Although Imam Baqir was pursuing a peaceful confrontation with the government, Hisham had hatred towards the Imam. Hisham feared the Imam’s social popularity as the most knowledgeable person in society. The events that occurred during the Imam’s visit to Damascus also influenced Hisham’s decision to martyr the Imam. These events included the Imam’s archery skills, his debate with Hisham leading to Hisham’s humiliation, and his debate with the Christian leader, which spread the Imam’s name among the Syrians. Thus, Ibrahim ibn Valeed, Hisham’s nephew and the governor of Medina, poisoned the Imam by Hisham’s orders. There is historical evidence suggesting that the Imam might have been poisoned multiple times by the Umayyad rulers, but God had saved him.

As a result of the poisoning, the Imam became very sick. He informed everyone that he would not make it to the following day. When the Imam was on his deathbed, he made a will to his son, Imam Sadiq, to spend a part of his wealth to hold a mourning service in Mina during Hajj season for 10 years, to remind people about the oppression against him from the government. Imam Baqir also asked Imam Sadiq to bring some of the elders of Medina as witnesses for his will. In his will, he asked Imam Sadiq to take care of his burial and requested him to follow some specific instructions for his shroud and grave. Later, Imam Sadiq asked his father about the reason for having witnesses for such simple requests, to which Imam Baqir replied that he wanted to avoid any doubt after him, and have the people realize that Imam Sadiq was his rightful successor and the next Imam.

Imam Baqir’s soul ascended, and he passed away on the 7th of Zu al-Hijjah, in the year 114 Hijri, at the age of 57. Imam Sadiq took care of his father’s funeral and was followed by crowds of grieving Muslims. Imam Baqir was buried at the cemetery of Baqi’ next to the graves of his father, Imam Sajjad (AS), and his great uncle, Imam Hasan (AS)

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