Ja'far al-Kazim al-Khawari (Arabic: جعفر الكاظم الخواري) was a son of Musa al-Kazim, the seventh Imam in Twelver Shia Islam, and the brother of Ali al-Ridha. He was known by the epithet "al-Khawari" due to his association with the village of Khawar in the Hejaz region. His descendants are referred to as the Khawari or Shajari Sayyids.
Lineage.
Ja'far was the son of Musa al-Kazim, who was the son of Ja'far al-Sadiq, son of Muhammad al-Baqir, son of Ali Zayn al-Abidin, son of Husayn ibn Ali, son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.
Life.
Imam Musa al-Kazim had a notably large number of children compared to other Shia Imams, with historical accounts suggesting he had 37 offspring. Among them was Ja'far al-Kazim, known as "al-Khawari." His descendants are known as the Khawari or Shajari Sayyids.
Ja'far had two sons: Hasan and Musa. Musa fathered a son named Hasan al-Haqq (Hasan the Revolutionary), who in turn had a son named Ali al-Khawari.
Historical sources indicate that Ja'far accompanied his brother Ali al-Ridha on his journey to Tus in the Khorasan region. During this journey, they were attacked near the city of Saveh, leading to Ja'far's death.
After reaching adulthood, Ja'far supported his brother al-Ridha when he accepted the invitation of Al-Ma'mun and left Medina for Marv. He joined a caravan that included other sons and grandsons of Musa al-Kazim, such as Ibrahim and Abu al-Jawad, traveling from Baghdad to Khorasan.
Descendants.
Ja'far al-Khawari had several notable descendants, including:
Several clans trace their lineage to him, such as:
Shrine.
Historical and Architectural Features.
The shrine comprises a courtyard and a large dome measuring 21 meters in height and 9.5 meters in diameter. The dome features a double-shell structure atop a polygonal base, with thirteen windows and carpeted floors. The dome is adorned with turquoise mosaics and intricate calligraphic decorations.
The site was registered as a national heritage site in Iran in 1317 AH (1938 CE) under registration number 319.
Ceremonies and Events.
Annual ceremonies are held at the shrine during spring, attracting thousands of visitors and officials. The shrine also hosts cultural events and photography competitions. Meetings between the shrine's cultural committee and municipal officials are held to discuss facility development.
Significance.
Ja'far al-Kazim al-Khawari holds importance in documenting the genealogies of the Prophet's family. His biography is cited in works on Alid lineages, such as: