Every child of Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) possesses noble virtues; however, Hazrat Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) is distinguished by exceptional merits, lofty rank, and great spiritual stature. There is no doubt that he was a learned, virtuous, pious, reliable, and trustworthy narrator of hadith. Yet, regarding the exact date of his passing—or martyrdom—and other details of his life, no fully authenticated historical record has been found, and scholars and historians hold differing opinions on this matter.
His Noble Lineage
The father of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS), Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS), is the seventh Imam of the Shi‘a. Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) was born on Sunday, the seventh of Safar, 128 AH, in the town of Abwa (between Mecca and Medina), to a mother named Hamida al-Barbariyya al-Andalusiyya, whom Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (AS) described as a pure woman free from all impurity.
Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) was arrested by order of Harun al-Rashid, the fifth Abbasid caliph, on the 20th of Shawwal, 179 AH, while praying in the Prophet’s Mosque, and was taken to prison. He was finally martyred on Friday, the 24th or 25th of Rajab, 183 AH, by the hand of the Jew Sindi ibn Shahak, at the age of 55. He was buried in the Quraysh cemetery in western Baghdad—an area that later became known as Kadhimayn.
According to the author of Muntakhab al-Tawarikh, the mother of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) was Umm Ahmad, which would make him the full brother of Ahmad ibn Musa (AS)—known as Shah Cheragh—and Muhammad al-‘Abid (AS).
Umm Ahmad is described as one of the noble and righteous women of her era. Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS) held her in special esteem and trusted her deeply, to the extent that he named her among his executors.
When Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS) set out for Baghdad, he entrusted the emblems of Imamate to Umm Ahmad and said:
“Do not reveal this to anyone. If a person comes and asks for these trusts, give them to him. Know that I have been martyred, and the one who demands them is my successor, the Imam whose obedience is obligatory upon you and upon all.”
When Harun al-Rashid martyred Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS), Imam al-Reza (AS) came to Umm Ahmad and said,
“Bring the trusts my father left with you.”
She asked, “Has your father, Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS), been martyred?”
Imam al-Reza (AS) replied,
“Yes. I have just returned from his burial. Hand me the trusts, for I am the successor of my father—Imam over jinn and humankind.”
Umm Ahmad wept bitterly, then delivered the trusts and pledged allegiance to the Imamate of Imam al-Reza (AS).
The Birth and Death of Hamzeh ibn Imam Musa (AS)
No precise information exists regarding the birth or death—or martyrdom—of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS). Classical biographical sources do not mention these details, and historians have not reached an agreement.
After extensive research in reputable sources, it appears that he passed away—or was martyred—around 204 AH, because most scholars and historians have stated that his arrival in Iran and his passing occurred between 201 and 204 AH. Based on supporting evidence, it is likely that he died in 204 AH, either through martyrdom or natural causes.
According to Allamah Sayyid Mohsen Amin (RA) in A‘yan al-Shi‘a, quoting Bihar al-Anwar,
“Hamzeh ibn Musa (AS) was traveling with his brother, Imam ‘Ali ibn Musa al-Reza (AS), toward Khorasan, and served him closely. When they reached a place called Susumar (location unknown), some of the agents of Ma’mun attacked them and killed him. Imam al-Reza (AS) buried him in a garden.”
This narrative is also reported by the authors of Mashahid al-‘Itrah al-Tahira, Rawdat al-Jannat, and Hayat al-Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS).
However, its accuracy is doubtful; no historian mentions Hamzeh (AS) accompanying Imam al-Reza (AS) on his journey.
It is more likely that when Imam al-Reza (AS), in 201 AH, departed for Khorasan after being appointed Crown Prince by Ma’mun, he wrote letters to the descendants of the Prophet, encouraging them to migrate to Iran. Thus, many caravans of Sayyids traveled from Medina to Iran, including Lady Fatimah al-Ma‘suma (AS) and Ahmad ibn Musa (Shah Cheragh).
Since Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) was a full brother of Ahmad ibn Musa (AS), he likely joined him on this journey. Historians appear to have mistakenly attributed his martyrdom to the journey with Imam al-Reza (AS), whereas he was probably martyred during the same events that led to the martyrdom of Shah Cheragh (AS).
When Ma’mun learned of the arrival of the caravan of Sayyids led by Shah Cheragh, he saw it as a threat to his rule. Immediately after poisoning Imam al-Reza (AS), he ordered a widespread massacre of the descendants of the Prophet.
