Imam Musa al-Kazim (745-799 AD) was the seventh of the Twelve Imams in Shia Islam, and the son of the sixth Imam, Jafar al-Sadiq. He was born in Medina, present-day Saudi Arabia, and lived during the 8th century. He was known for his knowledge, piety, and devotion to God, and was respected by both Shias and Sunnis of his time.
Imam Musa al-Kazim was a very learned person who had a deep knowledge of Islamic theology, law, and hadith (the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad). He spent most of his life in prison, as he was arrested and imprisoned by the Abbasid Caliphate for his opposition to their rule. Despite the harsh conditions of his imprisonment, he continued to guide and teach his followers through secret correspondence.
Imam Musa al-Kazim is considered to be one of the most prominent Imams of the Shia Muslims, and many narrations, sermons and letters attributed to him have been collected in different books, such as “Sahifah al-Kazimiyah” (The Scroll of al-Kazim) and “Al-Majlisi’s Bihar al-Anwar” (The Oceans of Lights). He died in prison in Baghdad, and was buried in the city of Kazimayn, near Baghdad, in present-day Iraq. His death was a great loss to the Shia community, and his tomb is a place of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims to this day.
