📌 Imam al-Kazim (a) and the “Jewish-like” spirit within the Muslim community

After the martyrdom of Imam Musa al-Kazim (a), some of his companions refused to accept the Imamate of Imam al-Ridha (a). Their main motive? Worldly greed.

These individuals had been entrusted with large sums of money during Imam al-Kazim’s lifetime. With the Imam’s passing, they denied the rightful successor in order to retain control over the wealth. This betrayal led to the birth of the deviant sect of Waqifiyya.

One of its leaders, Ali ibn Abi Hamzah al-Bata’ini, is described in hadith as:
"A liar and accursed."
Imam al-Kazim (a) is reported to have said to him:

"O Ali, you and your followers are like donkeys!" [(Rijal al-Kashshi, p. 404)]

⚠️ This statement isn't an insult, but a truthful exposure of their spiritual corruption. The Qur’an uses similar language when describing the Jews who rejected divine revelation:

"The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah but failed to uphold it is like that of a donkey carrying books."
📖 [Jumu‘ah 62:5]

🔍 Why such a comparison?
Because just like those Jews, these individuals rejected divine guidance out of greed and arrogance, fabricating a false sect and opposing the rightful Imamate.

🟤 The Jewish Spirit: Greed, Stubbornness, and Denial

The Qur’an paints a clear picture of the Jewish character:

🔹 “You will find them the greediest of people for life—even more than the polytheists. Every one of them wishes to live a thousand years!”
📖 [Baqarah 2:96]

🔹 “They kill the prophets unjustly.”
📖 [Baqarah 2:61]

🔹 “You will surely find the most hostile to the believers are the Jews and the polytheists.”
📖 [Ma’idah 5:82]

They denied truth, opposed prophets, and claimed racial superiority.

Yet, the verse:

“He has preferred you over the worlds”
📖 [A‘raf 7:140]
does not indicate eternal superiority, but merely Allah’s rescue of the Israelites from Pharaoh at that time—not moral or racial excellence.

📚 Even scholars like Allama Tabataba’i interpret the abundance of prophets among Bani Israel as a sign of their intellectual weakness and constant deviation, not virtue.

Proof? After miraculously crossing the sea, they told Prophet Musa (a):

“Make for us a god like they (the idolaters) have gods.”
📖 [A‘raf 7:138]
To which Musa (a) replied:
“Indeed, you are an ignorant people!”

🥀 So we see: their stubbornness, ignorance, worldliness, and arrogance all reflect a spiritual disease.

🟥 The same disease afflicted Ali ibn Abi Hamzah and his group. Just as the Jews rejected the Torah, these men rejected the Ahlulbayt (a). Their love for the dunya made them stand against truth and manufacture a sect.

Imam al-Ridha (a) later described them in the same spirit as the Jews who said:

“Allah’s hand is chained.”
📖 [Ma’idah 5:64]
—meaning they limited divine authority for material gain.

📝 Source:
Habibullah Ahmadi, Imam al-Kazim: A Role Model for Life, Fatima Publications, Qom, 2015, pp. 121–124
Selection & editing: Center for Jewish Studies

📚 References:
(1) Rijal al-Kashshi, p. 404
(2) Jumu‘ah 62:5
(3) Baqarah 2:96
(4) A‘raf 7:140
(5) Majma‘ al-Bayan, v.2, p.72
(6) ibid.
(7) al-Mizan, v.9, p.235
(8) A‘raf 7:138
(9) Ma’idah 5:82
(10) Baqarah 2:61
(11) Ma’idah 5:64, Rijal al-Kashshi p.456

#ImamKazim #Waqifiyya #JewishSpirit #Quran #Imamate #Ahlulbayt #TruthAndDeception 🕊️📖

✅ @rahyafte_en