Ahmad ibn Musa (AS), along with his brothers Hamzeh (AS), ‘Ala’ al-Din Husayn (AS), and other Sayyids headed to visit Imam al-Reza (AS), encountered the forces of Qutlug Khan, the governor of Shiraz. Since the companions of Ahmad ibn Musa (AS) were unprepared for battle and many were wounded, they fled, and Ahmad ibn Musa (AS) was eventually martyred.
In this conflict, it is reasonable to conclude that Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) was wounded and fled toward Rey, where he was identified and killed by agents of Ma’mun—or perhaps died from those wounds.
Supporting Evidence:
- Reports in A‘yan al-Shi‘a and other sources affirm his martyrdom.
If he had truly been accompanying Imam al-Reza (AS), the agents would have killed the Imam himself, not his servant.
Therefore, it is more plausible that Hamzeh (AS) was accompanying his full brother, Ahmad ibn Musa (AS).
- Historians agree that the migration of the Sayyids occurred after the arrival of Imam al-Reza (AS) in Khorasan in 201 AH.
They also place Hamzeh’s death between 201 and 204 AH.
Hazrat Abdul Azim al-Hasani (AS) has explicitly mentioned visiting a grave in Rey belonging to “a noble man from the descendants of Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS).”
Thus, the evidence strongly indicates that Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) traveled with Shah Cheragh (AS), was wounded in the battle with Qutlug Khan’s forces, fled to Rey, and was martyred there.
Given that Shah Cheragh (AS) was older than Imam al-Reza (AS), born in 148 AH, and that Hamzeh (AS) was his full brother, it can be estimated that Hamzeh (AS) was born around 151 AH and died around 203–204 AH, at approximately 53 years old.
Children and Descendants of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS)
Three sons are recorded for Hamzeh ibn Musa (AS):
- Hamzeh ibn Hamzeh
- Qasim ibn Hamzeh
- Ali ibn Hamzeh
Ali ibn Hamzeh died without offspring and is buried in Shiraz at Bab Estakhr, where his grave is a shrine visited by many.
Thus, the descendants of Hamzeh ibn Musa (AS) come from Qasim and Hamzeh.
Hamzeh ibn Hamzeh was born to a concubine (Umm Walad). He held leadership in Khorasan. Few descendants remain, mainly through his son Ali ibn Hamzeh ibn Hamzeh, some of whom are in Balkh.
Qasim ibn Hamzeh, also born to an Umm Walad, was known as Qasim al-‘Arabi. His descendants come through Muhammad al-‘Arabi, who had six sons:
- Ahmad Abu ‘Ali al-Aswad — Naqib of Tus
- Abdullah Abu Muhammad al-Jurjani — known as Abu Zaynab
- Musa — whose descendants reside in Tabaristan
- Qasim — whose descendants live in Herat
- Abbas al-Siah — who lived in Tabaristan
- Ali — who lived in Herat
Allamah Abbas Faiz (RA) states in Badr-e Foruzan that Qasim’s lineage continued through three sons: Muhammad, Ali, and Ahmad.
Among the notable descendants of Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-‘Arabi ibn Qasim ibn Hamzeh is Abu Muhammad Ismail, ancestor of the Safavid kings.
Sheikh Abbas Qummi (RA), in Muntaha al-Amal, lists the genealogy of the Safavid kings back to Qasim ibn Hamzeh, son of Imam Musa al-Kazim (AS).
Among the descendants of Muhammad ibn Qasim al-‘Arabi ibn Hamzeh is Abu Ja‘far Muhammad ibn Musa ibn Muhammad ibn Qasim ibn Hamzeh, who served the Sassanid kings.
Two Miracles of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS)
Miracle 1
The children of Imam Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS) all possessed virtues, but Hazrat Hamzeh (AS) was distinguished with exceptional dignity and spiritual grandeur. Thousands of devotees have brought their heartfelt supplications to his blessed shrine and witnessed his benevolence.
During the oppressive reign of Reza Shah, when religious freedoms and Islamic values were severely suppressed, a carved wooden shrine was prepared for installation over the grave of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS). One of the shrine servants secretly placed inside it a letter describing the tyranny of the era.
Forty years later, in 1971, a new shrine was commissioned. The servant who had hidden the letter panicked—fearful that it would be found under the rule of Mohammad-Reza Shah. He sought refuge in Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS).
When the shrine was lifted, he quickly scattered dust from the grave into his burial shroud, hoping the letter was concealed within it. But no letter was found, and he became terrified.
As he sat by the courtyard fountain, distraught, a tall, radiant young man approached him and said:
“Are you looking for the letter?
