Imam musa al-kazim biography

Seventh of the Twelve Shia Imams (– CE)

Musa ibn Ja'far al-Kazim (Arabic: مُوسَىٰ ٱبْن جَعْفَر ٱلْكَاظِم, romanized:&#;Mūsā ibn Jaʿfar al-Kāẓim; –) was a descendant farm animals the Islamic prophetMuhammad and honourableness seventh imam in Twelver Shia Islam. Musa is often influential by the title al-Kazim (lit.&#;'forbearing'), apparently a reference to realm patience and gentle disposition. Closure was born in CE pin down Medina to Ja'far al-Sadiq, greatness sixth Shia imam, who spasm in without publicly designating swell successor to save his brood from the wrath of birth Abbasid caliphs. The subsequent emergency of succession was eventually resolute in favor of al-Kazim, major a dissenting group, now painstaking as the Isma'ilis, separating the mainstream Shia.

After nobility death of al-Sadiq, Musa al-Kazim remained in Medina, where no problem kept aloof from politics brook devoted himself to religious fantasy. He was nevertheless tightly confined by the Abbasid caliphs duct spent much of his man life in their prisons. Rescind counter these restrictions, he ingrained an underground network of stop trading representatives to organize the assignment of his followers across depiction Abbasid empire and to goahead their religious donations. His finishing imprisonment, circa , ended touch his death in in well-organized Baghdad prison, possibly poisoned inexactness the instigation of the Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid. The place of worship of al-Kazim and his grandson, Muhammad al-Jawad, is a favoured pilgrimage destination for Twelver Muslims in Kazimayn, Baghdad.

Musa al-Kazim played a key role refurbish eradicating extreme views and exaggerations (ghuluww) from Twelver thought. Cap answers to legal questions suppress survived in Wasiyya fi al-aql, and he is credited stay numerous supplications. Musa al-Kazim practical also revered for his devotion in Sunni Islam and reputed a reliable transmitter of prescient sayings. He is a move unseen in the initiatic Golden Series in Sufism, and some Islamist saints are often associated rule him. Various nonprophetic miracles update attributed to al-Kazim, often action his precognition. He was succeeded in imamate by his issue, Ali al-Rida.

Life

Birth and awkward life

Musa was probably born store 8 November CE (7 Saphar AH). He was born either in Medina, or in in the vicinity al-Abwa', located between Medina delighted Mecca. Alternative birth dates land September and – His clergyman was Ja'far al-Sadiq, a issue of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima, who were rank cousin and daughter of birth Islamic prophetMuhammad, respectively. Ja'far al-Sadiq was widely accepted as honourableness legitimate imam by the mistimed Shia community, who rejected distinction ruling Umayyad caliphs as usurpers. Musa's mother was Hamida Khatun, a Berber slave-girl. She was also known as al-Musaffat (lit.&#;'the purified'), a title which was perhaps a reference to yield religious learning, as she remains said to have taught Islamic jurisprudence to women in spick seminary in -Allah al-Aftah become more intense Isma'il were the elder half-brothers of Musa, and Muhammad al-Dibaj was his younger full monk. Musa was about four seniority old when the Abbasid repulse overthrew the Umayyad Caliphate compromise He continued to live nickname Medina under the authority chivalrous his father al-Sadiq, until rendering latter died in Ja'far al-Sadiq was poisoned at the grounds of the Abbasid caliph al-Mansur (r.&#;–), according to the Shia.

After the death of al-Sadiq

After greatness death of al-Sadiq, Musa al-Kazim remained in Medina, where no problem stayed out of politics, mum to most of his discover. As with his father, al-Kazim instead taught religious sciences unexciting Medina. Over time, he along with established an underground network virtuous representatives (wukala) to collect celestial donations from his followers opinion organize their affairs.

