#kadhim

Imam Musa ibn Jaffar al-Kadhim (as) was the son of Imam Jaffar ibn Muhammad as-Sadiq and his mother Lady Hamida. The life of Imam al-Kadhim was a treacherous one with too many years spent in prisons. He was born on the 7th of Safar and died on the 25th of Rajab, on a Friday. He was martyred in the last prison he stayed in, As-Sindi, at the age of 55. His imamate began at the age of 20 so his period of Imamate was for 35 years. He died in Baghdad while in prison, by means of poison. He was the 7th Imam which makes him the ninth infallible in the line of 14. 

Virtues of the Imam:

“Imam Al-Kadhim (a.s.) did not make much trouble for the incumbent caliphs, due to unprepared conditions. He spent his time in worshipping, working for making a living, publishing religious sciences and teachings, guiding the people, and training students and hadith narrators. He was, in fact, considered a famous scholar and jurisprudent. Nevertheless, the caliphs in office feared his scientific stance and social popularity.”

Ibn Sabbagh Maliki has written, “Musa Al-Kadhim was a great honorable Imam. He was a unique scholar. He spent his nights in prayers and worship and his days in fasting. He forgave the sinners a lot, thus he was called Al-Kadhim. The people of Iraq know him as Babul Hawa’ij (the answer to all requests).”

“Some of Imam Al-Kadhim’s (a.s.) companions have narrated that one night Imam (a.s.) entered the mosque of Messenger of Allah (S). He had a long sajdah early at night, saying, “Great sins are with me, good forgiving is with You! O Lord of pardon and Piety!” And Imam (a.s.) repeated the same supplication in his sajdah until the dawn.”

Link: https://www.al-islam.org/imamate-and-imams-ayatullah-ibrahim-amini/seventh-imam-musa-al-kadhim

Imam Al-Kadhim is a perfect display of patience. His own Kunya (or nickname), “Kadhim” means to restrain from anger in time of difficulty. The imam practiced his life that way so often that people named him after his trait. Just as the people at the time of the Prophet, would call him Sadiq and Ameen, the 7th Imam was taken as Kadhim. It is easy to overlook this Imam in our yearly anniversaries since his birth is around the time we are commemorating Sayeda Zainab (as) and the women of Karbala and the date of his death is during Rajab, in which many anniversaries fall. Despite this, we revere him to be the patient and just Imam he was, because as many virtues he shares with the rest of the infallibles, he is still unique in his own way.