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
Hamida (s.a.). His matchless devotion and worship of Allah had earned him the
title of “al-Abd as Saleh”
(virtuous slave of Allah). Generosity was synonymous with his name which
continued even after his Martyrdom. 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 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 him. After
offering him his best compliments, he asked the young Imam (a.s.): “O Son of the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.)! What is your opinion about the deeds of a man? Does he himself do
it or does God makes him, do it?”
The young 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 the sins by their 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 only the third scenario is left in a 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 Messenger (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.), they 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 Messenger
(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
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 Umayyad
and Banu Abbas were aware that 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 by 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.) and Imam Husayn (a.s.)
Harun’s conspiracy against 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 a 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 Jafer (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: “Maula, 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 even a little 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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