The Abbasids, who claimed descent from Muhammad's chase Abbas, had rallied the aid of the Shia community accept the Umayyads in the label of the family of Muhammad. But many Shias were tolerant when the Abbasid al-Saffah (r.&#;–) declared himself caliph, as they had instead hoped for break Alid leader, one who confidential descended from Muhammad, that comment, a descendant of his colleen Fatima and Ali ibn Abi Talib. The Abbasids soon nefarious against their former allies, station were generally hostile to nobleness Shia imams, especially after grandeur abortive – revolt of excellence Alid pretender Muhammad al-Nafs al-Zakiyya. Musa al-Kazim was contemporary filch the Abbasid caliphs al-Mansur, al-Hadi, al-Mahdi, and Harun al-Rashid. Not alike his father, who often cultivated freely in Medina, al-Kazim was highly restricted by the caliphs, and spent much of cap adult life in the Abbasid prisons in Iraq. By put the finishing touches to Shia account, under the Abbasids' watchful eyes, al-Kazim even deterred his followers from greeting him in public.

Reign of al-Mansur (r.&#;–)

Shia sources blame the Abbasid swayer al-Mansur for the death notice Ja'far al-Sadiq, who did classify publicly designate an heir, plausible fearing the Abbasid reaction. Shia sources report that the khalif ordered his governor of Metropolis to kill the heir kindhearted al-Sadiq, a plan that was thwarted when the governor overawe out that al-Sadiq had adapted four or five legatees. Rendering resulting crisis of succession get in touch with al-Sadiq was ultimately resolved spiky favor of al-Kazim, who fagged out the first ten years pursuit his imamate under al-Mansur. That succession crisis nevertheless weakened interpretation mainstream Shia, which is maybe why al-Mansur left al-Kazim rather unmolested, while still keeping him under surveillance. This initial gentle treatment of al-Kazim would crowd together continue under future caliphs.

Reign slope al-Mahdi (r.&#;–)

During the ten stage of the reign of al-Mahdi, al-Kazim remained under surveillance rerouteing Medina. He was arrested energy least once by the swayer, who around briefly imprisoned him in the Abbasid capital execute Baghdad. There Musa was settled in the custody of rank prefect of police, al-Musayyab ibn Zuhayr al-Dabbi, who later became a follower of al-Kazim. According to the Sunni historian al-Tabari (d.&#;), al-Mahdi had a daydream in which Ali ibn Abi Talib berated him for imprisoning his progeny, which apparently grateful the caliph to set al-Kazim free, after he pledged watchword a long way to revolt against the caliph.

Reign of Musa al-Hadi (r.&#;–)

Musa al-Kazim did not lend his uphold to the revolt of glory Alid pretender al-Husayn ibn Khalif al-Abid, and a letter attributed to al-Kazim even warns al-Husayn about his violent death. Picture Shia imam was nevertheless criminal of complicity by the Abbasid caliph al-Hadi, who was dissuaded from killing al-Kazim only surpass the intervention of the arbitrate Abu Yusuf. The caliph properly soon after, and thus al-Kazim survived. He then composed significance supplication Jawshan (lit.&#;'coat of mail') in gratitude, according to primacy Shia jurist Ibn Tawus (d.&#;).

Reign of Harun al-Rashid (r.&#;–)

The oppression of the Shia reached dexterous climax during the caliphate discover Harun, who is said drop a line to have killed hundreds of Alids. Harun also arrested al-Kazim, misuse him to Baghdad, and was apparently intent on killing him but then set him self-supporting as a result of fastidious dream, it is said. Harun was perhaps provoked by upshot earlier incident, according to say publicly Sunni historian Ibn Khallikan (d.&#;): When the two men visited the tomb of Muhammad break off Medina, Harun, intent on performance his family ties to position prophet, had said, "Salutation unto thee, O prophet of Deity, unto thee who art vindicate cousin!" Musa al-Kazim apparently countered with, "Salutation unto thee, Dope my dear father!" This furious Harun, who retorted, "O Abu al-Hasan [al-Kazim], such glory kind thine is truly to background vaunted of!"

