Imam Sajjad (A.S.): The Secret Helper of the Poor

Imam Sajjad (A.S.): The Secret Helper of the Poor People

The view common people have towards one who isolates himself from society and devotes his life solely to performing his religious rituals, such as praying, ablution (Wudu), supplicating, Hajj, etc, is a stranger to the society. Such a person cares nothing about his materialistic and social life, and spends his life in worship. The life of Imam Ali ibn al Hussain, Sajjad ( A.S.) however, contradicts this view.

Despite his long unique prayers and supplications, Imam Sajjad (A.S.) was never ignorant of his society, its needs, and the realities of the time. In fact, in regards to interactions with society, he was a role model in the social and moral duties.

Muhammad Ishaq narrates: Many of the poor citizens of Madinah had experienced the generosity and kindness of Imam Ali ibn al-Hussain. Yet, they never found out it was the Imam as he would visit them during the nights, until Ali ibn al-Hussain ( A.S.) passed away, and that anonymous man never came to them any more. It was then that they found out that that anonymous helper was Imam Zein al-’Abedin (A.S.).1

Abu Hamzah al-Thomali also narrates: During the night, Imam Zein al-’Abedin (A.S.) would carry food on his shoulders for the poor and needy people. He would say, “Giving charity in secret will subside the anger of Allah.” 2

Ibn Sa’ad who died around 200 A.H. has narrated:
There were many poor people who would come to the Imam for help, and before they even asked for anything, the Imam would give them what they wanted. Imam Sajjad (A.S.) would then say, “Giving charity is received by Allah before it is received by the poor.”3

It was from the examples mentioned above that when the Imam was martyred, and some were helping in washing his body (giving him Ghusl), they noticed the wounds on his shoulder and back. They asked about it, and found out that the wounds were the result of carrying the food for the poor.4

(Taken from the book “Imam al-Sajjad (A.S.) the Beauty of Worshipers”, by Ahmad Torabi)

Reference :
1- Kashf al-Ghummah, vol. 2, p.266
2- Aghani vol. 14, p. 74; Hilyah al-Awlia’ vol.3, p. 135; Kashf al-Ghummah, vol.2, p.266; A’yan al-Shia vol.1, p. 633
3-Tabaqat ibn Sa’ad vol.5, p. 160
4- Aghani vol. 14, p. 74; Hilyah al-Awlia’ vol.3, p. 135; Kashf al-Ghummah, vol.2 p.266; A’yan al-Shia vol.1, p. 633

Name	Mousa
Titles	Kazim, Sadiq, Saber, Amin, Zareb
Konyate	Abo al-Hassan, Abo Ibrahim
His Father’s Name	Imam Sadiq (Pbuh)
His Mother’s Name	Hamideh Khatoon
Birth date	Sunday, on the 7st of Safar 128 A.H.
Birth Place	Holy Medina
His Imamate period	35 years
Date of Matyrdom	Friday, on the 25th of Rajab
Murderer	Harun-al-Rashid
His grave	Kazemain
His sons	Ali, Ibrahim, Abbas, Mohammad, Ghasem, Ismaeil, Ja’far, Harun, Hassan, Ahmad, Mohammad, Hamzeh, Abdollah, Obeydollah, Zeyd, Hossain, Fazl, Soleyman
His daughters	Fatemeh Kobra, Fatemeh Soghra, Roghyeh, Hakimeh, Omme Abiha, Roghayeh Soghra, Kolsoom, Omme Ja’far, Zeynab, Khadijeh, Allayhe, Ammeneh, Hasaneh Barbarieh, Abbaseh, Ommeh Salameh, Meymoon, Omme Kolsoom.
Pilgrimage day	Wednesday

THE SAD STORY OF IMAM KAZIM (Pbuh)’S MARTYRDOM

 

The Motivation of Imam Kazim (Pbuh)’s Arrest

 

The persons of distinction among the companions of

Imam Kazim (Pbuh) state the reason of his arrest (which

was a command from Haroon Al-Rashid, the fifth Abasid

Caliph) as following:

 

“ Haroon let his son (Mohammad Amin) be with

Ja’far –Ibn-Mohammad Ibn- Ash’ath (one of Shias and

believers of Imam Kazim (Pbuh)’s Imamate) to be his

student and Ja’far train and educate him.”

 

Yahy Ibn- Khalid Barmaky could not stop his jealousy

toward Ja’far and said to himself “ if Haroon’s son

inherits the caliphate, the administration of my children

and mine (in another words the administration of

Barmakids in Haroon’s court) will be overthrown.

