Musa al-Kazim facts for kids

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Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim (Arabic: مُوسَىٰ ٱبْن جَعْفَر ٱلْكَاظِم, romanized: Mūsā ibn Jaʿfar al-Kāẓim) was a very important leader in Twelver Shia Islam. He was the seventh Imam, following his father, Ja'far al-Sadiq. Musa was born in 745 CE in Medina.

His time as Imam happened during the rule of several Abbasid leaders. These included al-Mansur, al-Hadi, al-Mahdi, and Harun al-Rashid. Musa was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima. He faced many challenges, including being put in prison multiple times by the caliphs. He died in 799 CE in a prison in Baghdad. Many believe he was poisoned on the orders of Caliph Harun al-Rashid.

Among his children were Ali al-Rida, who became the eighth Twelver Imam, and Fatemah al-Ma'suma. Musa al-Kazim was known for his strong faith. Sunni Muslims respected him as a traditionist, and Sufis saw him as a very spiritual person.

Life of Imam Musa al-Kazim

His Birth and Early Years

Musa al-Kazim was born in 128 AH, which is 745 CE. He was born in Medina, a holy city, or nearby at a place called al-Abwa'. His father was al-Sadiq, the sixth Shia Imam. His mother was Hamida Khatun, who was known for her wisdom and religious knowledge. She even taught religious law to women in Medina.

Musa grew up in a large family with many brothers and sisters. When he was about four years old, the first Abbasid caliph, Saffah, came to power. Musa spent about twenty years learning from his father, al-Sadiq. His father died in 765 CE. Shia sources say that Caliph al-Mansur poisoned al-Sadiq.

After His Father's Passing

After his father died, Musa al-Kazim lived a quiet life in Medina. He stayed away from politics, just like earlier Imams. He did not support a revolt against the Abbasids in 786 CE. This revolt was led by a descendant of Ali.

Like his father, al-Kazim taught and shared Shia beliefs with his followers. He also set up a network of representatives. These people helped supervise Shia communities in different areas. They also collected religious donations.

Musa al-Kazim lived during the rule of several Abbasid caliphs. These included al-Mansur, al-Hadi, al-Mahdi, and Harun al-Rashid. The Abbasid rulers were often harsh towards the Shia Imams. This was especially true after some revolts. Unlike his father, al-Kazim lived under strict rules from the caliphs.

During the Reign of al-Mansur (754-775 CE)

The rule of Caliph al-Mansur covered the first ten years of al-Kazim's imamate. Shia sources say that al-Mansur was responsible for poisoning al-Kazim's father, al-Sadiq. When al-Mansur heard of al-Sadiq's death, he ordered the governor of Medina to kill al-Sadiq's chosen heir.

However, the governor found out that al-Sadiq had named four people to manage his will. These were al-Mansur himself, the governor, al-Sadiq's oldest son, and al-Kazim. This plan protected al-Kazim. Although al-Mansur did not harass al-Kazim as much as later caliphs, al-Kazim was always watched by the caliph's spies.

During the Reign of al-Mahdi (775-785 CE)

During Caliph al-Mahdi's ten-year rule, spies were placed in Medina to watch al-Kazim. Al-Mahdi arrested al-Kazim at least once. He was briefly imprisoned in Baghdad around 780 CE. He was put under the care of the police chief, al-Musayyab ibn Zuhayr al-Dabbi. This chief later became a follower of al-Kazim.

It is said that al-Mahdi had a dream. In the dream, Ali, the first Shia Imam, scolded him for imprisoning his descendant. After this, al-Kazim was released. He was given a gift of 3000 dinars. He had assured the caliph that he was not involved in politics.

During the Reign of Harun al-Rashid (786-809 CE)

The persecution of the Shia became very intense during the rule of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. Harun is said to have killed many descendants of Ali. Harun arrested al-Kazim and brought him to Baghdad. He seemed ready to execute him. However, it is said that he set him free after having a dream.

One story tells that Harun and al-Kazim visited the tomb of Muhammad in Medina. Harun said, "Greetings to you, O Prophet of God, my cousin!" Al-Kazim replied, "Greetings to you, O my dear father!" This made Harun angry.

