inner strength, especially during social or political crises.
“Whoever among our followers is tested and shows patience, Allah will grant him the reward of a thousand martyrs.”
(Ref: Bihār al-Anwār, vol. 49, p. 46)
Upholding Rational Faith and Ethical Leadership
Imam al-Baqir (A.S) promoted intellectual discourse and rational understanding of religion, standing against blind imitation (taqlīd) of corrupt scholars and extremist preachers of Islam. He criticized the then Muslims’ obedience to their misguiding religious leaders in opposition to divine commandments. “By God, the Jews and Christians did not worship their scholars—rather, they obeyed them in disobedience to God”, he said. (Ref: Al-Mahāsin, vol. 1, p. 383)
Thus, the Imam also showed how extremism can hide behind religious authority, and why critical thinking and ethical integrity are essential to correct Islamic beliefs. The era in which he lived was marked by three major causes of the destruction of faith: (1) corrupt political leadership in the name of religion, (2) oppressive rulers who misused religion for control and (3) the deviant religious scholars who distorted religion for power and wealth. They all consumed privileges and spread injustice, distancing society from authentic belief. Imam al-Baqir himself described the time as being like: “A flock without a shepherd, lost in darkness, facing a hungry enemy.” He warned the people:
“Where are you going? You were guided through us, and through us your end will be fulfilled.” (Al-Kafi, vol. 1)
Imam al-Baqir outlined three traits of the corrupt scholars and extremist preachers: (1) They preserve the text of the Qur'an but distort its meanings, (2) They interpret the Qur'an with personal or political bias, and (3) They are aligned with oppressive regimes. Thus, the Imam likened the then Islamic clergymen to corrupt rabbis and monks of the Jews who hid and altered divine scriptures without gaining any real success or guidance. If we look around, we find the situation far more worrying today. The tactics used by corrupt scholars and extremist preachers have become more misguiding and manipulative. While they denounce the common people openly calling them a community indulged in irreligion, they invite them to follow their own agendas in the name of religion and thus misguiding them. They impose unnecessary restrictions, mistaking piety for hardship and exaggerate about certain religious figures of our times creating confusion and false hope. Imam al-Baqir (A.S) rejected any premature or inappropriate claims even about his own status (like having knowledge of the unseen) that could mislead people.
As antidote to these social, religious and intellectual corruptions which were rising within Islam, Imam al-Baqir (A.S) called for rejection of hypocrisy and manipulation in faith. His core message was the revival of true Islamic teachings based on understanding, sincerity, and justice. Unlike the outward display of power that marked the rulers of his time, Imam al-Baqir’s (A.S) influence was quiet but revolutionary. He laid the intellectual bedrock upon which the later scholarship of Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (A.S) and other Imams of Ahl al-Bayt would flourish. This is the legacy of the Scholar of the Ummah which has to be preserved today. Through this, we can actually revive the prophetic legacy — one that prioritized truth over tribal politics, and reason over rhetoric.
Whether it was through Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir), dialectical theology (ilmul kalam), or legal reasoning (fiqh), Imam al-Baqir (A.S) nurtured a generation of students who carried forward a vision of Islam rooted in moderation, justice, knowledge, and spiritual depth. His refusal to align with corrupt scholars and rulers of his time, his subtle but powerful critiques of state-sponsored distortions of Islam, and his deep engagement with scholars across the Muslim world made him a target of extremism and terrorism — and ultimately, a scholar-martyr.
As we remember his martyrdom, we are called not just to mourn, but to emulate. To speak truth without fear. To seek knowledge with humility. To stand firm, even when it is inconvenient. The Imam lived under the shadow of Umayyad tyranny, when truth-telling came at great personal risk. Yet, he never remained silent in the face of injustice, nor did he compromise on moral clarity. His resistance was not always loud, but it was unshakeable. And therefore it remains as a living legacy.
“Knowledge is life, and ignorance is death,” Imam al-Baqir (A.S) once said — a statement that echoes with relevance today. In a world riddled with disinformation, sectarianism, and moral ambiguity, his words cut through like a sword of light. His life reminds us that true religiosity lies not just in ritual, but in knowledge, compassion, and steadfastness in the face of corruption.
Imam al-Baqir (A.S) was not only a scholar of his age but a scholar for all ages — and for all seekers of truth. His memory is not confined to history books or mourning ceremonies; it lives on wherever wisdom overcomes ignorance, and wherever the light of divine knowledge is kindled in the hearts of those who dare to seek. May his legacy continue to guide us!
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A Regular Columnist with Newageislam.com, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar, author of “Ishq Sufiyana: Untold Stories of Divine Love”, Sufi poet and English-Arabic-Urdu-Hindi writer with a background in a leading Sufi Islamic seminary in India.
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