List of current maraji
This article provides the list of Maraji (plural of Marja, the supreme legal authority or the source of emulation), followed by Twelver (also known as Imamiyyah) Shia Muslims around the world. The concept of a Marja-i Taqlid (lit. source of emulation) is central to Usuli Shi'a Islam.[1] Marja-i Taqlids provide religious interpretations on matters of law and rituals.[2][3] Ideally, the most just and knowledgeable specialist in the field of the Islamic law should become recognized throughout the Muslim world as the Marja-i Taqlid. In practice however this rarely happens and there are several marja taqlid's among whom an individual is free to choose and emulate.[2][3]
Those clerics who reach the apex in the hirerachy of theological rank in the centers of Shi'a learning become Marja-i Taqlids.[2][4] Since around 1940, Marja-i Taqlids are often referred to by their followers with the honorific title of Ayatollah al-`Uzma (Grand Ayatollah).[2] Among the functions of Marja-i Taqlids is the collection and distribution of religious taxes (zakat and khums).[2][3]
Current
Note: The list contains those Ayatollahs who have published a resalah, regardless of the number of followers they have. This list is just for sake of reference and should not be accepted as proof of Marjaiyat for enlisted candidates. To choose & decide Marja for religious purposes please refer to the Shia-Islamic Codifix, Sources and People of Knowledge (i.e. Ahle-e-Khoboor). The general consensus on the standard by which a believer chooses the marja he/she wishes to follow requires (among other things) that the marja be the most knowledgeable shi'i mujtahid in all fields. However, the assessment of the most knowledgeable scholar (alam) is subjective among experts in the field.
The names are ordered alphabetically (by common name of mujtahids).
| No | Image | Name | Birth Year CE[5] |
Birth Year AH[5] |
Birth Place | Education | Residence | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Alavi Gorgani - علوى گرگانى Sayyid Mohammad Alavi Ali Hosseini Gorgani السيد محمد على علوى حسينى گرگانى |
1926 | 1344 |  Iraq |
Iraq |
 Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 2 |
|
Baghdadi - بغدادي Sayyid Ahmad Hassani Baghdadi السيد احمد الحسني البغدادي |
1944 | 1363 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 3 |
|
Baghdadi - بغدادي Sayyid Ali Hassani Baghdadi السيد علي الحسني البغدادي |
1954 | 1373 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 4 |
|
Bathaei Golpayegani - بطحایی گلپایگانی Sayyid Hashem Bathaei Golpayegani السيد هاشم بطحایی گلپایگانی |
1941 | 1360 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 5 |
|
Bayat Zanjani - بیات زنجانی Asadollah Bayyat Zanjani اسدالله بیات زنجانی |
1942 | 1361 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 6 |
|
Dastgheib Shirazi - دستغیب شيرازي Sayyid Ali Mohammad Dastgheib Shirazi السيد علی محمد دستغیب شيرازي |
1935 | 1353 | Iran |
Iran Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 7 |
|
Duzduzani - دوزدوزاني Mirza Yadollah Duzduzani ميرزا يدالله دوزدوزاني |
1935 | 1354 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 8 |
|
Esmailpour Qomsheiy - اسماعيلپور قمشه اي Mohammad Ali Esmailpour Qomsheiy محمد علي اسماعيلپور قمشه اي |
1940 | 1359 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 9 |
|
Fayadh - فياض Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayadh محمد إسحاق فياض |
1930 | 1348 |  Afghanistan |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 10 |
|
Gerami Qomi - گرامى قمي Mohammad Ali Gerami Qomi محمدعلى گرامى قمي |
1938 | 1357 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 11 |
|
Gharavi Aliari - غروي علياري Mirza Javad Gharavi Aliari ميرزا جواد غروي علياري |
1935 | 1353 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 12 |
|
Ghoraifi - غريفي Sayyid Allaedin Ghoraifi السيد علاء الدين الغريفي |
1945 | 1364 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 13 |
|
Haeri - حائري Sayyid Kazim Hussaini al-Haeri السيد كاظم حسيني حائري |