Al-Kazim's final imprisonment is said to have been planned by Harun's vizier, Yahya ibn Khalid. Yahya felt threatened by the growing influence of Ja'far ibn Muhammad. Ja'far was secretly Shia. Yahya began to tell Harun things about Ja'far's loyalty to al-Kazim. A relative of al-Kazim was also made to testify about al-Kazim's influence. This relative said that Shia followers from all over the empire sent their donations to al-Kazim.

Another story says that Harun found the ideas of Hisham ibn al-Hakam, a student of al-Kazim, to be dangerous. In any case, Harun arrested al-Kazim in 793 or 795 CE. He was taken to Basra and imprisoned for a year. The governor, Isa ibn Ja'far, was impressed by al-Kazim's piety. He did not follow Harun's order to kill him. Instead, he brought al-Kazim to Baghdad. There, al-Kazim was kept under house arrest. He continued to guide the Shia community during this time.

When Harun learned that al-Kazim was living comfortably, he ordered him to be killed. The person ordered to do this also refused. Al-Kazim was then given to al-Sindi ibn Shahik, the police chief in Baghdad. It is said that al-Sindi poisoned the Imam.

His Passing

Al-Kazimiya Mosque in Kazimiyan, Baghdad

Wooden box of the shrine of Musa al-Kazim, made in the sixth century AH, Iraqi National Museum

Musa al-Kazim died in 799 CE in the al-Sindi ibn Shahiq prison in Baghdad. He had been moved from one prison to another for several years. Many believe he was poisoned at the command of Harun al-Rashid. However, the Sunni historian al-Tabari does not mention the cause of his death. This suggests that al-Kazim died of natural causes, a view held by most Sunni writers.

Harun brought several public figures to examine Musa's body. They were to confirm that he had died naturally. There are stories that Harun also showed Musa's body publicly in Baghdad. This was to stop rumors that al-Kazim was not dead and would return as the Mahdi. The Mahdi is a promised savior in Islam.

Al-Kazim was buried in a respected cemetery in northwest Baghdad. This area is now called Kazimayn. Visiting his tomb was risky at first. But over time, his tomb and that of his grandson, al-Jawad, became an important pilgrimage site. A shrine has stood over their graves since the time of the Buyid dynasty. The beautiful shrine there today was built by the Safavid ruler Shah Isma'il. Kazimayn is also where many important Shia scholars are buried.

Some Shia accounts say that al-Kazim died as a sacrifice for his followers. He is reported to have said that God gave him the choice to protect his Shia followers by sacrificing himself. This was because some followers were disloyal or did not practice taqiya (religious dissimulation). Not practicing taqiya revealed the Imam's activities and led to his imprisonment.

His Role as Imam

After al-Sadiq's death, his followers divided into different groups. Most of them, who later became known as the Twelvers, followed his younger son, Musa al-Kazim. Some followers had expected al-Sadiq's eldest son, Isma'il, to be the next Imam. Isma'il had died before his father. This group later formed the Isma'ili branch of Shia Islam.

Another group followed al-Sadiq's oldest surviving son, Abdullah al-Aftah. This group believed that the imamate should pass to the eldest son. However, the Twelvers believe that al-Sadiq had already chosen Musa as the next Imam. They believe the imamate is given to the most worthy son. Since Abdullah died without children shortly after al-Sadiq, most of his followers joined Musa. Musa also gained the loyalty of his father's most famous Shia students.

His Representatives

Imam al-Kazim appointed a network of representatives, called wukala. These representatives supervised Shia communities in different places. They also collected religious donations. It seems that al-Kazim allowed his followers to work with the Abbasids if it helped the Shia cause. For example, he allowed his companion, Ali ibn Yaqtin, to work for the Abbasids. This was as long as Ali could promote fairness and help people.

Al-Kazim also practiced taqiya, which means hiding one's religious beliefs to stay safe. He told Ali ibn Yaqtin to perform Sunni ablution (washing before prayer) instead of Shia ablution. This was because Ali was suspected by the Sunni ruler.

Even though the Abbasid caliphs closely watched al-Kazim's activities, he still organized his network of representatives. Many Shia who had left the main group at the start of al-Kazim's imamate later rejoined him. New Shia centers were also started in Egypt and North-West Africa.

