Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him) said to a man named Abu Hamzah:
“O Abu Hamzah, when one of you plans to undertake a journey of a few miles, he seeks a guide and a pathfinder to avoid danger. Yet you are more ignorant of the paths to the heavens than you are of the paths of the earth! Therefore, find a guide and leader for yourself so that you do not go astray on the journey toward God and the heavens.” [1]
During the time of Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (peace be upon him), the conditions were relatively conducive to spreading religious knowledge. This was because the oppressive policies of the Umayyad regime had led to the loss of the jurisprudential traditions of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them). Although thousands of hadiths were required to establish Islamic laws, only about 500 traditions from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) transmitted by his companions had survived.
In that era, following the tragic events of Karbala and the tireless efforts of Imam Zayn al-Abidin over 35 years, a significant group of Shia adherents had emerged. However, they were largely deprived of Islamic jurisprudence. With the weakening of the Umayyad dynasty due to internal conflicts, indulgence, and the incompetence of its rulers, Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him) seized the opportunity to propagate the sciences of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and Islamic jurisprudence. He produced numerous scholars who enriched society with their knowledge.
“Excerpted from the book Religious Teachings by the late Allama Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Tabataba’i (may Allah have mercy on him).”
Footnote:
[1] Al-Kafi, Volume 1, Chapter on Recognizing the Imam and Referring to Him.