The Moral Behavior of Imām Mūsa ibn Ja‘far al-Kāḍim

Imām Mūsa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.) was called al-Kazim meaning, one who holds his temper and controls his anger, because he used to face all persecution and harm with tolerance and even with being good and charitable to those who mistreated him.

One of the Imams and the Members of the Household of the Prophet (p.) is Imam Musa bin Jaʻfar Al-Kazim (a.s.). He was concerned with all what the Muslims in his time faced, living with the people, trying to help them, finding solutions to their problems, and correcting any false ideas they might had had…He used to be of great manners that were similar to the great morals of the Prophet himself.

He (a.s.) was called al-Kazim meaning, one who holds his temper and controls his anger, because he used to face all persecution and harm with tolerance and even with being good and charitable to those who mistreated him.

The Imam (a.s.) was known for his tolerance, prudence, the spirit of forgiveness and a tight control of his temper, even against those who hurt him. He was like his grandfather, the Messenger (p.), of great morals. He had a soft heart and a soft tongue; he was a role model in his ethics just as he was a model for others in belief.

Tolerance and Forbearance

As-Sheik Al-Mufeid narrated that there was a man in Medina who used to curse the Imam, and distort his image, to the extent that the companions of the Imam asked for permission to kill him, but the Imam used to forbid them from hurting him. Then one day the Imam (a.s) went to the man’s garden. When the man saw him, he said: Do not step on my plants, for he was so hateful that he did not even have the courtesy of welcoming him. The Imam continued to move towards him. And when he reached the man the Imam asked him: How much did you pay for your plants, and how much do you expect to gain? Adding the two sums together the Imam gave him the money and said:

Take this money and you still can sell your corps, and he started talking to him in a very pleasant and kind manner. The man felt guilty and changed his attitude towards the Imam. The next day the man went to the mosque. When he saw the Imam (a.s) coming he said: “God knows where he puts His Message”. Asked what made him change his mind, he said that it was the way the Imam dealt with him. The Imam then asked his companions: which is better the way you wanted to deal with this man using violence or my way?

The above mentioned incident stems clearly of the great noble characteristics of Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) who was known for his tolerance, prudence, the spirit of forgiveness and a tight control of his temper, even against those who mistreated him. Hence, he used to deal with them in the best and kindest manner hopping to lead them to the right path. He made the enemy became a friend through studying his mentality and his aggressive motives, as well as the weak or strong aspects of his personality in order to know the scientific method that paves the way for entering his mind and heart and embrace his feelings in a loving way to gain his friendship in the end… Through the narration we cited above, we notice that the Imam has thought in a way different from that of his companions and he was able to reach a desirable result in a short time. Thus, we see how the man became open on the Imam on the missionary level… Besides, through this pleasant experience, the Imam was able to let his companions make a comparison between what they wanted to do when they asked him (a.s.) to give them the permission to kill him and between what he wanted to. The Imam also wanted, to teach his companions how to solve their problems in a loving way and in the best and kindest manner without being provoked with hatred and anger by those who hurt them.

Caring for the poor

Imam Al-Kazim used to search for the poor of Medina during the night and take them a basket of flour and dates as well as a purse of Dirhams and Dinars to give to them but no one knew where this favor came from.

Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Bakri reported: I went to Medina to take a loan but no one offered me any. So I said to myself, “I would better go to Imam Musa and tell him about my grievances.” Hence, I went to him at Naqma at his estate. The Imam came to me along with his servant. He had a basket in his hand with pieces of chopped-up meat which I shared with him and then he asked about my needs. I told him the story and we set out for his house. He went inside and after a few seconds, he came out giving me a basket of three hundred Dinars. I was satisfied and I mounted the mule and left Medina

Through this Islamic humanitarian care that is represented by the behavior of Imam Al-Kazim (a.s.) who hastened to give food and money to the poor, we can deduce that he is a role model in his spiritual and humanitarian care since he felt with the pains and problems of the poor and was humble with them, without letting them know who he was. Thus, this is Ahl el-Beit’s path that the Holy Ayah has expressed: We only feed you for Allah’s sake; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. (76:9)]