7th Imam of the Ahlul Bayt (as)
| Name | Hazrat Musa Ibn Ja'far (as) |
| Father | Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) |
| Mother | Hamidah Khatoon |
| Date of Birth | 3rd Safar / 7th Safar, 128 A.H. |
| Place of Birth | Abwaa |
| Kuniyyat | Abu Ibrahim, Abul Hasan al-Awwal, Abul Hasan al-Maazi |
| Titles | Zaaahir, Kazim, Abd as-Saleh, etc. |
| Age | 55 years |
| Martyrdom | 25th Rajab, 183 A.H. |
| Buried | Kazmain, Iraq |
The Abbasids followed a path similar to the Ummayids or even worse. The very people who played a major role in overthrowing the Bani Umayyah and fought in support of the Bani Abbas were regretting their decision. During his life time, Imam Kazim (as.) witnessed the reign of four caliphs namely Mansoor, Mohammad Mahdi, Moosa al-Hadi and Haroon Rashid. He faced a lot of suffering because of them and passed a large part of his life in the prisons of Muhammad Mahdi. Moreover, he remained in the prisons of Basra and Baghdad on the orders of Haroon Rashid, the powerful Abbasid caliph. During the 35 years of his Imamate, Imam (as.) was under severe control and watch of government.
When Imam Sadiq (as.) wanted to speak regarding the qualities of his son Imam Musa Kazim (as.), he would say:
"In him is the knowledge of judgement, understanding, generosity and cognition due to which the people need him in solving disputes in religious affairs and he possesses a good conduct. He is a secured neighbour and a gate from the gates of (recognizing) Allah, Mighty and Majestic be He."
— Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 48, narrating from Oyoon-o-Akhbaar al-Reza (as.)Haroon tells his son Mamoon about his awareness towards the divine position of Imam (as.):
"This is the leader of the people and the Proof of Allah upon His creatures and His Caliph upon His servants."
— Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 48, narrating from Oyoon-o-Akhbaar al-Reza (as.)While Imam (as.) passed a greater portion of his life in strict custody and vigilance of the authorities, he took care of the affairs of the Muslims and his Shias with his innovative plans. Imam (as.) had some Shia agents in the government. Through this method, he gathered information about the plans and schemes of the rulers and also provided facilities to his friends. The most famous of these agents was Ali Ibn Yaqteen, the prime minister of Haroon.
In a letter written to the governor of Rey province advising and recommending him the case of one of the Shias, Imam (as.) wrote:
"In the Name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful. Know that there is a shadow under the throne of Allah (arsh) whereunder none can reside except the one who has either rendered a goodness to his brother or removed from him a grief and made him joyous and happy. And this person is your brother. Was-salaam."
— Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 48, narrating from Qazaa-o-Hoqooq al-MomineenImam (as.) utilized the opportunity of imprisonment in uplifting his soul through worship of Allah in such way that it astonished everyone. Fazl Ibn Rabi, one of the jailers, described the magnificence of his spirit and his profound inclination in prayers and prostration before the Almighty Allah.
To rein in the arrogance of Haroon, he would write:
"Know that my hard days and your days of pleasure pass away concurrently and we shall come to an eternal period when the wrongdoers will be in heavy loss."
— Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 71This is a sign of the elevated and liberal spirit of a free man who is apparently in prison but talks firmly to a powerful person like Haroon — teaching us freedom of personality, spiritual power and firmness of faith.
To bring the Muslims closer to the Holy Qur'an and its sciences, he wrote in his will:
"Acquire deep knowledge in religion. For, deep knowledge is the key to insight and the perfection of worship and a means to reach and attain the exaltation in religion and the world. The superiority of the learned scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the sun over the stars. Anybody who fails to acquire deep knowledge in his religion, Allah will not be satisfied with his deeds."
— Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 10, narrating from Tohaf al-OqoolFinally, on Friday, the 25th of Rajab in the year 183 A.H., he bid farewell to the world on account of the poison given by Sendi Ibn Shahek in the Baghdad jail at the behest of Haroon, leaving behind the Shias and lovers of truth and freedom in tears, grief and sorrow.