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Imam Musa b. Ja'far al-Kazim (a): Difference between revisions
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There is a disagreement over the date of Imam al-Kazim's (a) birth. Al-Tabari takes it to be in [[Dhu l-Hijja]],<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Dalāʾil al-Imāma'', p. 303.</ref> and al-Tabrisi takes it to on [[Safar 7]]<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 6.</ref>. According to some sources, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] strongly loved him.<ref>Shabrāwī, ''al-Itḥāf bi-ḥubb al-ashrāf'', p. 295.</ref> According to a hadith transmitted by [[Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Khalid al-Barqi|al-Barqi]], Imam al-Sadiq (a) gave food to people for three days after the birth of his son.<ref>Amīn, ''Sīra-yi maʿṣūmān'', vol. 6, p. 113.</ref> | There is a disagreement over the date of Imam al-Kazim's (a) birth. Al-Tabari takes it to be in [[Dhu l-Hijja]],<ref>Ṭabarī, ''Dalāʾil al-Imāma'', p. 303.</ref> and al-Tabrisi takes it to on [[Safar 7]]<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 6.</ref>. According to some sources, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] strongly loved him.<ref>Shabrāwī, ''al-Itḥāf bi-ḥubb al-ashrāf'', p. 295.</ref> According to a hadith transmitted by [[Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Khalid al-Barqi|al-Barqi]], Imam al-Sadiq (a) gave food to people for three days after the birth of his son.<ref>Amīn, ''Sīra-yi maʿṣūmān'', vol. 6, p. 113.</ref> | ||
Musa b. Ja'far (a) was born in the period of the transfer of power from the [[Umayyads]] to the [[Abbasids]]. When he was | Musa b. Ja'far (a) was born in the period of the transfer of power from the [[Umayyads]] to the [[Abbasids]]. When he was four years old, the first Abbasid caliph took over the power. There is no information in historical sources about Imam al-Kazim's (a) life before his imamate, except for a few scholarly dialogues during his childhood, such as his dialogue with [[Abu Hanifa]]<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 3, p. 297.</ref> and scholars of other religions in [[Medina]]<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 10, p. 244-245.</ref>. | ||
According to a hadith cited in ''[[Manaqib Al Abi Talib (book)|Manaqib]]'', he anonymously entered a village in [[Syria]] and had a dialogue with a priest there. The dialogue led to the conversion of the priest and his companions to Islam.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 311-312.</ref> There are reports of the Imam's (a) trips to [[Mecca]] for [[hajj]] or [['Umra]] pilgrimages.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 312-313.</ref> The Imam (a) was repeatedly summoned by the Abbasid caliphs to [[Baghdad]]. Other than these occasions, he spent most of his life in Medina. | According to a hadith cited in ''[[Manaqib Al Abi Talib (book)|Manaqib]]'', he anonymously entered a village in [[Syria]] and had a dialogue with a priest there. The dialogue led to the conversion of the priest and his companions to Islam.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 311-312.</ref> There are reports of the Imam's (a) trips to [[Mecca]] for [[hajj]] or [['Umra]] pilgrimages.<ref>Ibn Shahrāshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 312-313.</ref> The Imam (a) was repeatedly summoned by the Abbasid caliphs to [[Baghdad]]. Other than these occasions, he spent most of his life in Medina. | ||
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== Imamate == | == Imamate == | ||
Musa b. Ja'far (a), after the [[martyrdom]] of his father in [[148]]/765 when he was | Musa b. Ja'far (a), after the [[martyrdom]] of his father in [[148]]/765 when he was twenty years old, became the [[imam]] of [[Shi'a]].<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi Imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 385.</ref> | ||
The period of Imam al-Kazim's (a) imamate coincided with the periods of four Abbasid caliphs.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 6.</ref> About | The period of Imam al-Kazim's (a) imamate coincided with the periods of four Abbasid caliphs.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 6.</ref> About ten years of his imamate occurred in the period of al-Mansur's caliphate (reign: 136/754-158/774-5); eleven years of it occurred in the period of the caliphate of al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi (reign: 158/775-169/785-6); one year of it occurred in the period of the caliphate of al-Hadi al-'Abbasi (reign: 169/785-6; -170/786-7); and thirteen years of it occurred in the period of Harun's caliphate (reign: 170/786-7; -193/809).<ref>Pīshwāyī, ''Sīra-yi pīshwāyān'', p. 413.</ref> Musa b. Ja'far's (a) imamate lasted for thirty-five years, and he was succeeded by his son, [[Imam al-Rida (a)]], after his martyrdom in 183/799.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi Imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 385.</ref> | ||
===Textual Evidence for Imamate=== | ===Textual Evidence for Imamate=== | ||
{{see also|Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a)}} | {{see also|Imamate of the Twelve Imams (a)}} | ||
