Imam Musa al-Kazim, the seventh Imam of the Ahl al-Bayt, was born on November 8, 745 CE in Medina. He was the son of Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq and his mother was Hamida Khatun. Known for his exceptional piety and forbearance, he earned the title “al-Kazim” (the forbearing) and “al-Abd al-Salih” (virtuous slave of God).

الإمام موسى الكاظم، الإمام السابع من أئمة أهل البيت، وُلد في ٨ نوفمبر ٧٤٥ م في المدينة المنورة. أبوه الإمام جعفر الصادق وأمه السيدة حميدة خاتون. معروف بتقواه الاستثنائية وصبره، وكان يلقب بالكاظم والعبد الصالح

Imam Musa al-Kazim’s life was marked by his unwavering dedication to religious teachings and his commitment to justice. Despite facing severe persecution and imprisonment by the Abbasid rulers, he continued to guide his followers and expand the network of representatives to support the Shia community. His imprisonment was often a result of his refusal to compromise his principles and his efforts to maintain the integrity of the faith.

تميزت حياة الإمام موسى الكاظم بالتزامه الثابت بالتعاليم الدينية وسعيه للعدالة. على الرغم من تعرضه للاضطهاد والسجن من قبل الحكام العباسيين، استمر في توجيه أتباعه وتوسيع شبكة الممثلين لدعم المجتمع الشيعي. كان سجنه غالبًا نتيجة رفضه التنازل عن مبادئه وسعيه للحفاظ على نزاهة الإيمان

Imam Musa al-Kazim is also remembered for his generosity and compassion. He was known to help the needy and was often referred to as “Bab al-Hawa’ij” (the door to fulfilling needs). His responses to legal and theological questions have been preserved in texts such as “Wasiyya fi al-Aql,” and he is credited with numerous supplications and prayers.

واشتهر الإمام موسى الكاظم أيضًا بكرمه وتعاطفه. كان معروفًا بمساعدة المحتاجين وغالبًا ما كان يُشار إليه باسم باب الحوائج. تم الحفاظ على ردوده على الأسئلة الفقهية والعقدية في نصوص مثل “وصية في العقل”، كما اشتهر عنه العديد من الأدعية والصلوات

Imam Musa al-Kazim passed away on 25 of Rajab (August 31, 799 CE), in a Baghdad prison, under suspicious circumstances, possibly due to poisoning. His shrine in Kazimayn, Baghdad, alongside his grandson Imam Muhammad al-Jawad, is a significant pilgrimage site for Muslims.

استشهد الإمام موسى الكاظم في 25 من رجب (٧٩٩ مـ) في سجن بغداد مسموماً. ضريحه في الكاظمية  ببغداد يجاوره حفيده الإمام محمد الجواد، وهو موقع حج مهم للمسلمين

SELECTED APHORISMS OF IMAM AL-KAZIM

مختارات من حكم الإمام الكاظم عليه السلام

1. If times of death were revealed, expectations would be debunked. 
2. لَو ظَهَرتِ الآجالُ افتَضَحَتِ الآمالُ.
3. Anticipating relief is part of the relief itself.
4. انتظارُ الفَرَجِ مِن الفَرَجِ
5. Faith is all action, and the statement is but part of the action that Allah has made mandatory, which He has explained in His Book.
6. الإيمانُ عملٌ كلُّهُ، والقَولُ بعضُ ذلكَ العملِ بِفَرضٍ مِن اللَّهِ بَيَّنَهُ في كِتابهِ
7. You will not be believers until you consider the ordeal as a bounty and ease as an affliction, for patience during an ordeal is greater than oblivion during ease.
8. لَن تَكونوا مؤمنينَ حتّى‏ تَعُدّوا البلاءَ نِعمَةً والرَّخاءَ مُصيبَةً، وذلكَ أنَّ الصَّبرَعِند البلاءِ أعظَمُ مِن الغَفلةِ عندَ الرَّخاءِ
9. Sins cannot be other than one of three cases: either they originate from Allah – which they do not – and in this case it would not be proper for the Lord to punish His servant for what he has not committed; or that they originate from Him and the servant together – which they do not – and in this case it would not be proper for the strong partner to wrong the weak partner; or that they originate from the servant – which they do – and in this case, if Allah forgives, it is due to His kindness and liberality, or if He punishes, it is as a result of the sin and crime of the servant.
10. إنّ السَّيّئاتِ لا تَخْلو مِن إحدى‏ ثلاثٍ: إمّا أنْ تكونَ مِن اللَّهِ – ولَيستْ مِنهُ – فلا يَنبغي للرَّبِّ أنْ يُعذّبَ العبدَ على‏ ما لا يَرْتَكِبُ، وإمَّا أنْ تكونَ مِنهُ ومِن العبدِ – ولَيستْ كذلكَ – فلا يَنبغي للشَّريكِ القَوِيِّ أنْ يظلِمَ الشَّريكَ‏الضَّعيفَ، وإمّا أنْ تكونَ مِن العبدِ – وهِي مِنهُ – فإنْ عَفا فبِكَرَمِهِ وجُودِهِ، وإنْ عاقَبَ فبِذَنبِ العبدِ وجَريرَتِهِ
11. The catastrophe is but a single one for the patient man, and two for the wailing one.
12. المُصيبَةُ للصّابرِواحدَةٌ، وللجازعِ اثْنَتانِ.
13. Combat your self to avert it against its desires, for this is incumbent upon you as fighting your enemy.
14. جاهِدْ نَفْسَكَ لِتَرُدَّها عَن‏هَواها، فإنَّهُ واجِبٌ علَيكَ كجِهادِ عَدُوِّكَ
15. Neighbourliness is not only to desist from annoying [one’s neighbour], but also to forbear annoyance [from him].
16. ليسَ حُسنُ الجِوارِ كَفَّ الأذى‏، ولكنْ حُسنُ الجِوارِ الصّبرُ على‏ الأذى‏
17. Speak the truth even if it entails your own ruin, for verily your deliverance is therein… and abandon falsehood even if it entails your deliverance, for truly therein is your ruin.

قُلِ الحقَّ وإنْ كانَ فيهِ هَلاكُكَ، فإنَّ فيهِ نَجاتَكَ… ودَعِ الباطِلَ وإنْ كانَ فيهِ نَجاتُكَ فإنّ فيهِ هَلاكَكَ

10. Verily a seed grows in soft ground and does not grow on stone, in the same way that wisdom thrives in the heart of the humble and does not thrive in the heart of the proud and haughty , because Allah has made humbleness the instrument of the intellect.
11. إنّ الزَّرعَ يَنْبُتُ في السَّهلِ ولا يَنْبُتُ في الصَّفا، فكذلكَ الحِكمَةُ تَعْمُرُ في قَلبِ المُتواضِعِ، ولا تَعْمُرُ في قَلبِ المُتَكبِّرِ الجبّارِ ؛ لأنَّ اللَّهَ جَعلَ التَّواضُعَ آلةَ العَقلِ