Imam Baqer (PBUH) and the Encounter with the Brutal Governors: Its Consequences and Results on the Political Thoughts of Shiism

The political life of Imam Baqer (PBUH) and his practical conduct against the brutal caliphates have not been considered yet from the viewpoint of the vital role they played in regard with the political thoughts of Shiism. In this article, through a study on Imam Baqer’s encounter with the Umayyad caliphs, some fundamental issues in the political thoughts of shiism have been extracted which were established by Imam Baqer (PBUH).Part of the issues as political instructions of Imam Baqer (PBUH) which are implied from his political encounter with the brutal Umayyad caliphs include: the emphasis on the independent identity of Shiism and its purity from any thing which might alter it; explanation of an Imam's characteristics to the shiites in order to make it distinguished from the other definitions of Imamate by the other sections, and so that it is not mistaken for Imamate bi al-Saif (Imam carrying sword), unapproved Imamate, or exaggerated Imamate; and finally, the principle of concealment as a political strategy of shiism.