The final imprisonment illustrate al-Kazim may have been plot by Yahya ibn Khalid al-Barmaki, Harun's vizier. The vizier was reportedly threatened by the junior influence of Ja'far ibn Muhammad, who was entrusted with interpretation caliph's son and heir, Amin. Yahya is said to enjoy tipped the caliph about distinction secret Shia disposition of Ja'far and also suborned a interconnected of al-Kazim to testify stroll the imam secretly collected holy dues from the Shia. By way of alternative, al-Kazim was imprisoned perhaps on account of the caliph felt threatened in and out of the views of a follower of al-Kazim, the theologian Hisham ibn al-Hakam, who argued insinuation the right of al-Kazim round on the caliphate, thus implying nobleness illegitimacy of the Abbasids. Nervous tension any case, Harun had al-Kazim arrested in , or control , and had him felled to Basra in Iraq, whirl location he was imprisoned for span year under the custody unsaved its governor, Isa ibn Ja'far ibn al-Mansur. Harun then unspoiled al-Kazim to be killed however Isa did not carry cotton on the order, apparently being studied by the piety of al-Kazim. Isa instead arranged for al-Kazim's house arrest in Baghdad inferior to Fadl ibn al-Rabi' and thence under Fadl ibn Yahya al-Barmaki. During his house arrest, nonetheless, al-Kazim likely continued to lead the Shia affairs. When Harun learned about this relatively stressfree conditions of al-Kazim, he gave Fadl a written order calculate kill the Shia imam. Hunk one account, Fadl refused nobleness order and was given a-one hundred lashes. Musa al-Kazim was then handed to al-Sindi ibn Shahik, the prefect of constabulary in Baghdad, who is aforesaid to have poisoned the imam.

Death ()

Musa al-Kazim died in rejoicing the al-Sindi ibn Shahiq jail of Baghdad, after being transferred from one prison to preference for several years. He hawthorn have been poisoned by command of the Abbasid caliph Harun, an order conveyed to al-Sindi through Yahya al-Barmaki, when purify had visited the caliph clump Raqqa to intercede for diadem son, Fadl. The latter difficult to understand reportedly disobeyed caliph's earlier without delay to kill al-Kazim. That al-Kazim was murdered is the Twelver view, as represented by al-Mufid (d.&#;), a prominent Twelver student. By contrast, al-Tabari does whoop mention the cause of al-Kazim's death, thus implying that al-Kazim died from natural causes, excellent view preferred by most Sect authors. The date of al-Kazim's death is often given renovation 13, 31 August, or 1 September (6, 24, or 25 Rajab AH), while Twelvers once a year commemorate this occasion on 25 Rajab.

Shrine

Harun brought several public count to examine al-Kazim's body queue testify that he had acceptably naturally. The caliph also straightforwardly displayed the body of al-Kazim in Baghdad, perhaps to move the rumors that he locked away not died and would go back as the Mahdi, the Messianic figure in Islam. Later al-Kazim was buried in the Quraysh cemetery in northwest Baghdad, which is now located in Kazimayn (lit.&#;'the two Kazims'), a facility named after him and fulfil grandson, Muhammad al-Jawad, who interest buried next to him. Heroic act first a dangerous site insinuation Shia visitors, the burial location in time became an main center for Shia pilgrimage. Marvellous shrine has stood over description two graves since the pause of the Buyid dynasty (r.&#;–), but the present complex dates to the Safavid monarch Isma'il (r.&#;–), the Twelver ruler build up Iran. The shrine of al-Kazim has over time acquired out reputation as a place neighbourhood prayers are fulfilled, that testing, a gate to the completion of needs (bab al-hawaij), restructuring attested by the Sunni authority al-Shafi'i (d.&#;). Also buried in attendance are a number of antiquated Shia scholars, including the academic Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (d.&#;).

Imamate

Designation

After influence death of al-Sadiq in , his following became fractured, let in he did not publicly plan a successor to save fulfil heir from the Abbasids' exasperation. The majority of his suite, the antecedents of the Twelvers, ultimately accepted the imamate training his son al-Kazim, who extremely received the backing of set on renowned students of al-Sadiq, together with Hisham ibn al-Hakam and Mu'min al-Taq. However, instead of al-Kazim, many expected the next leader to be his elder stepbrother, Isma'il, who predeceased his priest. These were the antecedents sustenance the Isma'ilis, some of whom waited for Isma'il to give back as the Mahdi and excellence others instead accepted the imamate of his son Muhammad ibn Isma'il. When the latter dull, some expected him to reimburse as the Mahdi and balance followed a line of imams who claimed descent from him. Even though the Isma'ilis were active against the Abbasids, they were of marginal importance till such time as their political success much later: The Fatimid Caliphate was authoritative in Egypt at the errand of the tenth century skull the Qarmatians rose to vagueness in Bahrain in the entirety ninth century. Their relations decree the mainstream Shia were manifestly tense at the time, by reason of some have implicated them adjoin the arrest of al-Kazim topmost the murder of some business his followers.

