HIRZ E IMAM MUSA AL KAZIM (A)

Fifth: ‘Ali ibn Yaqtin has reported that when Imam Musa ibn Ja’far (‘a) was with some of his relatives, he was informed about the decisions that Musa ibn al-Mahdi, the brother of Harun the ‘Abbasid ruler, had made about him. He asked his relatives, “What do you think?” They said, “We think that it is better for you to avoid him and hide yourself since no one can be immune from his wickedness.” Imam al-Kazim (‘a) smiled and quoted this poetic verse as example:

The eaters of the hot, mean meals (i.e. Quraysh) have claimed that they will overcome their Lord.

Verily, the overcomer of all combatants shall most surely win.

He (‘a) then raised his hands towards the sky and said this supplicatory prayer:

O my God, too many are the enemies who honed their daggers’ edge against me,

sharpened the heads of their weapons against me,

mixed for me their deadly poisons,

and kept a sleepless eye on me,

but when You considered that I am too weak to bear hardships

and I am too powerless to bear the accumulating cataclysms,

You warded off all that from me through Your might and power,

but not through my might or power.

You have thus thrown him in the hole, which he had dug for me,

making him lose any hope he had in this world

and move away from what he had expected in the Hereafter.

So, all praise be to you for that;

praise that is comparable to what You deserve, O my master.

So, O Allah, (please) grasp him by Your almightiness,

notch his sharpness against me with Your omnipotence,

and cause him to be engaged with what will inflict him

and to be too weak to face his rivals.

O Allah, (please) help me against his animosity with such help that is in progress

and due to which my rage will be healed

and my anger will protect me against him.

O Allah, (please) connect my prayer with Your response,

attach my complaint to the reply that changes my state,

show him very soon and practically what You have prepared threateningly for the wrongdoers,

and show me very soon and practically how You respond to the distressed ones.

Verily, You are the Lord of great favor and generous conferral.

The attendants then separated. Their next meeting was to discuss the news of the death of Musa ibn al-Mahdi.