Musa al-Kadhim
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| Mūsá al-Kāżim Twelve Imams of Twelver Shi'a Islam |
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 A modern depiction by a Shi'a artist |
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| Rank | Seventh Twelver Imam |
|---|---|
| Name | Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad |
| Kunya | Abū Ibrahim |
| Birth | 7th Safar 128 AH ≈ 28 October 746 C.E. |
| Death | 25th Rajab 183 AH ≈ 1 September 799 C.E. |
| Birthplace | Abwa - Between Mecca and Medina |
| Buried | Kadhimayn |
| Life Duration | Before Imamate: 20 years (128 - 148 AH) Imamate: 35 years (148 - 183 AH) |
| Titles | al-Kãżim "the Calm" (Turkish) Yedinci Ali "Seventh ‘Alī" |
| Spouse(s) | ??? |
| Father | Ja‘far aṣ-Ṣādiq |
| Mother | Hamidah Khātūn |
| Children | Ali al-Ridha (successor), Hājar Khātūn |
al-Sajjad · al-Baqir · al-Sadiq |
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Mūsá ibn Ja‘far ibn Muḥammad al-Kāżim (Arabic: الإمام موسى الكاظم) (October 28, 746 AD - September 1, 799 / Safar 7, 128 AH – Rajab 25, 183 AH) was the seventh of the Twelver Shia Imāms. 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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.[1]
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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."
| Preceded by Jafar al-Sadiq |
Twelver Shi'a Imam 765–799 |
Succeeded by Ali al-Ridha |
