Musa al-Kadhim


Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Mūsā al-Kādhim
Imams of Twelver Shi'a Islam
A depiction by a Muslim artist.
A modern depiction by a Shi'a artist
Rank Seventh Twelver Imām
Name Mūsā ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad
Kunya Abū Ibrāhīm[1]
Birth 7th Safar 128 AH
≈ 6 November 745 C.E.
Death 25th Rajab 183 AH
≈ 1 September 799 C.E.
Birthplace Abwā'[1], Saudi Arabia
Buried al-Kādhimiya Mosque, Kādhimayn
Life Duration Before Imamate: 20 years
(128 - 148 AH)
Imamate: 35 years
(148 - 183 AH)
Titles *al-Kādhim[1]
(Arabic for Calm)
*Bābul Hawā'ij[2]
(Arabic for The door to fulfilling needs)
*‘Abdus Sālih[1]
(Arabic for Virtuous Slave [of God])
*Yedinci Ali
(Turkish for "Seventh ‘Alī")
Spouse(s) Ummul Banīn Najmah[3]
Father Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣādiq
Mother Hamīdah al-Barbariyyah[1]
Children ‘Alī ar-Ridhā (successor), Fātimah al-Ma‘sūmah, Hājar Khātūn, Hamzah
Almahdi.png
Ali · Hasan · Husayn

al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · al-Sadiq
al-Kadhim · al-Rida · al-Taqi
al-Hadi · al-Askari · al-Mahdi

Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Kāżim (Arabic: الإمام موسى الكاظم‎‎) (November 6, 745 AD - September 1, 799 / Safar 7, 128 AH – Rajab 25, 183 AH)[1] was the seventh of the Twelve Imams. He was the son of the sixth Imam, Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣādiq and his mother’s name was Hamidah Khātūn.

Mūsá al-Kāżim was born during the power struggles between the Umayyad and the Abbasid. Like his father, he was assassinated by the Abbasids. He bore three notable children: the eighth Imām, ‘Alī ar-Riżá, and two daughters, Fāṭimah al-Ma‘sūmah and Hājar Khātūn.

The Festival of Imam Musa al-Kadhim celebrates his life and death.

Contents

Background

Mūsá al-Kāżim was in Abwa between Mecca and Medina. His mother was originally a slave of African origin, but after his father purchased her, he freed her and trained her as an Islamic scholar.

Designation of the Imamate

Mūsá al-Kāżim became the seventh Shi’ah Imam at the age of 21 after his father was assassinated by the Abbasids. According to the Kitab al-Irshad of Sheikh al-Mufid:

Among the shaykhs of the followers of Abu Abd Allah Ja'far al-Sadiq, peace be on him, his special group (khassa), his inner circle and the trustworthy righteous legal scholars, may God have mercy on them, who report the clear designation of the Imamate by Abu Abd Allah Jafars peace be on him, for his son, Abu al-Hasan Musa, peace be on him, are: al-Mufaddal b. Umar al-Jufi, Mu'adh b. Kathir, Abd al-Rahman b. al-Hajjaj, al-Fayd b. al-Mukhtar, Yaqub al-Sarraj, Sulayman b. Khalid, Safwan al-Jammal... [That designation] is also reported by his two brothers, Ishaq and Ali, sons of Jafar, peace be on him.[4]

Some Shi‘ah believe that the eldest son of Imam Ja‘far, namely Isma'il ibn Jafar, received the Imamate rather than Mūsá al-Kāżim. They also believe Isma'il went into hiding at his father's command (known as the Lesser Occultation) while Twelvers believe he predeceased his father and therefore was never appointed Imam. The descendents of the supporters of Isma'il's Imamate today comprise the the Ismaili, which includes several independent groups.

Al Kadhimiya Mosque

His death

In 795, Harun al-Rashid imprisoned Mūsá al-Kāżim; four years later, he ordered Sindi ibn Shahiq to poison Musa. Mūsá al-Kāżim's body now rests within al Kadhimiya Mosque in Kadhimayn, Iraq.

Quotes

"The best generosity is the help to the oppressed." "The world is soft and beautiful like a snake but there is a fatal poison hidden inside."


Musa al-Kadhim
Banu Hashim
Cadet branch of the Banu Quraish
Born: 7th Safar 128 AH ≈ 6th November 745 CE Died: 25th Rajab 183 AH ≈ 1st September 799 CE
Shī‘a Islam titles
Preceded by
Jafar al-Sadiq
Imam - VII
of Twelver

765 – 799
Succeeded by
Ali al-Ridha

See also

  • Zaynab
  • Umm Kulthūm
  • ‘Abbās
  • ‘Alī al-Akbar
  • ‘Alī al-Asghar
  • Qāsim
  • Sukayna
  • Ma'sūmah Qum
  • Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah
  • Fadhl ibn ‘Abbās
  • Shī‘ah Islām
  • Battle of Karbalā
  • Battle of Siffīn
  • Battle of Nahrawān

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 A Brief History of The Fourteen Infallibles. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. 2004. pp. 131. 
    "The Infallibles Taken from Kitab al Irshad By Sheikh al Mufid". al-islam.org. Retrieved on 2008-11-20.
  2. A Brief History of The Fourteen Infallibles. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. 2004. pp. 131. 
    al-Qurashi, Baqir Shareef. "1". The Life of Imam Musa bin Ja'far al-Kazim. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. pp. 60. 
  3. A Brief History of The Fourteen Infallibles. Qum: Ansariyan Publications. 2004. pp. 137. 
  4. Imam al-Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.)