ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Examining the Ismaili Imams & the Bohras Kind of lifestyle and characteristics expected from an Imam Suppose one might say that I do not believe in the traditions found in the books of Ithna Ashari Shias nor the books of Ahle Sunna. Then in this scenario, what should be the criteria for a good role model as a leader? What characteristics should a good leader have?

We follow the Imams so that they lead us towards the right path, the path of the Holy Prophet (sawa). Therefore, these Imams should have some impeccable qualities in order to be the successors of the Holy Prophet (sawa). We have already discussed the lifestyles of some of the Ismaili/Fatimid Imams.

Now I would like to shed some light on two of the Ithna Ashari Imams after Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) after which the split of sects took place, so the reader could compare on the huge difference between the personalities which each of the sects took as their leaders. Imam Musa al-Kadhim ibn Jafar (as) Martyred 183 AH/799 AD. Imam Musa al-Kadhim was the son of Imam al-Sadiq (as) and was born in Abwaa on the 7th of Safar 128 AH/745 AD.

Imam al-Sadiq (as) and his honorable wife were returning from Hajj and on their way back Imam Musa al-Kadhim was born in Abwaa, a city located in between Mecca and Medina. He was named Musa and al-Kadhim is the title given to him that means the one who swallows anger, his other titles include: Abd-e-Salih, Ameen, and Babul Hawaij. The title Babul Hawaij was given to him because of all the miraculous healings and extraordinary events that have been witnessed in his shrine in Baghdad for centuries.

There are books written on this subject that narrate the eyewitness accounts of the miraculous healings that took place in his shrine. One of the Imams of Ahle Sunna, Imam al-Shafi’ said, ‘the tomb of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) is proven effective for fulfilling wishes.’[^1] Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) is also known by Kunyas (nicknames) like: Abul Hasan Awwal, Abul Hasan Madhi, and Abu Ibrahim. His life in a nutshell Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) was born in 128 AH during the reign of Marwan Himar.

After three years, his dynastic rule came to an end and the first ruler of Bani Abbas ascended to the throne. He ruled from 132 to 136 AH, when Mansur Dawaniqi succeeded him, who got Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (as) assassinated through poison in 148 AH and the Imamate of Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as) began from the age of twenty years.