 

Yahya planned a plot against Ja’far (through so -called

friendship so that he makes him get trapped in Haroon’s

trap). He established a friendship with Ja’far and got close

to him .He often went to Ja’far’s home, watched his

deeds carefully and reported them secretly to Haroon ,

adding some more things to it in order to

provoke Haroon against Ja’far. This was the case till

one day Yahya asked some of his reliable companions

if they knew anyone from Abutalib’s progeny who was

poor so that he could help him doing some researches

and searches they introduced Ali Ibn-e Ismael Ibn-e

Ja’far Sadiq(Imam Sadiq’s grand son and Imam Kazim

(Pbuh)’s nephew ) to him.

 

Ali Ibn-e Isamail was in Medina . Yahya sent him a considerable

amount of money and encouraged him to go to Haroon.

Moreover he promised him another privilege and in this

way he was prepared to leave for Baqdad.

 

Imam Kazim (Pbuh) was informed about it, and summoned

Ali.” Where are you going? My nephew.” asked he.

“I am going to Baqdad”, answered he. “ Why are you

doing so?” asked Imam. “I owe to so many people and I

am so poor. I am going there to earn some money “, said he.

 

“ I shall pay for all of your debts and I shall be good to

you.” Ali did not pay any attention to his uncle’s words

and decided to go to Baqdad. Imam Kazim (Pbuh)

summoned him for the second time and asked him

if he wished to go then. “Yes “ replied he.

 

“ My dear nephew! Please pay attention to what I say, be

afraid of God and do not orphan my children”, said Imam

Kazim (Pbuh). Then Imam commanded to give him three

hundred Dinars and four thousand Drachmas. Ali left Imam.

” I bring God as my witness that his effort leads to my bloodshed

and orphaning my children.” Addressed Imam his companions.

“ Our lives would be sacrificed for you! You know this however

you help him and are good to him?” asked Imam’s companions.

 

Imam Kazim (Pbuh) answered: “ Yes. According to my fathers’

words, the holy prophet stated : when the bounds of relativity

has been torn and then it has been repaired and for the second

time it has been torn , God will cut it.” I want to repair it after it

has been torn so that in the case of another tearing situation God

would cut it.”

 

It is said that Ali Ibn-e Ismail traveled to Baqdad and met Yahya

Barmaky. Through the meeting Yahya asked about every aspect

about Imam which he liked the most. He added to what ever he

heard and informed Haroon of them after which he took Ali to

Haroon.

 

Haroon asked Ali about his Uncle Mosa Ibn-e Ja’far (Pbuh). He

slandered and backbit about Imam and he told a lie: “ The

money and the properties are brought to Mosa Ibn-e Ja’far

(Pbuh) from the east and the west of the world. He has bought

a farm costing thirty thousand Dinars which is called “Yasir”.

When the money was delivered to the owner of the farm he

said that he did not like this kind of money, he preferred another

one. According to Imam ‘s command he was given another

kind of thirty thousand Dinars.

 

When Haroon heard those lies he ordered to award him two

hundred thousand Drachma so that he could settle in another

area and live comfortably.

 

Haroon and Imam Kazim’s arresting

 

In the same year Haroon al Rashid left for Mecca to perform

Hajj ceremony, first of all he went to Medina and at the same

time he ordered to arrest Imam Kazim (Pbuh).

 

It is narrated that when Haroon entered Medina, Imam

with the companionship of some of Medina’s persons of

distinction went to welcome him. Then Imam Kazim (Pbuh)

went to mosque as usual. At night Haroon came beside the

holy prophet ‘s grave.” Oh, the messenger of God! I apologize

for, I have decided to put Mosa Ibn-e Ja’far in the jail. Because

he wants to separate your people and make

them disintegrated and shed their blood.”, he

said hypocritically. Then, he ordered to arrest Imam (Pbuh) and

take him to his place of settlement. They put him in chain. They

arranged two camel-litters, make him sit on one of the two

camel-litters, which was placed upon the camel, placing the other

one on another camel. With the camel-litters Haroon sent some

horsemen who were divided into two groups outside Medina .One

group left for Baqdad and the other one left for Basra. Imam was

in the second group and this was Haroon’s wish for, he did not

want people to know anything about Imam’s destination

(Whether he goes to Baqdad or Basra) and no one could realize

his accompanying horsemen. He ordered the horsemen to deliver

Imam to Isa Ibn-e Ja’far Ibn-e Mansoor at the time of their arrival in

Medina. Issa ibn-e Ja’far was the head of the prisons who lived in

Basra.

 

Imam Kazim (Pbuh) in various prisons

 

In Isa Ibn-e Ja’far’s prison

  

The horsemen took Imam Kazim (Pbuh) to Medina and delivered

him to Isabn-e Ja’far. . Imam spent one year in Basra in his prison.

 

Haroon wrote a letter to Isa Ibn-e Ja’far to kill Imam. Having received

Haroon’s letter, Ja’far summoned some of his close friends and reliable

ones, read the letter to them and sought for their advice. “Do not kill

Imam and ask Haroon to exempt you from this duty”, said they to him.

