God does not appoint anyone to the position of Imamate or make them His manifest proof for His creation unless that individual has achieved perfection in noble qualities, and all their words and actions serve as exemplary models. Thus, such a person speaks only truthfully and acts only righteously.
Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him), the fifth leader of the Shia Muslims, was like his pure ancestors—a true reflection of a devoted servant of God and a role model for those seeking the path of righteousness.
His conduct with people was marked by chastity and moral purity, such that he would forgive their faults whenever possible, leaving a profound impact on their hearts. The following narration vividly illustrates this virtuous and commendable trait of his:
A Christian man, intending to mock and ridicule him, altered the title “Baqir”[1] (meaning one who splits or uncovers) to “Baqr”[2] (meaning cow in Arabic) and addressed the Imam in an insulting manner. Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him), without showing any sign of anger or distress, calmly replied:
“I am not Baqr; I am Baqir.”
The Christian man continued: “You are the son of a woman who was a cook.”
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) replied: “That was her profession; it is not a source of shame.”
The man then said: “Your mother was a black woman, shameless, and foul-mouthed.”
Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) responded: “If what you claim about my mother is true, may God forgive her and have mercy on her. And if it is not true, may God forgive you for your lies and slander.”
This remarkable patience and humility were enough to profoundly move the Christian man, leading him to embrace Islam. He later converted and became a Muslim.
“Adapted from Guides on the Path of Light by Muhammad Taqi al-Modarresi and Stories of the Righteous by Martyr Morteza Motahhari (with slight modifications).”
Footnotes:
[1] The honorable title “Baqir” means “one who splits open” and refers to Imam al-Baqir’s deep knowledge. He was often called “Baqir al-Ulum,” meaning “the one who uncovers the depths of knowledge.”
[2] “Baqr” in Arabic translates to “cow.”