During the period of Imam Musa ibn Ja'far (a.s.), the Ismailiyyah, Fatahiyyah, and Nawwasiyyah sects were formed. Although during the lifetime of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), the ground for division in Shia had been prepared, no division occurred among them. However, with the martyrdom of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and the beginning of the Imamate of Musa ibn Ja'far, the Shia split into different sects; a group of them denied the death of Ismail, the son of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), and considered him the Imam. A number of this group, who were disappointed with the life of Ismail, considered his son Muhammad to be the Imam. This group became known as the Ismailiyyah. Others considered Abdullah al-Aftah as the Imam and became known as the Fatahiyyah, but after his death, which occurred about 70 days after the martyrdom of Imam Sadiq (a.s.), they believed in the Imamate of Musa ibn Ja'far. Some also stopped following a person named Nawus in the Imamate of Imam Sadiq (AS), and some believed in the Imamate of Muhammad Dibaj.

Ghaliyan activity

During the period of Imam Kazim (AS), Ghaliyan were also active. During this period, the Bashiriyya sect was formed, which was attributed to Muhammad ibn Bashir, one of the companions of Musa ibn Jafar. During the life of the Imam, he told lies about the Imam.

Muhammad ibn Bashir said that the person people know as Musa ibn Jafar is not Musa ibn Jafari, who is the Imam and the proof of God, and he claimed that the real Musa ibn Jafar is with him and can show them the Imam. He was skilled in magic and had made a face like the face of Imam Kazim (AS) and showed it to people as Imam Kazim (AS), and some were deceived by him. Before the martyrdom of Imam Kazim (AS), Muhammad ibn Bashir and his followers had spread rumors in the community that Imam Kazim (AS) had not been imprisoned, was alive, and would not die. Imam Kazim considered Muhammad ibn Bashir impure and cursed him, and considered it permissible to shed his blood.