From the Shiite point of view, an Imam can only be designated by the previous Imam. That is, every Imam should explicitly select and introduce his successor. On a number of occasions, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] announced the imamate of his son, Musa, to his close companions. There are sections about the designations for the imamate of Musa b. Ja'far (a) in ''[[al-Kafi]]''<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 1, p. 307-311.</ref>, ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]''<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 48, p. 12-29.</ref>, ''[[al-Irshad]]''<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 216-222.</ref>, and ''[[I'lam al-wara]]''<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 7-16.</ref> which have, respectively, cited | From the Shiite point of view, an Imam can only be designated by the previous Imam. That is, every Imam should explicitly select and introduce his successor. On a number of occasions, [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] announced the imamate of his son, Musa, to his close companions. There are sections about the designations for the imamate of Musa b. Ja'far (a) in ''[[al-Kafi]]''<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 1, p. 307-311.</ref>, ''[[Bihar al-anwar]]''<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 48, p. 12-29.</ref>, ''[[al-Irshad]]''<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 216-222.</ref>, and ''[[I'lam al-wara]]''<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 7-16.</ref> which have, respectively, cited sixteen, forty-six, twelve, and fourteen hadiths in this regard. Here are some such hadiths: | ||
* [[Al-Fayd b. al-Mukhtar]] asked Imam al-Sadiq (a) about the next Imam. At that time, his son, Musa, entered and Imam al-Sadiq (a) introduced him as the next Imam.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 10.</ref> | * [[Al-Fayd b. al-Mukhtar]] asked Imam al-Sadiq (a) about the next Imam. At that time, his son, Musa, entered and Imam al-Sadiq (a) introduced him as the next Imam.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Iʿlām al-warā'', vol. 2, p. 10.</ref> | ||
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There are many reports about Imam al-Kazim's (a) patience<ref>Ibn al-Athīr, al-Kāmil, vol. 6, p. 164; Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ'', p. 312.</ref> and generosity in Shiite and Sunni sources<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 30-33; Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', vol. 2, p. 154-167.</ref>. [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] believed that the Imam (a) was the most generous man of his time who secretly took provisions and food to the poor in Medina overnight.<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 231-232.</ref> [[Ibn 'Inaba]] said about Musa b. Ja'far's (a) generosity: he left home overnight with bags of dirhams and gave them to every person in need whom he met. His bags of dirhams were well-known among the people at the time.<ref>Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 177.</ref> It is also said that Musa b. Ja'far (a) was also generous to those who bothered him, and whenever he learned that someone was seeking to bother him, he sent gifts to him.<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 29.</ref> Al-Shaykh al-Mufid has also considered Imam al-Kazim (a) as persistent on [[silat al-rahim]] (family ties).<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 232.</ref> | There are many reports about Imam al-Kazim's (a) patience<ref>Ibn al-Athīr, al-Kāmil, vol. 6, p. 164; Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ'', p. 312.</ref> and generosity in Shiite and Sunni sources<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 30-33; Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', vol. 2, p. 154-167.</ref>. [[Al-Shaykh al-Mufid]] believed that the Imam (a) was the most generous man of his time who secretly took provisions and food to the poor in Medina overnight.<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 231-232.</ref> [[Ibn 'Inaba]] said about Musa b. Ja'far's (a) generosity: he left home overnight with bags of dirhams and gave them to every person in need whom he met. His bags of dirhams were well-known among the people at the time.<ref>Ibn ʿInaba, ''ʿUmdat al-ṭālib'', p. 177.</ref> It is also said that Musa b. Ja'far (a) was also generous to those who bothered him, and whenever he learned that someone was seeking to bother him, he sent gifts to him.<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 29.</ref> Al-Shaykh al-Mufid has also considered Imam al-Kazim (a) as persistent on [[silat al-rahim]] (family ties).<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 232.</ref> | ||
The Imam (a) came to be known as "al-Kazim" because he greatly controlled his anger.<ref>Ibn al-Athīr, ''al-Kāmil'', vol. 6, p. 166; Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ'', p. 312.</ref> There are different reports that he controlled his anger against his enemies and people who hurt him.<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 233; Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', vol. 2, p. 160-162.