Imam Ali (as) said, Surely, Allah has chosen for us followers (Shiahs) who assist us and are happy at our happiness and are sad in our sadness. (Ghuraral‑Hikam vol. 1, pg. 135).
 
The birth anniversary of Imam Musa (as) is often overlooked as it falls within the days of mourning for Imam Husain (as). However we must remember that every sorrow of the Ahlul Bayt (as) is our sorrow and every joy of theirs is a cause of joy for us. Hence it is most appropriate on this peaceful and blessed occasion of the birth anniversary of the seventh Infallible imam, Imam Musa ibn Jafar, al-Kazim (as), that World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL) extends its warm wishes to the Imam of our time Imam Mahdi (atfs), the Ahlul Bayt (as), all righteous scholars and all believers.  We thank God the Merciful for this great blessing that descended on earth on this day.
 
Imam was born in Madina on 7th Safar 128 Hijri (744 CE) and was martyred in Baghdad Iraq on 25th Rajab 183 Hijri (799 CE) at the age of 55. His parents were the sixth Imam, Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (as) and lady Hamida Khatoon (sa). The period of his Imamate was 35 years.
 
One of the miracles of his birth is that his mother described that, "when my son came to the world, he set his head on the ground for prostration, and thanked God, and this is the sign of his Imamate." When Imam Sadiq (A.S.) arrived in Madina, he laid the meal tables for as long as three days and invited all the afflicted and poor ones to it.
 
Yaqoob Siraj says, I happened to visit Imam Sadiq (A.S.) in Madina, I saw him near the cradle of his son Imam Musa Kazim (A.S.). I saluted him and he cheerfully answered it. Then he said, "Come near the Imam succeeding me and salute him." I came close and saluted. He responded eloquently and said, "God has given you a daughter to whom you have not given a good name. Go and change her name."
The above statement proves the infallibility of the Imam and also his divinely ordained undisputed appointment by Allah.
 
Imam Musa (as) cultivated land which was his personal property and earned to cover his expenses thus. He would comment, ‘Work and pain is the style of the Prophets and Executors of God, and His worthy and decent servants have toiled in work with hardships of the world so as to provide and meet their life expenses with their own earnings.’
 
Imam Musa (as) lived through the time of great political tumult, seeing the Abbasids take over rule from the Umayyads. At the age of 20 the Imam was designated as the seventh divinely appointed Infallible imam. He lived through the reign of four Abbasid caliphs, all desperate to justify their usurped rule. At times the Imam was left in peace in Madinah, where he continued the spreading of the faith by teaching at the university set up by his grandfather imam Muhammad al-Baqir (as).  However on many occasions he was summoned to Baghdad and imprisoned.
 
Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (as) was one of the illustrious Imams who God had sent as a paragon of moral excellence. Each member of this noble family possessed virtues. Naturally in some individuals a particular virtue is dominant and more conspicuous. The seventh Imam excelled in tolerance and forgiveness, so much so that he was entitled al-Kazim, the suppressor of anger.
 
Never was he heard speaking roughly or harshly to anyone. Even in the most unpleasant situations, he was seen smiling bearing his pain gracefully. This was in accordance with the saying of his ancestor Imam ‘Ali (as) that the faithful keeps his grief confined in his heart with a smile on his face.
 
On this day we reflect on Imam’s life. Bearing in mind that the Ismailis rejected Imam Musa (as), we affirm that the successors were 12 in number, all already appointed in the Heavens and named by the Prophet, and that our loyalty lies with each of them equally.
 
Some of Imam's well-known sayings are:

1. Always say the right thing although it may lead to your loss.
2. Whenever you get a pious leader and ruler (then) thank God for this boon.
3. Be tough and strict with the cruel so that you may take the right of the oppressed from him.
4. The best of generosity is the help to the oppressed.
5. The world is soft and beautiful like a snake but there is a (disastrous) killer poison hidden inside it.
May we follow the example of Imam Musa al-Kazim (as) and live our lives under the shade of his teachings.
 
Sayed Mohammad Al-Musawi
World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League (WABIL)
London, UK
 
 
 

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