 

Isa wrote a letter to Haroon mentioning that “ It has been such a long

time since Imam has been in my prison during which I have tested him

and my spies were watching his every movements, but I could not find

anything about him except this fact that he was always praying. Even

I arranged so that one of my secret guards could listen to his praying.

According to my secret guard Imam was not cursing you and me, and

was not calling out our names badly and also was asking for nothing

but God’s forgiveness and blessing. Now send someone to here so that

I can deliver Imam to him or I will set him free for I suffer a lot keeping

him in prison.”

 

It is said that one of the spies reported about the praying which

he had heard from Imam (Pbuh) during his imprisonment .The praying was

“ Oh God! You know that I have always wished that you put me in

an easy place where I can say your prayers and You have embodied my wish ,

I shall appreciate You and I am grateful to You.”

 

2-In Fazlibn-e Rabi’s Prison

 

When Haroon received Isa’s letter, He sent someone to Basra, to receive

Imam (Pbuh) and sent him to Baqdad and to deliver him to Fazlibn-e Rabi’

(One of the ministers). Imam was in Baqdad for a long time in Rabi’s prison.

 

Haroon asked Rabi’ to kill Imam Kazim (Pbuh) but he did not accept to do it .

Haroon through a letter ordered Fazl to deliver him to Fazlibn-e Yahya.

 

3-In Fazlib-e Yahya Barmaky’s prison

 

Fazlibn-e Yahya , received Imam and let him be in one of the rooms

of his house having hired the watchmen controlling him . They reported

that Imam was always praying and he connected day with night through

praying and reciting Quarn, busy with praying and he was fasting so

many days and he was not turning his face away from the direction of

praying.

 

By observing Imam’s behavior, Fazl respected him a lot. Haroon had

received news about all these. At that time he was in “Reqah “

(A nearby city in Baqdad). He wrote a letter to Fazl demanding that

he had to kill Imam not respect him. Fazl did not obey Haroon and he

did not kill Imam. Haroon received the news regarding the issue. He

became very angry and summoned Masroor Khadim (One of his cruelest

men) immediately to go to Baqdad  to

Moosabn-e Ja’far . “If you find him comfortable. You will give this letter

to Abbas Ibn-e Mohammad and order him to do as the letter dictates

to him”,said he.

 

4-In Sandi Ibn-e Shahak’s perison

 

Haroon gave another letter to Masroor Khadim demanding that the letter

must be handed to Sandi Ibn-e Shahak (a cruel Jewish jailer). It was

included in the letter that Sandi Ibn-e Shahak must obey Abbas Ibn-e

Mohammad in  anyway.

 

Masroor Khadim went to Baqdad and entered Fazl Ibn-e Yahya’s house .

No one knew the reason of Masroor’s presence there. He directly went to

Imam and as he was told, Imam was convenient. So, he went to Abbas

Ibn-e Mohammad and Sandi Ibn-e Shahak and handed them Haroon’s

letters.

 

Shortly after that, Abbas’s delegate came hurriedly to Fazl’s house.

Fazl got nervous and accompanied Abbas’s delegate to his house.

Abbas asked for several whips and board -like objects. . Then he

ordered to bare Yahya and Sand Ibn-e Shahak whipped him for one

hundred times during which Abbas was personally witnessing the

event. After that, Fazl left Abbas’s house. Masroor Khadim wrote a

letter to Haroon through which he explained all the event regarding

the issue. Having recognized Sandi Ibn-e Shahak as a suitable person

for killing and torturing Imam Kazim (Pbuh), Haroon ordered Khadim

to deliver Imam to Shahak. So was it.

 

Imam Kazim (Pbuh)’s Martyrdom

 

At this time Haroon held a ceremony in his palace in which

so many men holding civil and military posts took part. Here

come his words at the time of addressing his guests:

“ Oh! The people Fazl Ibn-e Yahya is disobeying me and

I want to curse him, you do the same thing.”

 

“Damn on Fazle Ibn-e Yahya”; shouted the audience. Their

crying caused the doors and walls of Haroon’s palace to

shiver. Fazl ‘s father (Yahya) received the news. He went

hurriedly to Haroon’s palace and he entered through the

special gate (for special persons) so that Haroon could not

notice his presence there. And then he told Haroon “Is it

possible that His Majesty pay attention to my words?”

Haroon listened to him angrily.”Fazl is an inexperienced

young man .I make it up and do the unfinished job,” he continued.

Haroon got very happy and addressed people “Fazl disobeyed me

in one case and I cursed him now he repents and comes back to

me so love him!”, ” We cherish everyone who cherishes you and

we hate everyone who hates you. So; right now we cherish Fazl “

, reacted the audience.

