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One of the imams of the Ahl al-Bayt; the seventh imam of the Twelvers.
His full name was Abu'l-Hasan Mûsâ al-Kâzim b. Ja'far al-Sâdiq b. Muhammad al-Bâqir. He was born on 7 Safar of the year 128 (8 November 745) at al-Abwâ' near Medina. His mother was Hamîda bint Sâ'id al-Barbariyya.
The epithet al-Kâzim, he who restrains his anger, comes from his having taken the way of forbearance and piety rather than political action.
After the death of his father Ja'far al-Sâdiq in 148 (765) it was disputed to whom the imamate had passed; a large part of the Shî'a accepted his imamate.
He drew upon himself the suspicion of the Abbasid caliphs al-Mahdî and al-Hâdî, and above all of Hârûn al-Rashîd. He was arrested in 179 (795), on Hârûn's return from the pilgrimage, and remained in prison.
He died in Rajab of the year 183 (August 799). The source records that his death came about by the order of Hârûn al-Rashîd, at the hand of his officer al-Sindî b. Shâhak.
His Circle of Influence — The number of his children is given in the sources as between thirty-seven and sixty. His son 'Alî al-Ridâ is the eighth imam of the Twelvers; his grandson Muhammad al-Taqî is buried with him in the same tomb.
His Tomb and Complex — It is in the shrine of al-Kâzimiyya at Baghdad, which is named after him.
Differing Scholarly Views
🔴 THE DISPUTE OVER THE IMAMATE AND THE DIVISION OF THE SHÎ'A. After the death of Ja'far al-Sâdiq the Shî'a divided over the question of to whom the imamate had passed: one part accepted the imamate of Mûsâ al-Kâzim, while out of another were formed the groups of the Ismâ'îliyya and the Aftahiyya. The atlas takes no side in this parting (rule #9, principles 3 and 5).
The cause of his death. The source connects his death with the order of Hârûn al-Rashîd and with al-Sindî b. Shâhak. The atlas conveys this in the form in which the source records it, and passes no judgement of its own.
Sources
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi (DİA) — Mustafa Öz · vol. 31, pp. 219-221, entry “MÛSÂ el-KÂZIM”
The sources for this record are listed below (Mandatory Sources).
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Permanent ID: EA-Z-000293 · this address reaches the same record even if its name changes; use it when citing.
External records: TDV Encyclopedia of Islam article