Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) and Prison Guards:

In the time of our 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) the ruler was
Abbasid Caliph calledHaroon Rasheed, who hated Imam Musa Al-Kadhim
(as).
Haroon Rasheed came to Madina where Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) livedand
had Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) arrested and sent to a prison in Basra,
Iraq.
Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) stayed in this prison under the guard of a
man called Yahyah.
Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) was a kind man who always talked nicely to
everyone, even Yahyah who kept him in prison. Soon Yahyah felt bad for
keeping such a nice person in prison.
Haroon Rasheed found out and took Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) to
anotherprison. Again Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) through his kindness and
politeness made the other person also feel bad.
The cruel Abbasid Caliph, Haroon Rasheed, poisoned the food of Imam
Musa Al-Kadhim (as) in the prison of Baghdad. The dose proved fatal
and the 7th Imam, Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) kissed martyrdom.
Moral: No matter how horrible someone is to you, you should always be
nice to them and soonthey will feel bad about how horrible they are
being to you.
Imam Moosa Al-Kadhim (as) and Knowledge of unseen (Ilm-e-Ghaib):
One day Haroon Rasheed sent some robes to Ali binYaqtin to honour him.
Among their number wasa black woolen cloak adorned with gold like the
robes of kings. Ali binYaqtin dispatched those robes to Imam Moosa
Al-Kadhim (as). Among their number he (also) sent that cloak adorned
with gold. Ali bin Yaqtin added some money which he had already
prepared specifically for him as the fifth of his money (Khums - tax
for the Imams) which he wasgoing to pay him.
When that reached ImamMoosa Al-Kadhim (as), he accepted the money and
the robes but returned the cloak by the hand of the messenger to Ali
bin Yaqtin. Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as), wrote to him: "Keep it and do
not let it leave your hands. For an event will occur toyou because of
it when you will have the need ofit with him (Haroon Rasheed)."
Ali bin Yaqtin was suspicious about it being returned to him and did
not understand the reason for that. Some time later, Ali bin Yaqtin
changed (his attitude) towards a servant who had a special position
with him and he left his service.
The servant knew about Ali bin Yaqtin's inclination towards ImamMusa
Al-Kadhim (as). He was acquainted with the money, robes and other
things (Ali bin Yaqtin) had sent to (Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as)) on
every occasion. He (went and) informed on him to Haroon Rasheed. He
told (Haroon Rasheed) that (Ali bin Yaqtin) maintained the Imamate of
Imam Musa Al-Kadhim (as) and paid him a fifth of his money each year,
and also that he had given him the cloak with which the Commander of
the faithful (Haroon Rasheed) had honoured him at such-and-such a
time. Haroon Rasheed burned with anger and was furious. He declared:"I
will expose this situation. If the matter is as you say, his life will
be destroyed."
Abbasid Caliph, Haroon Rasheed immediately sent for Ali bin Yaqtin to
be brought. When he appeared before him, Haroon Rasheed said:"What
have you done with the cloak which I bestowed upon you?"
"Commander of the faithful," (Ali bin Yaqtin) replied, "I still have
it in asealed chest and there I keep perfume with it. In the mornings
I open it and look at it to gain blessings from it. I kiss it and then
put it back in itsplace. Every night I do the same thing."
"Bring it, immediately," Haroon Rasheed ordered.
"Yes, Commander of the faithful," he answered. Ali bin Yaqtin summoned
one of his servants and told him: "Go to such-and-such a room in my
house. Take the key for it from my custodian and open it. Open
such-and-such a box and bring me the sealed chestwhich is in it."
It was not long before the servant returned with the chest still
sealed.Ali bin Yaqtin put it before Haroon Rasheed and told him to
break theseal and open it. When Haroon Rasheed opened it, he saw the
cloak in it folded and laid out in perfume.
Haroon Rasheed's anger became pacified and he said to Ali bin
Yaqtin:"Return it to its place andgo away righteously. I will never
disbelieve you again on the word of an informer."
Haroon Rasheed ordered a magnificent gift to be sent after him and he
had the informer floggedwith a thousand lashes. After he had been
flogged about a hundredlashes, informer died.
Sayings of Imam Musa Kazim (as):
Imam Musa Kazim (as) said: "If there is a walnut in your hand and
people say that it is apearl, their saying will not benefit you in any
way when you know thatit is actually a walnut. And if there is a pearl
in your hand and people say that it is a walnut, their saying will not
harm you in any way when you know that it is actually a pearl."
Imam Musa Kazim (as) said: "Indeed cultivation and growth takes shape
in a soft, even land and not in a rocky (barren) land. Likewise,
wisdom grows and develops in a humble heart and not in a proud, vain
and arrogant heart."
Imam Musa Kazim (as) said: "Always say the right thing although it may
lead to your loss." "Itis better to be defeated on principle than to
win on lies." Arthur Calwell