Imam Musa b. Ja'far al-Kazim (a): Difference between revisions

Some debates and dialogues of Imam al-Kazim (a) with some [[Abbasid]] caliphs,<ref>Ibn Shahr Āshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 312-313; Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 84-85; Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 6, p. 406.</ref> Jewish<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 10, p. 244-245.</ref> and Christian<ref>Ibn Shahr Āshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 311-312.</ref> scholars, [[Abu Hanifa]]<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 3, p. 297.</ref> and others have been transmitted. Baqir Sharif al-Qarashi has collected eight dialogues of Imam al-Kazim (a) under his debates.<ref>Qarashī, ''Ḥayāt al-Imām Mūsā ibn Jaʿfar'', vol. 1, p. 278-294.</ref> Imam al-Kazim (a) had debates with [[al-Mahdi al-'Abbasi]] with respect to [[Fadak]] and the prohibition of [[wine]] in the [[Qur'an]].<ref>Kulaynī, ''al-Kāfī'', vol. 6, p. 406.</ref> He also had debates with [[Harun al-'Abbasi]]. Since Harun considered himself as a relative of [[the Prophet (s)]], Imam al-Kazim (a) made it explicit to Harun that he had the closest relation with the Prophet (s).<ref>Ṣadūq, ''ʿUyūn akhbār al-Riḍā'', vol. 1, p. 84-85; Shabrāwī, ''al-Itḥāf bi-ḥubb al-ashrāf'', p. 295; Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 10, p. 241-242.</ref> Musa b. Ja'far's (a) dialogues with scholars of other religions were usually in the form of replies to their questions, which led to their conversion to Islam.<ref>Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 10, p. 244-245; Ibn Shahr Āshūb, ''Manāqib Āl Abī Ṭālib'', vol. 4, p. 311-312; Ṣadūq, ''al-Tawḥīd'', p. 270-275. </ref>

Imam al-Kazim's (a) practice in his relation with God was different from his practice in his interactions with people and rulers of his time. His practices in these respects are reported as his practices of worship, ethics, and politics.

According to Shiite and Sunni sources, Imam al-Kazim (a) frequently practiced worshiping God. Thus, he came to be known as "al-'Abd al-Salih" (the righteous worshiper or servant of God)<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 32-33.</ref>. According to some reports, Imam al-Kazim (a) worshiped so much that his prisoners were impressed.<ref>Khaṭīb al-Baghdādī, ''Tārīkh Baghdād'', vol. 13, p. 32-33.</ref> According to [[al-Shaykh al-Mufid]], Musa b. Ja'far (a) was the greatest worshiper of his time and he cried out of the fear of God so much that his beard got wet. In his [[sujud|prostrations]], he repeated the supplication: "If Thy servant's sin is great, then the Forgiveness from Thee is the best" ({{ia| عَظُمَ الذَّنْبُ مِنْ عَبْدِكَ فَلْيَحْسُنِ الْعَفْوُ مِنْ عِنْدِكَ}}) and the supplication: "O God! I ask Thee the comfort at the time of death and forgiveness at the time of Judgment" ({{ia| اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الرَّاحَةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَ الْعَفْوَ عِنْدَ الْحِسَابِ}}).<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 231-232.</ref> Even when he was imprisoned at the command of Harun, he thanked God for having an opportunity to worship Him: "I always asked Thee an opportunity to worship and Thou Have Provided it for me, so I thank Thee".<ref>Mufīd, ''al-Irshād'', vol. 2, p. 240.</ref>