 

Hereafter, Yahya Ibn-e Khalid went hurriedly to Baqdad. People

were shocked because of his unexpected arrival and this was

the top story of the day. However Yahya pretended in such a

way that he was there to control the affairs of the city and

agents’ and governors’ tasks. In doing so and trying to sound

truthful, he was dealing with the related matters.

 

Then, he summoned Shahak (the cruel executioner) and ordered

him to murder Imam Kazem (Pbuh).

 

He obeyed Yahya’s command which was determined to kill Imam. The

plot is as follows: Adding poisons to Imam’s food and let it be

beside him. Some said that he inserted the poison into some

dates. Shortly after eating the food, Imam felt the symptoms due

to consuming poison in him. He suffered for three days and on

the third day he returned to God and was martyred.

 

The story of burying Imam Kazim’s body

 

The Imam’s body was buried in QUREISH’s cemetery in “Babbottin”

section. This cemetery exclusively belonged to Banihashem tribe

and the persons of distinction.

 

It is said that Imam at the time of his martyrdom, said to

Shahak that he had a friend who lived in Baqdad near Abbas Ibn-e

Mohammad’s house who was originally from Medina and asked

 

him to tell him to come and be responsible for my ceremonial bath

and shroud.

 

“I asked Imam to let me cover him with shroud,” said Shahak.

 

Imam did not let him do so:” We are a family whose wives’

marriage- portion, the expense of the first Hajj ceremony

and shrouds of our dead are supplied with our purest properties”.

Said Imam.

“I have shroud of my own, I just want my friend to care for

my ceremonial bath and burying”, he Continued.

His friend was summoned and he did so.

  www.alqaem.org

har sher qaseedey ka gul.e tar ki tarah hai

waise to shabahat meN Pyamber ki tarah hai

maqtal meN pisar shaah ka “Haider” ki tarah hai

yaksaaN nazar aate hai shujaAt meN bahattar

ik Tifl bhee Abbas.e dilaawar ki tarah hai

such poochho tou lashker meN harik fard hai lashkar

har mauj yahaN ek samander ki tarah hai

Khud nahr bhee hai qabza.e “Abbas” peh HairaaN

yeh kaun jaree faatH.e Khaiber ki tarah hai

aisa bhi koii hoga muqaddar ka sikander

Shaih kahte thEy Hur mere birather ki tarah hai

besheer pe karta hai layeeN teer se Humlah

yeh kaisa ajab dil hai jo paththar ki tarah hai

kya jaane mahak jayegee “Jawaid” kahaN tak

har sher qaseedey ka gul.e tar kitarah hai

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yeh dhuwaan jung ka anjam bhee aaGhaaz bhee hai

dil ki awaaz bhee hai zahn ki parwaaz bhee hai

“Hur”! yeh hijrat tira anjam bhee aaGhaaz bhee hai

laash.e “Abbas” pe ro ro ke wafaaoN ne kahaa

tire marne pe hameN runj bhee hai naaz bhee hai

rah ke aaGhosh.e pidar meN usey karna hai jihaad

Tifl.e besheer jo kumsin bhee hai jaaNbaaz bhee hai

iss liye kahte haiN “Akbar” ko shabeeh.e Mursal

shakl.o.Surat bhee wohee hai wohee andaaz bhee hai

hai yeh qurbaani.e “Shabbeer” ka faizaan.e azeeem

aaj masjid bhi hai takbeer ki aawaaz bhee hai

jalte KhemoN pe Adoo Khush hai usey kya mAlum

yeh dhuwaaN jung ka anjam bhee aaGhaaz bhee hai

log “Jawaid” tujhe kahte haiNmaddaaH.e Imam

yeh tire fun ke sanad bhee tira e’zaaz bhee hai

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farzaNd bhee maanid.e pidar hai keh nahiN hai

roomaal meN sarmaya.e zar hai eh nahiN hai

har ashk mira rashk.e guhar hai keh nahiN hai

neze ki bulandee peh woh sar hai keh nahiN hai

mazloom baharHaal zabar hai keh nahiN hai

Main rahguzar.e madH.e Shaih.e deeN ka musaafir

jannat ki taraf mera safar hai keh nahiN hai

“AsGhar” ke tabassum ne kaha fauj.e sitam se

farzaNd bhee maanid.e pidar hai keh nahiN hai

“Shabbeer” ne seencha tha jo baGh apne lahu se

aaj uske daraKhtoN pe Samar hai keh nahiN hai

hum ahl.e azaa ghar ko banaa lete haiN jannat

ab fikr kise Khuld meN ghar hai keh nahiN hai

“Jawaid” sa na ahl kare madH.e Shaih.e deeN

Yeh mojza.e fikr.o.nazar hai keh nahiN hai

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