Gifts of Knowledge

Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir to his Son Jaʿfar
May Allaah have Mercy on Them

Adh-Dhahabī said about Imām Abū Jaʿfar Muḥammad al-Bāqir, “Abū Jaʿfar became known as ‘al-Bāqir,’ from the phrase, ‘بَقَرَ الْعِلْمَ—he split knowledge open,’ i.e., tore it open, coming to know its very foundation and deep meanings.”

Al-Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, said, “… from Sufyān ath-Thawrī, from Jaʿfar bin Muḥammad who said, “My father [Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir] said to me:

‘My son, abusing Abū Bakr and ʿUmar is a major sin, so don’t pray behind anyone who slanders them.’”
Tārīkh Baghdād, vol. 11, p. 97.

Min Rawāʾiʿi waṣāyā al-ʾĀbā lil-Abnāʾ, p. 98.