</ref> For example, a man from the progeny of [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] insulted [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] in the presence of Imam al-Kazim (a). The Imam's (a) companions wanted to attack him, but the Imam (a) did not allow them to do so. He then went to the man's farm. When the man saw Imam al-Kazim (a), he cried and asked the Imam (a) not to tread on his crops. The Imam (a) approached him and kindly asked: "how much did you spend on the farm?". The man replied: "100 dinars". Then the Imam (a) asked: "how much will you benefit from the farm?" The man said: "I do not have the knowledge of the hidden". Imam al-Kazim (a) asked: "how much do you hope to benefit?" The man replied: "200 dinars". The Imam (a) gave 300 dinars to him and said: "these 300 dinars are yours and keep your crops". The Imam (a) went to the mosque then. The man hurried up to the mosque and arrived sooner than the Imam (a). When he saw the Imam (a), he recited the Quranic verse: "Allah best knows where He places His message"(Quran 6:124).<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 30.</ref> | The Imam (a) came to be known as "al-Kazim" because he greatly controlled his anger.<ref>Ibn al-Athīr, ''al-Kāmil'', vol. 6, p. 166; Ibn al-Jawzī, ''Tadhkirat al-khawāṣṣ'', p. 312.</ref> There are different reports that he controlled his anger against his enemies and people who hurt him.<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 233; Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', vol. 2, p. 160-162.</ref> For example, a man from the progeny of [['Umar b. al-Khattab]] insulted [[Imam 'Ali (a)]] in the presence of Imam al-Kazim (a). The Imam's (a) companions wanted to attack him, but the Imam (a) did not allow them to do so. He then went to the man's farm. When the man saw Imam al-Kazim (a), he cried and asked the Imam (a) not to tread on his crops. The Imam (a) approached him and kindly asked: "how much did you spend on the farm?". The man replied: "100 dinars". Then the Imam (a) asked: "how much will you benefit from the farm?" The man said: "I do not have the knowledge of the hidden". Imam al-Kazim (a) asked: "how much do you hope to benefit?" The man replied: "200 dinars". The Imam (a) gave 300 dinars to him and said: "these 300 dinars are yours and keep your crops". The Imam (a) went to the mosque then. The man hurried up to the mosque and arrived sooner than the Imam (a). When he saw the Imam (a), he recited the Quranic verse: "Allah best knows where He places His message"([[Sura al-An'am|Quran 6]]:124).<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 30.</ref> | ||
[[Al-Bushr al-Hafi]] was also impressed by the Imam's (a) remarks and moral practice and then [[tawba|repented]] to God.<ref>Ḥillī, ''Minḥāj al-kirāma'', p. 59.</ref> | [[Al-Bushr al-Hafi]] was also impressed by the Imam's (a) remarks and moral practice and then [[tawba|repented]] to God.<ref>Ḥillī, ''Minḥāj al-kirāma'', p. 59.</ref> | ||
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According to some sources, Imam al-Kazim (a) emphasized the illegitimacy of the [[Abbasid]] caliphs in different ways, such as having debates and refusing to cooperate with them and thus he tried to undermine people's trust in them.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi Imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 385.</ref> The following are cases of his attempts to question the legitimacy of the Abbasids: | According to some sources, Imam al-Kazim (a) emphasized the illegitimacy of the [[Abbasid]] caliphs in different ways, such as having debates and refusing to cooperate with them and thus he tried to undermine people's trust in them.<ref>Jaʿfarīyān, ''Ḥayāt-i fikrī wa sīyāsī-yi Imāmān-i Shīʿa'', p. 385.</ref> The following are cases of his attempts to question the legitimacy of the Abbasids: | ||
In some cases in which the Abbasid caliphs tried to legitimize their government by their relation to the Prophet (s) by blood, Imam al-Kazim (a) tried to show that he was closer to the Prophet (s) than the Abbasids. For example, in a dialogue with Harun al-'Abbasi, Imam al-Kazim (a) appealed to Quranic verses, such as the [[al-Mubahala Verse]], to show that his lineage goes back to the Prophet (s) through his great-grandmother, [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]].<ref>Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 84-85.</ref> | In some cases, in which the Abbasid caliphs tried to legitimize their government by their relation to the Prophet (s) by blood, Imam al-Kazim (a) tried to show that he was closer to the Prophet (s) than the Abbasids. For example, in a dialogue with Harun al-'Abbasi, Imam al-Kazim (a) appealed to Quranic verses, such as the [[al-Mubahala Verse]], to show that his lineage goes back to the Prophet (s) through his great-grandmother, [[Fatima al-Zahra (a)]].<ref>Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 84-85.</ref> | ||
When [[al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi]] began to return suspicious or usurped property to their owners, Imam al-Kazim (a) asked him to return the [[Fadak]] to him.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Tahdhīb al-aḥkām'', vol. 4, p. 149.</ref> When al-Mahdi asked him to determine the limits of the Fadak, the Imam (a) gave him the limits equal to those of the Abbasid government.<ref>Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', p. 472.</ref> | When [[al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi]] began to return suspicious or usurped property to their owners, Imam al-Kazim (a) asked him to return the [[Fadak]] to him.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Tahdhīb al-aḥkām'', vol. 4, p. 149.</ref> When al-Mahdi asked him to determine the limits of the Fadak, the Imam (a) gave him the limits equal to those of the Abbasid government.<ref>Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā b. Jaʿfar'', p. 472.</ref> | ||