Seventh Imam
Imam Musa al-Kazim (a)
al-Kazim — the Forbearing
Livedc. 745–799 CE (128–183 AH)
Resting placeKazimiyya, Baghdad
FatherImam Ja'far al-Sadiq
MotherLady Hamida
PassingMartyred — poisoned in prison
At the hands ofBy order of Harun al-Rashid, 183 AH
Birth & Lineage
Born near Medina around 128 AH, Musa was called al-Kazim — “the one who swallows his anger” — for his patience and self-mastery under relentless Abbasid pressure.
Life & Virtues
The caliph Harun al-Rashid, fearing his standing among the people, had him moved from prison to prison for years. Even in chains he spent his nights in worship, and guided his followers through a network of trusted agents.
Martyrdom & Legacy
He was finally poisoned in a Baghdad prison in 183 AH. His shrine in Kazimiyya, where he lies beside his grandson Imam al-Jawad, is among the great sanctuaries of Iraq.