Do not worry. It will never be found.”
Stunned, the servant turned around—but the young man had vanished. Overcome with awe, he looked toward the turquoise dome and whispered:
“Peace be upon you, O son of the Messenger of God.”
Miracle 2
Years ago, in the city of Rey, it was widely known who tiled the minarets of the shrine of Sayyid al-Karim (AS). People would say:
“The man who fell from the balcony—yet only the sheep’s fat burst!”
During Muharram, passion plays were held in the courtyard of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS). One performance depicted Prophet Ibrahim (AS) attempting to sacrifice his son Isma‘il (AS). At the dramatic moment, a wooden box would be lowered from the balcony containing the actor playing Archangel Gabriel and a sheep.
One year, the sheep panicked due to the crowd’s noise. The box overturned, and both the actor and the sheep plummeted from the height. The director of the play called out:
“O son of Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS), help us!”
To everyone’s astonishment, the sheep landed safely on all fours, and the actor fell precisely on the sheep’s fat tail, which burst upon impact—yet neither the actor nor any spectator suffered the slightest injury.
The actor was none other than Ustad Mahmoud, the master tiler who later tiled the minarets of the shrine of Hazrat Abdul Azim (AS).
How to Perform the Ziyarat of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS)
Sheikh Abbas Qummi (RA) writes that the same ziyarat recited for Hazrat Abdul Azim (AS) may be recited for Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS), with the phrase “Peace be upon you, O Abu al-Qasim” replacing the name of Abdul Azim (AS). The entire ziyarat may then be offered with this intention.
Shrine and Mausoleum of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS)
The exact date of construction of his shrine is unknown, but it is certain that Hazrat Abdul Azim al-Hasani (AS), during his residence in Rey, used to visit the grave opposite his own and said:
“This is the grave of a noble man from the descendants of Musa ibn Ja‘far (AS).”
The first to identify and venerate the grave was Hazrat Abdul Azim (AS). In later centuries, devout locals also visited it regularly. The Safavid kings—his descendants—were the first to develop the site significantly.
Dr. Mohammad-Taqi Mostafavi writes in Historical Monuments of Tehran:
“The mausoleum of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS) consists of a chamber comparable in size and form to that of Hazrat Abdul Azim (AS), decorated with mirrorwork. It has a silver lattice from the mid-Qajar era and a newly built wooden shrine. The large eastern balcony and the mosque above it (on the western side) appear to date from the era of Shah Tahmasp Safavi.”
Ziyarat Text of Imamzadeh Hamzeh (AS)
بِسْمِ الله الرَّحْمِن الرَّحيم
اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ خاتَمِ الاَنْبِياءِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ وَلِیِّ الاَوْلِياءِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ بَتُولِ الْعَذراءِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ شافِعِ يَوْمِ الحِسابِ يَابْنَ الاَئِمَّةِ الاَطْيابِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ الطّاهِرينَ الاَنْجابِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ بابِ الحَوائِجِ يَابْنَ صاحِبِ الْمَقاماتِ وَ الْمَعارِجِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يَابْنَ النَّبَاءِ الْعَظيمِ يَابْنَ الْکاظِمِ الْکَظيمِ يا مَنْ زارَهُ سَيِّدُنا عَبْدُ العَظيمِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يا اَخَا الرِّضَا الْغَريبِ يا حَبيبَ بْنَ الْحَبيبِ يا ذَاالنَّسَبِ الْحَسيبِ ، اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ يا سَيِّدی وَ مَوْلایَ يا حَمْزَةَ بْنَ موسَی الْکاظِمِ يَابْنَ الاَطْيابِ وَ الْاَعاظِمِ يا سُلالَةَ الْاَفاخِمِ يَابْنَ السّاداتِ المُکَرَّمينَ يَابْنَ الاَئِمَّةِ الْمُنْتَجَبينَ يَابْنَ آلِ طه وَ يس يَابْنَ وَلِیِّ اللهِ وَ يا اَخَ ولِیِّ اللهِ وَ يا عَمَّ وَلِیِّ اللهِ اَيُّهَا الشّافِعُ وَ ابْنَ الشّافِعِ اَشهَدُ اَنَّکَ ابْنُ الْاِمامِ وَاَخُ الْاِمامِ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّةِ اَئِمَّةِ الْکِرامِ وَ اَلسَّلامُ عَلَيْکَ وَ عَلی آبائِکَ الطّاهِرينَ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَ بَرَکاتُهُ.
