Big Four (Najaf)
The Big Four refers to the four contemporary leading Grand Ayatollahs of Twelver Shia Islam based in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq.[1][2][3]
Background
Most Twelver Shia Muslims follow the Islamic rulings of a Grand Ayatollah. Under Saddam Hussein, the clerics were oppressed. At present, the most prominent among them is Ali al-Sistani; who also serves as the head of the Najaf Seminary.[4]
List
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| Grand Ayatollah | Date of birth | Place of birth | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Ali al-Sistani | 4 August 1930 | Mashhad, Iran |
| Bashir al-Najafi | 1942 (age 81–82) | Jalandhar, India | |
| File:Eshaq fayyaz.jpg | Muhammad al-Fayadh | 1930 (age 93–94) | Ghazni, Afghanistan |
| Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim | 1 February 1934 | Najaf, Iraq | |
References
- ^ Escobar, Pepe (3 February 2007). "A massacre and a new civil war". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ^ Mouzahem, Haytham (7 March 2014). "Iraqi Shiite clerics maintain humility, influence". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ "Sources close to the reference: the next prime minister will be a surprise to all". iraqidinarchat.net. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ^ Finn, Ed (4 February 2004). "Why we'd better listen to Iraq's influential cleric". Slate. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
External links
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