The Birthday of Imam Mūsā al-Kāzhim (128 A.H. / 749 A.D.)
On Thursday, the 27th of June 2024 A.D. (the 20th of Dhū al-Hijjah 1445 A.H.)
Imam Mūsā al-Kāzhim (the Shia’s seventh Imam) was born on the 7th of the month of Safar (128 A.H. / 749 A.D) in Abwā’ (a region between Medina and Mecca). He was the son of Imam Ja‘far al-Sādiq whose lineage, by five generations, reaches the holy Prophet, and the name of his mother was Hamīdah.
The 7th Imam earned some titles among people for his unique and refined characters. For instance, he was called ‘Abd al-Sālih (the noble servant of Allah) for his perfect character and manners, Bāb al-Hawā’ij (the door to fulfilling people’s needs) for his great position in the fulfilling people’s desires and needs when one beseeches Allah invoking his name, also his patience and forbearance was such that he was given the title of al-Kāzim (the one who restrains his anger).
Imam al-Kāzhim was born during the struggle between the Umayyads and the Abbasids. For twenty years, he was under the authority of his father.
In 148 A.H. (765 A.D.), upon the martyrdom of Imam al-Sādiq, the responsibility of Imamate devolved to him at the age of twenty and the period of his Imamate continued for thirty-five years. So, he held this coveted distinction as the longest period of Imamate of the other Imams.
The seventh Imam was the embodiment of virtue and generosity. He devoted his nights to the prayers of Allah and his days to fasting and used to provide sustenance for the destitute people of Medina secretly. Not only was he the most devout in his worship among the people, but was also the most well-versed man in the Islamic sciences and Jurisprudence.
Finally, he was martyred on the 25th of Rajab 183 A.H. (799 A.D.) at the age of fifty and was buried in Bagdad.
