Today, we continue to study the life of the 7th Infallible Imam of the Prophet of Islam’s Household, Imam Mousa Kazem (AS), and the era of Imamate of his infallible son, Imam Reza (Peace be upon him).

Imam Mousa Kazem (AS) was incarcerated by the suppressive regime of Abbasid ruler, Haroun, for a long while. However, the Infallible Imam continued to firmly stand up against the oppressive Abbasid regime.

As a reminder, last week we mentioned that Imam Mousa Kazem (AS) confronted the corrupt and unjust Abbasid regime. In order to undermine the foundations of despotic Abbasid regime, the Infallible Imam called on his supporter and disciples not to cooperate with the Abbasid rule. However, there were some exceptional cases in which the Infallible Imam did not oppose the presence of his followers within the Abbasid regime, in order to advance the goals of his movement and uprising.

One of the Infallible Imam’s disciples, instated to ministerial post in Haroun’s regime was Ali ibn Yaqtin. With the guidelines of Imam Mousa Kazem, and his own intelligence, Ali ibn Yaqtin, took major strides for advancement of the elevated goals of the Infallible Imam, and for assistance to the poor and needy.

One day, Ali ibn Yaqtin, approached Imam Mousa Kazem in order to gain the permission of the Infallible Imam to leave the Abbasid administration. However, the Infallible Imam did not allow him to do so; noting that his disciple’s presence in the Abbasid royal court is to the benefit of his religious brethren, and God-willing the enmity and conspiracies of the Abbasid regime will be foiled by the presence of the Infallible Imam’s disciple within the Abbasid administration.

As previously mentioned, the last fourteen years of the Imamate of Imam Mousa Kazem (AS) was concurrent with the suppressive rule of Abbasid caliph, Haroun al-Rashid. In this phase in time, Haroun piled up pressure on the Infallible Imam, while imprisoning the Imam for a long while. Throughout the era of captivity of Imam Mousa Kazem (AS) in Haroun’s dungeons, the Abbasid ruler was at times forced to change the Infallible Imam’s prison, given that the excellent and unique manners of the Imam even influenced prison wardens and spiritually developed them.

The last dungeon, in which the Infallible Imam was imprisoned, had a callous and ruthless warden. The Infallible Imam suffered countless hardships and woes in that dungeon, but remained steadfast and resilient. At this point, Haroun could no longer stand the unique perseverance, and elevated and invincible spirit of the Infallible Imam. In the year 183 AH, Imam Mousa Kazem (AS) was poisoned and martyred in jail, upon the order of Abbasid oppressive ruler, Haroun.

Following the martyrdom of Imam Mousa Kazem (AS), the mantle of Imamate rested on the shoulder of his infallible son, Imam Reza (AS).  The era of Imamate of Imam Reza lasted for twenty years. Undoubtedly, the influential presence of Infallible Imams among people, their simple lives, and ethical virtues captured the attention of those, who sought the truth and righteousness. The Prophet of Islam’s Infallible Household (Peace be upon them) were always popular and respected by Muslims. People naturally compared their elevated ethical virtues and divine spirits with the corruption and materialistic inclinations of Omayyad and Abbasid rulers, leading the masses of people to further support the Infallible Imams. In these comparisons, the purity and chastity of the Infallible Imams, who were the descendants of the Prophet of Islam, became more evident.

A study of the unique lifestyle, excellent manners, and ethical virtues of Imam Reza (AS) clearly shows that the Infallible Imam maintained all the necessary conditions for Imamate and leadership of the Ummah.

Imam Reza’s remarks were eloquent and persuading. Throughout debates, the Infallible Imam presented sound and calculated reasons, detailing the topics of importance and clarifying facts. Hence, many of those, who denied the Imamate of Imam Reza (AS), upon observing the truth, ended their opposition and admitted to the Imamate of Imam Reza (Peace be upon him).

Imam Reza treated the servitudes of God with immense kindness. In his interactions, Imam Reza was well-mannered, respecting people and treating them with modesty. He always sheltered the poor and needy. He was always polite and respectful with his Household.

Imam Reza put emphasis on protection of people’s reputation and human characteristics in his interactions with members of the community from all walks of life. He was kind toward his subordinates and disadvantaged strata.

If we pay attention to the political and social conditions of the era of Imam Reza (AS), we observe that the World of Islam had expanded and had made a number of scientific and economic achievements. Nonetheless, the corruption and suppressive rule of Abbasid regime lingered. The era of Imamate of Imam Reza (AS) was concurrent with the rule of three Abbasid caliphs, namely Haroun, Amin, and Ma’moun. The last five years of Imamate of Imam Reza was concurrent with the rule of Abbasid caliph, Ma’moun. In this phase in time, the ideological foundations of the Islamic community were challenged. Therefore, in order to dispel ideological derailments, the Infallible Imam put emphasis on appropriate introduction of Islamic teachings, while encouraging his disciples to carry out this task. Imam Reza made every effort to fulfill this goal for several years in Medina.

Throughout the rule of Haroun al-Rashid, and thereafter, a series of uprisings were carried out by Shias against the suppressive Abbasid regime. These uprisings caused many problems for the Abbasid rulers. Therefore, upon ascending the throne, Ma’moun adopted a new policy in dealing with Shias. Upon consulting with his advisors, Ma’moun concluded that the best way for controlling the movements and protests of Shias was to bring the Infallible Imam to the Capital of his caliphate. In this manner, the Abbasid ruler wanted to control protest movements, and to drift apart the Infallible Imam from his scientific and popular base in Medina. Thus, in the year 201 AH, upon the conspiracy of Ma’moun, the Infallible Imam was forced to leave Medina for Marv, which was the capital of Ma’moun’s regime. Meanwhile, the visit of Imam Reza to Khorasan region brought about many blessings for the World of Islam, especially for Shias.

The Infallible Imam was accorded a warm welcome by people in his journey to Marv. Throughout this journey, the spiritual grandeur and the elevated scientific status of Imam Reza (AS) became evident, more than ever.

Imam Reza (AS) in his visit to the historical city of Nayshapour was hugely welcomed by masses of people who had converged on that city to meet the Infallible Imam. In an address to people in this historical city, the Infallible Imam cited a hadith, which was attributed to the Prophet of Islam, and Archangel, Gabriel. According to this hadith, God noted: “Monotheism is My fortification. Anyone who enters it remains safe.” Then the Infallible Imam added that: “There are a number of conditions for achievement of this goal; one of which is me.”

By this statement, the Infallible Imam points out that one of the conditions of maintenance of faith in God, is the acceptance of Velayat and leadership of the Imam who has been divinely appointed to Imamate.

MR/ME