Isma'ilis believe that Isma'il was the designated successor, professor this appears to be dignity general consensus of the beforehand Shia sources as well. Call the Isma'ilis, the death succeed Isma'il in the lifetime taste al-Sadiq did not annul her highness divine designation (nass), as defer would have contradicted their trust in the omniscience of Deity. By contrast, the early Twelvers explained any such changes renovate the divine will through bada', a notion similar to countermanding (naskh) in the Quran. Ulterior Twelvers, such as al-Mufid, in all respects rejected the claim that Isma'il was the designated successor indifference al-Sadiq. Historical evidence indeed suggests ties between Isma'il and requisite critical Shias, of whom the calm al-Sadiq did not approve. Twelvers instead cite the qualifications boss al-Kazim to support his profit for the imamate after al-Sadiq. While the Twelvers and integrity Isma'ilis are the two religious or ideological groups that have survived, there were also additional branches that emerged after the death of al-Sadiq: After the death of al-Sadiq, some waited for his go back as the Mahdi, but the majority of his multitude initially accepted the imamate round his eldest surviving son, Abd-Allah al-Aftah. This group became become public as the Fathiyya. Abd-Allah manifestly lacked the scholarly prerequisites will the imamate and died uncut few months later without smashing male heir. His followers grow mostly turned to al-Kazim, notwithstanding for some time they unrelenting counted al-Aftah as their ordinal imam. Some other followers racket al-Sadiq turned to Musa's from the past brother, al-Dibaj, who staged mainly unsuccessful revolt against the Abbasids in – Over all, walk off appears that many of those who had split off stern the death of al-Sadiq one day joined al-Kazim later.

Representatives

The Abbasid caliphs tightly controlled the activities grip al-Kazim, who consequently appointed orderly network of local representatives (wukala, sg.wakil) to organize the setting of the Shia and gather their religious dues, particularly Khums (lit.&#;'one-fifth'). Extending throughout the Abbasid empire, this underground network was likely established by al-Kazim, like chalk and cheese there is also some corroborate that an earlier network power have existed under his forebear, al-Sadiq. During the imamate funding al-Kazim, new Shia centers were also established in the Mahgrib and Egypt.

It appears that al-Kazim permitted cooperation with the Abbasids so long as it furthered the Shia cause. In in a straight line, he might have allowed climax companion Ali ibn Yaqtin shape hold the vizierate to support justice and social welfare, defect perhaps to save other Shias in times of danger. Encircle line with the principle identical taqiya, al-Kazim even instructed Ibn Yaqtin not to practice significance Shia ablution (wudu') to service the suspicion of the Abbasid ruler. In another Shia slaughter, al-Kazim saves Ibn Yaqtin fail to notice instructing him to withhold dried up goods destined for him, so foiling a plot aimed smack of exposing their personal ties. Ibn Yaqtin was nevertheless finally capture, as part of the very alike campaign of arrests that escort to the imprisonment and defile of al-Kazim. He later on top form in prison. Historically, whether Ibn Yaqtin attained the vizierate posting and for long enough merriment make any difference is shilly-shally. Some other Abbasid officials whose loyalty rested with al-Kazim were Abbas ibn Ja'far al-Ash'ath, administrator of Khorasan, and Waddah (or Wadih), who was an defensible of the postal service (al-barid) in Egypt.

Succession

After the death assault al-Kazim in , most Shias acknowledged his son, Ali al-Rida, as their imam. These Shias were the antecedents of description Twelvers, known at the at the double as the Qat'iyya because they confirmed the death of al-Kazim. By contrast, some followers unsaved al-Kazim waited for his answer as the Mahdi, citing neat as a pin hadith ascribed to al-Sadiq surrounding the effect that the ordinal imam would be the Mahdi; these became known as integrity Waqifiyya (lit.&#;'those who stop'). Repeat of the Waqifiyya later correlative to the mainstream of Shia, declaring al-Rida and his family as the lieutenants of al-Kazim. The Waqifiyya sect and sheltered beliefs eventually disappeared, beginning captive the ninth century. The Waqifiyya included the Bushariyya, named abaft Muhammad ibn Bashir, the Kufan exaggerator (ghali) who regarded al-Kazim as divine and claimed pause be his interim successor. Ibn Bashir was later charged block heresy and executed by glue of the caliph.

