Monday, May 11, 2015

THE INFALLIBLE IMAM MUSA AL-KAZIM (A.S.)

Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) was born at Abwa-between Makkah and Madinah on 7th Safar 128 A.H. His parents were the Infallible Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) and Hazrat Hamidah (s.a.). His matchless devotion and worship of Allah had earned him the title of “al-Abdus Saleh” (virtuous slave of Allah). Generosity was synonymous with his name which continued even after his Martyrdom. Thus his additional title is “Babul Hawa’ij” (the door to fulfilling needs).
He passed twenty years of his sacred life under the patronage of his sacred father. His inherent genius and gifted virtues combined with the enlightened guidance of Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.) reflected in the manifestation of his future personality. Allama Majlisi narrates that once Imam Abu Hanifa came to ask some religious questions from Imam Jaffer al-Sadiq (a.s.). As he was sleeping, Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.), who was five years old at that time, came out to see Imam Abu Hanifa. After offering him his best compliments, he asked the young Imam (a.s.): “O Son of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.)! What is your opinion about the deeds of a man? Does he do them by himself or does God make him do them?”
The five year old Imam replied at once, in the typical tone of his ancestors, “The deeds of a man are confined to three possibilities. First, that God alone do them while the man is completely helpless. Second, that both God and man equally share the commitment. Third, that man does them alone. If the first assumption is true then it shows the unjustness of God, Who punishes His creatures who did not commit sins by free will. In case of second scenario, God is still unjust because He is equally responsible for the sin. Because God can never be unjust, hence the first two scenarios are out of question. Now we are left with the third scenario in which man is completely responsible for his deeds.
His period of Imamate was 35 years. For the first decade, he discharged his spiritual responsibilities of his sacred office and propagated the Golden Teachings of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.). But thereafter, the kings made his life miserable and being afraid of the people’s love for Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.), placed him in various prisons. He had seen the reigns of Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, al-Mahdi and Harun ar-Rasheed. Mansur and Harun were the despotic kings who killed numerous innocent descendants of the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.).
Ibne Hajar al-Haytami said: “The patience and forbearance of the Imam (a.s.) was such that he was given the title of “al-Kazim” (one who swallows down his anger).” He devoted his nights in the prayer of God and days in fasting. He always forgave those who did wrong to him.
The kings of Banu Umaiyyah and Banu Abbas were aware that the Vicegerantship or the leadership of Muslim Ummah rightly belonged to the Ahlul-Bayt (a.s.) and they were the usurpers of their rights. Hence every king tried all possible means to undermine their status, keep them away from the Muslim populace. Consequently, they were subjected to oppression, imprisonment and outright use of military power at the time of the Infallible Imam Hasan (a.s.).
Harun’s request from the Imam (a.s.): Harun sent his minister, Yahya Barmaki, to the Imam a week before his Martyrdom; this message was in a soft and nice tone: “Send my regards to my cousin and tell him it has been proven to us that you have committed no sin and are blame- less. However, I have unfortunately made an oath and cannot break my word. I have made an oath not to free you before you have confessed to sinning and ask me for forgiveness. No one needs to know. It is enough if you confess in the presence of Yahiya and say ‘I am sorry I have breached and I want the caliph to forgive me.’ I will then set you free.” The Imam (a.s.) replied to Yahya Barmaki: “Tell Harun that there is not much left of my life and that is it!” The Imam (a.s.) was poisoned after a week and was martyred on 25th Rajab 183 A.H.
Bishr Hafi and the Imam (a.s.): One day, the Imam (a.s.) was passing through the alleys of Baghdad. The sounds of music were exploding from a house. Incidentally, one of the servants came out to empty garbage. The Imam (a.s.) asked the servant: “Does this house belong to a free man or a slave?” The servant replied:” This is the house of Bishr Hafi, one of the authorities and aristocrats, of course he is a free man.” The Imam replied: “Yes, it must belong to free man. If he was enslaved, all these noises would not be coming out of his house.” Bishr asked the servant: “What took you so long?” The servant described the whole conversation. Bishr realized that he must be Imam Musa Ibn Jaffer (a.s.). He asked the servant in which direction the Imam (a.s.) went, and although he was bare-footed, he ran in the direction and threw himself at the feet of the Imam (a.s.) and said: “Sir, from this very hour I want to be Allah’s slave.”
This news reached Harun. That is why he felt threatened, and said to the Imam: “Basically, your presence (Imam al-Kazim) is sin in my view.”
Safwan Jammal and Harun: Safwan Jammal was an influential businessman dealing in renting the camels. One day, Harun wanted to go on a trip to Makkah, and signed a contract with Safwan for renting the huge fleet of camels. Safwan was also one of the followers and the companions of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.). When he came to see the Imam (a.s.), he showed his displeasure over the deal. Safwan sold away the business right away. When Harun came to know about it, he summoned Safwan and wanted to know the real reason for the sale. Harun said that he knew that the Imam (a.s.) had influenced his decision. Harun threatened that because of the long relations with Safwan and his family he was leaving him alone, otherwise, he would have killed Safwan.
Sayings of the Imam (a.s.):
No charity is superior than to giving a helping hand to the weak.
Never bother to learning something not knowing of which does not do you any harm, and never neglect to learn something whose negligence will increase your ignorance.
Moderation is half of the livelihood.
Amicability is half of the intelligence.
Hastiness is the true clumsiness.
The one whose two days are equal is a loser.
Never be an arrogant, for one who has a small amount of arrogance in his heart will not enter Paradise.
Make piety your ship to sail safely, faith its cargo, trust in Allah its sails, and intellect its sailor, knowledge its guide, and patience its passengers.
Dua reverts what has been destined and what has not been destined.
A man asked about “conviction”, the Imam replied: “The conviction is to depend upon Allah, submit to Him, consent to His acts, and entrust Him with the affairs.

Sources used:
A Survey into the lives of The Infallible Imams                               by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari
Brief History of the Fourteen Infallibles                                           by Al-Islam.org
Living Right Way                                                                              by Ayatullah Jawad Tehrani

Sayings of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.)                                             by Ali Moula.com

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