Imam al-Baqir (a) was born on Friday Rajab 1, 57/May 10, 677 in Medina. Some have reported his birth to have been on Safar 3/December 16 of the same year (57/676). He was a small child and present in the Battle of Karbala.
Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib (Arabic: محمد بن علي بن حسین بن علي بن أبي طالب) known as Imām al-Bāqir (a) and Bāqir al-'Ulūm, was the fifth Imam of the Shi'a, whose period of Imamate lasted nineteen years.
Imam al-Baqir (a) made a great scientific movement that reached its peak at the time of his son Imam al-Sadiq (a). His narrations in religion, conduct of the Prophet (s), Qur'an sciences, moral conduct, and manner are more than what is remained from the children of Imam al-Hasan (a) and Imam al-Husayn (a). Thus, during his imamate, a great step was taken towards the organization of Shi'i thought in different fields including ethics, jurisprudence, theology, exegesis, etc. According to historical sources he was present at Battle of Karbala as a child.