Others were also induced and stimulated to remember the...

Others were also induced and stimulated to remember the calamities that befell the progeny of Muhammad (SAW) and manifestly exhibit their grief and sorrow.

The Imam (AS) also used to say: “whosoever attends the Majalis where the events of our lives are narrated shall not have a dead heart on the day when the hearts of all others shall be dead.’ The word Majlis, the technical name for gatherings wherein the tragic account of Imam Husain (AS) is narrated, is derived from the above tradition of Imam Reza (AS). He began holding Majalis himself wherein some time he personally would be the narrator and others would sit in audience.

For instance, on a particular occasion when Rayyan bin Shaib attended one of the Majalis, the Imam (AS) himself recounted the sufferings of Imam Husain (AS). On the other occasions when poets like Abdullah bin Thabit or Debal Khuzai would be present, the Imam (AS) would order them to recite verses about Imam Husain (AS). Thus, one of them would ‘be the narrator and the Imam (AS) he would be among the audience. The Imam (AS) gave a costly robe to Debal at the end of a Majlis.

Debal showed reluctance saying that he did not need a costly robe. Instead, he requested for some used garment of the Imam (AS). The Imam (AS) readily agreed and along with the robe, he gave him a used gown of his own. This event in a way laid down two guidelines pertaining to the Majalis. One is the lofty ideal for Zakir (one who addresses the Majlis) that he should not address Majlis for worldly rewards, or he should, God forbid, settle terms in advance.

The other is for the person who arranges the Majlis that he may offer some thing to the Zakir but without any prior agreement. Martyrdom After the arrival of the Imam (AS) in Baghdad , Mutasim apparently did not treat him with any kind of harshness. Nevertheless, his stay there was in itself by way of compulsion which can I called nothing but a sort of forcible confinement.

Thereafter, his life was brought to an end with the same secret weapon that had been used before in the case of the elders of his household. He was martyred by poisoning on 29th Zee al-Qadah 220 A.H. was buried adjacent to his esteemed grandfather Imam Musa Kazim (AS). By virtue of his sharing of the place, the city came to be known as Kazmain, according to Arabic grammar (which means two Kazims, that is, two persons who restrained their anger).