His Titles (These were used to avoid using Imam’s name as...

His Titles (These were used to avoid using Imam’s name as the very mention of it would lead to arrest, torture, harassment and/or death.) Babul Hawaaij (Door of the fulfilment of needs). Even after his death, people have their needs fulfilled and do not return empty-handed from his shrine (Ask especially for cures for physical illnesses, especially eyes). Kadhim (One who swallows his anger). Imam Musa (a.s.) lived in an era when the rulers were the cruelest ever.

Their hatred for Ahlul Bayt and their followers was intense. Imam’s followers were constantly harassed and tortured. The last 19 years of his life were spent in prison. Despite all these hardships, he was always patient spending entire nights in the worship of Allah. His character even converted the prison wardens towards him.

His Imamate The Holy Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq breathed his last on 25th Shawwal 148 AH, and with effect from the same date, Imam Musa al-Kazim succeeded the holy office of Imamate as the Seventh Imam. The period of his Imamate continued for thirty-five years. In the first decade of his Imamate, Imam Musa al-Kazim could afford a peaceful execution of the responsibilities of his sacred office and carried on the propagation of the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

But soon after, he fell a victim to the ruling kings and a greater part of his life passed in prison. Political Condition: Imam Musa al-Kazim lived under the most crucial times in the regimes of the despotic ‘Abbasid kings who were marked for their tyrannical and cruel administration. He witnessed the reigns of al-Mansur ad-Dawaniqi, al-Mahdi and Harun ar-Rashid. al-Mansur and Harun ar-Rashid were the despotic kings who put a multitude of innocent descendants of the Holy Prophet to the sword.

Thousands of these martyrs were buried alive inside walls or put into horrible dark prisons during their lifetime. These depraved caliphs knew no pity or justice and they killed and tortured for the pleasure they derived from human sufferings. The Holy Imam was saved from the tyranny of al-Mansur because the king, being occupied with his project of constructing the new city of Baghdad, could not get time to turn towards victimizing the Imam. By 157 AH the city of Baghdad was built.

This was soon followed by the death of its founder a year later. After al-Mansur, his son al-Mahdi ascended the throne. For a few years, he remained indifferent towards the Imam.