1938 | 1356 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 14 | 
|
Hakeem - حكيم Sayyid Mohammad Sa'eed Tabatabai al-Hakeem السيد محمد سعيد الطباطبائي الحكيم |
1936 | 1354 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 15 | File:Sayyidalhaydari.jpg | Haydari- حيدري Sayyid Kamal Haydari سيد كمال الحيدري |
1945 | 1364 | Iraq |
Iran Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 16 | File:Hossein Nassab14.jpg | Hosseini Nassab - حسيني نسب Sayyid Reza Hosseini Nassab السيد رضا حسيني نسب |
1960 | 1380 | Iran |
Iran |
 Canada
|
Official Website | [6][7] |
| 17 |
|
Jannaati - جناتی Mohammad Ebrahim Jannaati محمد ابراهيم جناتی |
1932 | 1350 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 18 | 
|
Javadi Amoli - جوادى آملى Abdollah Javadi-Amoli عبدالله جوادى آملى |
1933 | 1352 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 19 |
|
Kaboli - كابلى Qorban Ali Kaboli قربان علي كابلى |
1928 | 1346 | Afghanistan |
Afghanistan Iraq |
Afghanistan
|
Official Website | - |
| 20 | File:Ali Khamenei,.jpg | Khamenei - خامنه اي Sayyid Ali Hoseyni Khamenei السيد علي حسيني خامنه اي |
1939 | 1358 | Iran |
Iran Iraq  Lebanon |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 21 |
|
Khaqani - خاقاني Mohammad Mohammad Taher Aleshobair Khaqani محمد محمد طاهــــر آل شبيـر الخاقانـــــي |
1940 | 1359 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 22 |
|
Mahfouzi - محفوظی Abbas Mahfouzi عباس محفوظی |
1928 | 1346 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 23 | File:Makarem Shirazi.JPG | Makarem Shirazi - مكارم شيرازي Naser Makarem Shirazi ناصر مكارم شيرازي |
1927 | 1345 | Iran |
Iran Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 24 | 
|
Maleki - مالكي Fazel Maleki فاضل المالكي |
1953 | 1372 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 25 |
|
Mamaqani - مامقاني Mohammad Amin Mamaqani محمد أمين المامقاني |
1952 | 1371 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Biography | - |
| 26 |
|
Mazaheri - مظاهري Hossein Mazaheri حسين مظاهري |
1934 | 1352 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 27 |
|
Mobasher Kashani - مبشر کاشانی Khalil Mobasher Kashani خلیل مبشر کاشانی |
1951 | 1370 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 28 |
|
Modaressi - مدرسي Sayyid Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi السيد محمد تقي المدرسي |
1945 | 1364 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 29 |
|
Modaressi Yazdi - مدرسي يزدي Sayyid Abbas Moddaresi Yazdi السيد عباس مدرسي يزدي |
1945 | 1364 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 30 |
|
Mohseni - محسني Mohammad Asif Mohseni محمد آصف محسني |
1936 | 1354 | Afghanistan
|
Iraq |
Afghanistan
|
Official Website | - |
| 31 | 
|
Mousavi Ardebili - موسوي اردبيلي Sayyid Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili السيد عبدالكريم موسوي اردبيلي |
1926 | 1344 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 32 |
|
Najafi - نجفي Bashir Hussain Najafi بشير حسين النجفي |
1942 | 1361 |  British India |
 Pakistan Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 33 | 
|
Najafi - نجفي Muhammad Hussain Najafi محمد حسين النجفي |
1932 | 1350 | British India |
Pakistan Iraq |
Pakistan
|
Official website | - |
| 34 | Nekoonam - نکونام Mohammad Reza Nekoonam محمد رضا نکونام |
1948 | 1367 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - | |
| 35 | .jpg)
|
Noori Hamedani - نوري همداني Hossein Noori Hamedani حسين نوري همداني |
1926 | 1344 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 36 | 
|
Qassem - قاسم Isa Ahmed Qassim عيسى احمد قاسم |
1937 | 1355 |  Bahrain |
Iran Iraq |
Bahrain
|
Official Website | - |
| 37 |
|
Qomi - قمي Sayyid Taqi Tabatabaei Qomi السيد تقي طباطبايي قمي |
1923 | 1341 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
- | |
| 38 |
|
Rahimi Azad - رحیمی آزاد Ali Asghar Rahimi Azad علی اصغر رحیمی آزاد |
1939 | 1358 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 39 |
|
Rahmati Sirjani - رحمتی سیرجانی Mohammad Rahmati Sirjani محمد رحمتی سیرجانی |
1928 | 1347 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 40 | 