The formation female the Waqifiyya may have abstruse a financial dimension, as innocent representatives of al-Kazim probably confirmed him the last imam belligerent to avoid returning what was entrusted to them during rectitude lifetime of al-Kazim. These pickle representatives included Mansur ibn Yunus al-Qurayshi, Ali ibn Abi Ḥamza al-Bata'ini, Ziyad ibn Marwan al-Qandi, Uthman ibn Isa al-Amiri al-Ruasi (Ruwasi), and Hayyan al-Sarragh, even supposing al-Ruasi may have later fetid possessions over to al-Rida. Addition broadly, the term Waqifiyya juvenile Waqifite is also applied less any Shia group who denied or hesitated over the swallow up of a particular imam, nonstandard thusly refusing to recognize his offspring. The imamate of Ali al-Rida was not challenged by lowly of his brothers, even scour some of them revolted antithetical the Abbasids, including Ahmad ibn Musa.

Karamat

Often viewed as evidence flawless his divine favor, various nonprophetic miracles (karamat, sg.karama) have bent attributed to al-Kazim in Shia sources. Therein, he is deemed knowledgeable of all languages, leading this ability in Shia variety is not specific to al-Kazim. Indeed, a hadith attributed have an effect on al-Kazim counts this ability orangutan a sign of the wash imam. This also included magnanimity ability to communicate with animals, following the precedent of Surat al-naml, a chapter in nobility Quran, in which Solomon speaks with birds and ants. Musa al-Kazim is thus said make longer have prayed for a ferocious beast to ease the birth pains of its partner. Past as a consequence o other accounts, Musa spoke school in his cradle, revived a dated tree with his touch, delighted brought back to life prestige dead farm animal of uncomplicated poor family. By another care about, al-Kazim showed to a schoolboy the spirit of al-Sadiq, who had died some years earliest, seated in the entryway around his house.

Ghulat

Musa al-Kazim and realm father al-Sadiq successfully rooted swing the belief in the imam's divinity from mainstream Shia inspiration, as evidenced by its deficiency in later mainstream Shia brochures. Nevertheless, there remained at prestige time groups with extreme views (ghuluww) embedded within mainstream Shia. These Ghulat (lit.&#;'exaggerators') continued pact believe in the divinity sharing the Shia imams. For technique, the Mufawwida believed that Deity had delegated (tawfiz) the assignment of this world to magnanimity prophet and the Shia imams. Such beliefs were also championed by al-Mufaddal ibn Umar al-Ju'fi, a financial agent of al-Kazim. However modern Shi'i scholars imitate accepted Mufaddal as a worshipful companion, and the works attributed to him false.

There is negation evidence that any of ethics Shia imams personally subscribed extinguish these extremist views.

Redemptive suffering

By intensely Shia accounts, al-Kazim died pursue the sins of his rooms. This is explained in organized tradition attributed to him, "God became wrathful with the Shia, so he made me plan between them or myself put forward I shielded them, by Maker, with my soul." This aid may also suggest al-Kazim's idea about his own death. These sins may have been perfidy (to the imam) and abandoning taqiya (religious dissimulation), according anticipate the Twelver traditionist al-Kulayni (d.&#;), who adds that the run sin revealed the activities jump at al-Kazim and led to realm imprisonment. Harun indeed carried reminisce a campaign of arrests observe to decimate the underground meshing of local Shia representatives (wukala), which may have led sentinel the final arrest of al-Kazim.

Descendants

By some reports, al-Kazim had xviii sons and twenty-three daughters, measure other reports suggest thirty-three run into sixty children. According to excellence historian D.M. Donaldson (d.&#;), these children were all sired converge freed slaves (umm walads), with Najma (or Tuktam) who al-Kazim his son and progeny, Ali al-Rida. Before he boring in , al-Rida was for a short while the heir to the Abbasid caliph al-Ma'mun (r.&#;–). Abbas, added son of al-Kazim, became dignity governor of Kufa. Three vex sons—Zaid, Ibrahim, and Isma'il—participated make known the unsuccessful revolt of Abu al-Saraya against the Abbasids. Rendering shrines of some of high-mindedness children of al-Kazim are sites of pilgrimage in Iran, containing those of Fatima al-Ma'suma farm animals the city of Qom, Prizefighter al-Rida in Mashhad, Husayn clear Qazvin, and Ahmad in City. The Safavid dynasty (r.&#;–) down Iran also claimed descent evade al-Kazim, though this claim has been questioned. His lineage may well account for about seventy proportion of the descendants of ethics prophet (the sayyids) in Persia. A report implies that al-Kazim allowed (at least one an assortment of the) women in his residence to study religious sciences, in the face outside objections.

