His Preparation for Burial

Imam Abu Ja'far al-Baqir undertook the preparation of the corpse of his father. He washed his pure body. The people saw the places of his prostration, which were like the knees of camels, out of his abundant prostration (in prayer) for Allah, the Exalted. They also saw his shoulders, which were like the knees of camels. Then they asked al-Baqir about this, and he replied: "He would put food into his bag, carried it on his shoulders, and divided the food among the poor and the deprived.^1" When al-Baqir had finished washing the corpse of his body, he shrouded it, and prayed over it with the written prayers.

Escorting him to his Final Resting Place

Great escorting was held for the Imam. Medina (Yathrib) had never witness such escorting before. This is because the righteous and the sinful escorted him. The masses surrounded the great coffin. They wept and lamented for the Imam in humbleness. They felt a heavy loss, for they lost immense good, and unique spirituality. When the Imam died, the tongues kept silent, and the intellects became perplexed. Hence the people of Medina crowded all around the Holy Corpse. Blessed was he who carried it. It is worth mentioning that Sa'id b. al-Musayyab, one of the seven jurists in Medina, did not succeed in escorting the Imam and praying over him. Hushrum, the retainer of Ashja', blamed Sa'id for this, and he answered: "To say two rukas in the Mosque is more beloved to me than to prayer over this righteous man in the Righteous House.²" This excuse is weak, for escorting the Imam, who delivered the guidance of the prophets, is the best and most beloved act of obedience to Allah, the Exalted.

At his Final Resting Place

In the middle of a halo of exclaiming Allah is great and praising Him, the people brought the Holy Corpse to al-Gharqad Cemetery. They dug a grave for him beside the grave of his pure uncle, Imam al-Hasan, the master of the youths of Paradise, and the plant of sweet basil of Allah's Apostle, may Allah bless him and his family. Then Imam al-Baqir, peace be on him, buried his father in his final resting place. With him he buried knowledge, kindness, reverential fear, spirituality of the prophets and of the Allah-fearing. After Imam al-Baqir had finished burying his father, the people hurried to him to condole him. The Imam, his brothers, and the other Hashimites, thanked them for their condolences.

* The Life of Imam Zayn al-Abidin. By Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi.

1- Hayat al-Imam Mohammed al-Baqir, vol. 1, p. 54.
2- Al-Kashi, Rijal, p. 76.