|
Rouhani - روحاني Sayyid Mohammad Sadeq Hosayni Rouhani السيد محمد صادق حسيني روحاني |
1926 | 1344 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 41 | 
|
Saafi Golpaygani - صافی گلپایگانی Lotfollah Saafi Golpaygani لطف الله صافی گلپایگانی |
1919 | 1337 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 42 | 
|
Saanei - صانعي Yousuf Saan'ei يوسف صانعي |
1937 | 1355 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 43 |
|
Sadr - صدر Sayyid Hussein Esmaeel al-Sadr السيد حسين إسماعيل الصدر |
1952 | 1371 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 44 |
|
Saleh - صالح Ali Al-Saleh علي الصالح |
1948 | 1367 |  Kuwait |
Iran |
Kuwait
|
- | |
| 45 | 
|
Shahroudi - شاهرودي Sayyid Mahmouad Hashemi Shahroudi السيد محمود شاهرودي |
1948 | 1367 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 46 |
|
Shahroudi - شاهرودي Sayyid Mohammad Shahroudi السيد محمد شاهرودي |
1925 | 1343 | Iraq |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 47 | File:Sirazi.jpg | Shirazi - شيرازي Sayyid Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi السيد صادق حسيني شيرازي |
1942 | 1361 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 48 | File:Shobeiri-zanjani.jpg | Shubairi Zanjani - شبيري زنجانی Sayyid Mousa Shubayri Zanjani السيد موسى شبيري زنجانی |
1927 | 1345 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 49 | 
|
Sistani - سيستاني Sayyid Ali Husayni al-Sistani السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني |
1930 | 1348 | Iran |
Iran Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website[8] | - |
| 50 |
|
Sobhani - سبحاني Ja'far Sobhani جعفر سبحاني |
1928 | 1346 |  Azerbaijan |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 51 | 
|
Sorkhi - صرخي Sayyid Mahmoud Hassani Sorkhi السيد محمود الحسني الصرخي |
1964 | 1383 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 52 |
|
Tabatabaei Hassani - طباطبائي حسني Sayyid Mohammad Ali Tabatabaei Hassani السيد محمد علي الطباطبائي الحسني |
1945 | 1364 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
- | |
| 53 |
|
Taei - طائي Qasem Taei قاسم الطائي |
1960 | 1379 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 54 |
|
Taei - طائي Saleh Taei صالح الطائي |
1958 | 1377 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 55 |
|
Vaezi - واعظي Shamsodin Vaezi شمس الدين الواعظي |
1936 | 1355 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 56 | .jpg)
|
Vahid Khorasani - وحيد خراساني Hossein Vahid Khorasani حسين وحيد خراساني |
1921 | 1339 | Iran |
Iraq |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
| 57 | File:Yaqoobi 1434 Fatimya speech.jpg | Yaqoobi - يعقوبي Mohammad Yaqoobi محمد اليعقوبي |
1960 | 1379 | Iraq |
Iraq |
Iraq
|
Official Website | - |
| 58 |
|
Zanjani - زنجانی Sayyid Mohammad Hosseini Zanjani السید محمد حسینی زنجانی |
1947 | 1366 | Iran |
Iran |
Iran
|
Official Website | - |
Deceased
See also
References
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-ithna-ashari2.htm
- ^ a b c d e Lara Deeb, An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon, Princeton University Press, pp.69-70
- ^ a b c Michael W. Suleiman,Arabs in America: Building a New Future, p.55, Temple University Press
- ^ Linda S. Walbridge, The Most Learned of the Shiʻa: The Institution of the Marjaʻ Taqlid, Oxford University Press, p.217
- ^ a b The abbreviation CE refers to the Common Era solar calendar, while AH refers to the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar.
- ^ Seyed Reza Hosseini Nassab
- ^ Islamopedia, Ayatollah Hosseini Nassab.
- ^ Biography
External links
- Prominent Ulamaa, prior to 100 years
- ULAMAA - TIMELINE
- Comprehensive List of Ulamaa / Jurists & their books ' An Extract from A Shiite Encyclopedia - Hasan Amini
- Indian Ulamaa list
- Leading Luminaries (ahl-ul-bayt.org)
- Ulamaa Biography (imamreza.net)
- Ulamaa Biography (imamreza.net)
- Ulamaa Biographies (Jafariyanews.com)
- Introduction to Scholars 5th / 11th century (al-islam.org)
- Scholars Info (Playandlearn.org)
- List of living Iranian Grand Ayatollahs