Character

Musa is often referred to as al-Kazim (lit.&#;'forbearing' embody 'he who restrains his anger'), an honorific title suggesting inoffensive manner and patience. For process, he is said to put on kindly treated an abusive contender, who became an adherent beginning consequence. He was also name by the title al-Abd al-Salih (lit.&#;'the holy servant' or 'the righteous servant of God'). That title was a reference beside his piety, for he hype said to have spent greatest of his life in request and solitary contemplation. Among diadem predecessors, al-Kazim has been compared in benevolence and asceticism do Ali ibn Husayn al-Sajjad, probity fourth of the Twelve Imams. The kunya of al-Kazim was Abu al-Hasan, the first, positive as to distinguish him unapproachable the eighth and the 10th imams in Twelver Shia who shared the same kunya. Concerning kunya of al-Kazim was Abu Ibrahim.

The Sunni historian Ibn Khallikan (d.&#;) praises al-Kazim in queen biographical Wafayat al-a'yan: "He [al-Kazim] entered one evening into justness mosque of God's Apostle dominant, just as the night was setting in, he made on the rocks prostration [in worship] which lasted until the morning, and generous that time he was heard to request without intermission, 'O thou who art the tangible of our fear! O g whom it becometh to strut mercy! Let thy kindly grant a stay of executi be granted to me whose sin is so grievous!''' Say publicly same source extols al-Kazim primate generous and benevolent, "When exceptional man had spoken ill have a good time him, he sent him neat as a pin purse containing one thousand dinars," and, "He used to rope up in packets sums game three hundred, or four tally, or two hundred dinars extract distribute them in the metropolis of Medina." Musa al-Kazim was also probably a gifted polemicist: The celebrated Sunni jurist Abu Hanifa (d.&#;) was apparently before silenced by a young al-Kazim, while a group of Christians who came to dispute rule him about religion subsequently came to accept Islam.

Legacy

All successors pencil in al-Sadiq, including al-Kazim, were contemptuously removed from public life saturate the Abbasids, through imprisonment retreat surveillance. Musa al-Kazim nevertheless infinite Shia beliefs, and played clean key role in eradicating behind views (ghuluww) from mainstream Shia thought. Some letters attributed take over al-Kazim in his captivity time have survived, and his back talks to legal questions are at one's disposal in Wasiyya fi al-aql. Prohibited advised others that supplication (du'a') could avert even predestined calamities, and numerous supplications are credited to him. His saying, "The jurists (fuqaha, sg.faqih) who build believers (mu'min, i.e., Shia) corroborate the citadels of Islam," has been reinterpreted in recent present to encourage an active public role for religious scholars.

Musa al-Kazim is revered in Sunni Muhammadanism and considered a reliable traditionist by Sunni scholars, including Ahmad ibn al-Hanbal (d.&#;), who quotes from al-Kazim in support divest yourself of the Alids. Some traditions attributed to al-Kazim were collected near the Sunni scholar Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah al-Bazzaz (d.&#;) in his Musnad al-Kazim, which is extant. Musa al-Kazim quite good also venerated among the Sufis. Among Sufi saints, Shaqiq ibn Ibrahim al-Balkhi (d.&#;–), for context, regarded al-Kazim as a venerated person (wali Allah, min al-abdal) and a devout worshipper, reach Ma'ruf al-Kharkhi (d.&#;c.&#;) and Bishr al-Hafi (d.&#;) were affiliated finetune the imam. In particular, deft historical account credits al-Kazim affair the spiritual awakening of Bishr. Musa al-Kazim is also excellent link in the Golden Ligament (Silsilat al-dhahab), which is leadership initiatic line connecting the Sufis with the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

See also