Who Succeeded Him?

Al-Kazim chose his son, Ali al-Rida, as his successor. After al-Kazim's death, a large group of his followers accepted al-Rida as the next Imam. This group became the main line of Shia, known as the Twelvers. None of al-Rida's brothers claimed to be the Imam, but some of them revolted against the Abbasids.

However, some of al-Kazim's followers claimed that he had not died. They believed he would return as the Mahdi. These people were called the Waqifiyya. It seems they later rejoined the main Shia group. They then recognized al-Rida and his descendants as leaders under al-Kazim.

Some historians suggest that the Waqifiyya group might have had financial reasons for their belief. Al-Kazim's representatives in some areas refused to give the money they had collected to al-Rida. They argued that al-Kazim was the last Imam.

His Family

Musa al-Kazim had a very large family. Some sources say he had eighteen sons and twenty-three daughters. Others suggest he had between thirty-three and sixty children. In Iran, about seventy percent of the sayyids (descendants of the prophet Muhammad) trace their family line back to al-Kazim. It is said that all his children were born to freed slaves.

His Personality

Musa al-Kazim was known for being gentle and patient. He was called al-Kazim, which means "the forbearing." He was also called al-Abd al-Salih, meaning "the holy servant." This title showed his deep faith and his efforts to please God.

The Sunni historian Ibn Khallikan wrote about al-Kazim's kindness. He said that when someone spoke badly of al-Kazim, he would send that person a purse with a thousand dinars. He also used to give out money in Medina in packets of two, three, or four hundred dinars.

Al-Kazim was a quiet and spiritual person. He spent most of his life praying and thinking about God. One story says he once prayed all night in the mosque in Medina. He kept asking God for forgiveness for his sins. Al-Kazim was also a skilled debater. He could convince his opponents with his arguments. It is said that he even convinced Christians to accept Islam.

His Legacy

Al-Kazim taught Shia beliefs to his students. He and his father played a key role in removing extreme ideas from Shia thought. This included the belief that Imams were divine. His answers to legal questions are found in a book called Wasiyya fi al-Akl. He is also credited with many prayers.

One of his famous sayings is: "The jurists (religious scholars) who are believers are the strongholds of Islam." This has been understood to mean that religious scholars should play an active role in society. The Safavid rulers of Iran claimed to be descendants of al-Kazim.

Al-Kazim is highly respected in Sunni Islam. Sunni scholars consider him a reliable source of traditions. His traditions are collected in a book called Musnad al-Kazim. Al-Kazim was also important to Sufis. Many Sufis saw him as a holy person and a devoted worshipper. Some Sufis, like Ma'ruf al-Kharkhi, were connected to him. Shia sources say that one Sufi, Bishr al-Hafi, changed his life after meeting al-Kazim and began his spiritual journey.

Selected Sayings

• "Allah has two proofs over men: outward proof and inward one. The outward proof is the messengers, the prophets, and the Imams. The inward proof is reason."
• "A little work from a scholar is greatly accepted. Much work from those with low desires and ignorance is refused."
• "Try to divide your day into four parts: one hour for praying to Allah, one hour for your work, one hour for spending time with friends who show you your faults and are loyal, and one hour for yourself for things that are not forbidden. This last hour helps you with the other three."
• "Do not tell yourselves of poverty or a long life. If you think of poverty, you become stingy. If you think of a long life, you become greedy."
• "The generous and polite person is protected by Allah. He will not leave him until He makes him enter Paradise. Allah sends no one as a prophet except the generous."
• "Misfortune is one for the patient person and two for the impatient."
• "Silence is one of the doors to wisdom. It brings love and shows all good things."
• "Being a good neighbor is not just avoiding harm. It is showing patience when harm comes."
• "How bad is the world for people, unless God gives them joy; and how great is this life, if God is not angry with them."

See also

• Abdullah al-Aftah
• Ali al-Rida
• Fatimah bint Musa
• Hajar Khatoon Mosque
• Imamate in Shia doctrine
• Imamate in Twelver doctrine
• Isma'il ibn Jafar
• Ja'far al-Sadiq
• List of extinct Shia sects
• List of notable Hijazis
• Muhammad ibn Ja'far al-Sadiq (al-Dibaj)