Biography

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THE RISE

The Grand Shia Islamic Authority and Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is born on January 8, 1942 in the holy city of Karbala, in Iraq into a family of outstanding history and position in the Islamic sciences and leadership. The Grand Jurist was named Sadiq after the sixth Shia Imam, with the hopes of treading in the path of protecting moralities, justice, and the genuine culture of the Islam, presented by the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. These hopes came true years later, as the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi dedicated his entire lifetime to serving the genuine Islam, the holy Quran, and the culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household.  

• FATHER

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi, the father of the Grand Jurist was a widely respected and accredited religious authority of his time.

Born in 1887 in the holy city of Karbala, the Grand Jurist’s father had to suffer the loss of his father, Sayyid Mirza Habibullah Shirazi at the young age of 16, in the year 1903. Since then, he enjoyed the supports of his mother and his elder brother, Sayyid Abdullah. The Grand Jurist’s father studied the Arabic literature and the preliminary stages of Islamic sciences in the Islamic Seminary of holy Karbala; then, he made a long journey to the cities of Samarra and Kadhimiya, and after a short stay in holy Karbala, he left his hometown for the holy city of Najaf, where he continued his studies for the next 20 years. Finally, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi returned to holy Karbala and lived the rest of his life in this city.

The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi had the honor to study under many great names in the contemporary history of Shia Islam, such as Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, Mirza Ali Shirazi, Haji Rida Hamedani, Sayyid Kazim Tabatabaei, and Akhund Khorasani. Meanwhile, the father of the Grand Jurist along with many acclaimed Shia scholars and religious authorities such as Sayyid Muhammad Hadi Milani, Haji Sheikh Muhammad Rida Isfahani, Sayyid Zainul Abedin Kashani, and Sheikh Kazim Shirazi used to take part in the scientific courses directed by the senior Shia scholar of the time, Grand Jurist Haji Husayn Qomi.

• Islamic Leadership

In the years following 1946, after the death of two great Shia Jurists, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abul Hasan Isfahani and Grand Ayatollah Haji Husayn Qomi, more and more people referred their religious matters to the prominent Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi. This popularity among different groups of people came along with words of admiration from the many religious scholars and jurists who predicted that the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi will succeed the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Borujerdi, as the next Shia leading Marja and Jurist.

However, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi passed away on February 15, 1961, only forty five days before the sad departure of the leading Shia Marja, Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi.

• The Four Lights

The late Haji Rida Fedayi, a pious and sincere eulogist in the holy city of Karbala narrates:

On the day, when the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi passed away; the entire city of Karbala grieved the death of the late Ayatollah. It was like that even the sun mourns this loss, since there was a solar eclipse upon his death. The departure of the late Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi struck the people with a deep feeling of grief, because the people admired the Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi for his fatherly love and his honest and steadfast services to the public. On that night, I had a dream of a light ascending to the sky. When I looked more precise, I could see Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi in the midst of that light. Then, I screamed out of pain and said: “What a big loss!” Suddenly, I heard a voice that told me: “True. You have lost a shining light, but this light has left you four other lights instead, so treasure them.” The four lights that the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi left us were his four sons, one of whom is the current religious Authority and Jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• The Four Mahdis

At the funeral ceremony of the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi, when the late Grand Ayatollah Mohsen Hakim watched the impatient and grief-stricken mourning of the pubic, he asked them to calm down and then he said:

Today, we lost one Mahdi, but remember that our beloved Mahdi has left us four other Mahdis.

• Political Activities

The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi had an active role in the following social and political movements:

• The revolution of 1920 in Iraq which was led by his uncle, late Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi
• The uprising of the late Grand Ayatollah Qomi, who traveled to Iran in order to make sure the religious activism and rituals will be legalized in Iran’s legislative bodies.
• The issue of a religious command against the communists, who wanted to trigger a war in Iraq.
• Fighting apostasy and heresy by holding ceremonies to celebrate the birthday anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in the holy city of Karbala. Years later, these celebrations spread out to other cities in Iraq, including holy Najaf, Hillah, Baghdad, and Samarra.
• Books and Publications
• An unfinished commentary on the famous book of “Urwatul Wuthqa”
• Commentaries on the principles of Islamic jurisprudence
• A commentary on a book of jurisprudence written by Imam Rida (PBUH)
• A collection of notes on different sciences
• A collection of important prayers and supplications, “Al-Da’awatul Mujarrabat”
• ??
• A Memory of My Father

My dear father was an early riser and it was only one of his many good habits. I don’t recall even a day to have seen my father sleeping late. This was, in fact, a lesson that his mother taught him and he used to say that his mother was also an early riser. In the midst of the nights, his mother used to wake my father up to watch her do the prayers of the night. She used to give my father a handful of snacks so that her five-year-old son could stay awake and watch her mother praying.  She wanted to teach her son to be an early riser. In the meantime, she never wanted to force her son into staying awake, so she gave him some snacks as a means of encouragement.

He always woke up before the morning call for prayers. Even in his final years, when he was severely ill and couldn’t sleep at night, my father took a short nap an hour before the morning prayers and again, he woke up before the morning call for prayers. He had developed this habit to stay awake in that early time of the morning, although he was feeling ill. The signs of his habit to stay vigilant at nights were evident in his tender and considerate behaviors.

Note: this story is quoted by Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi Visiting Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

Once, a senior scholar who was a close friend of my father said:

“On each Friday night, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to go to the rooftop of his house and plead the helps and attentions of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.”

As we are informed, our late father had the honor to meet Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, for three times. The first meeting took place in the sacred cellar, where Imam Mahdi had disappeared. The second meeting was in the holy city of Najaf, near the sacred tomb of prophet Hud and prophet Saleh. The last meeting, again, took place in the sacred cellar, where the first meeting happened. We were never informed of the details of these meetings, but we were just informed that my father had met Imam Mahdi in that cellar. My father never spoke to us about any of these meetings at all.

That senior scholar narrated the story of the meeting between my father and Imam Mahdi in these words:

During his stay in the holy city of Samarra, the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to visit the sacred cellar on each Friday night. He used to read Quran and pray all alone during the night until the morning. Then, he left the cellar after reading the prayer of Nudba. During those nights, there were no other people in that cellar; so the Grand Ayatollah told me that when he visited the sacred cellar, he locked the door from inside so that nobody could disturb him, while praying.

“In one of those Friday mornings, while I had the door locked from inside, I was busy reading the prayer of Nudba. Then, I read this sentence from the prayer that said “you ascended his soul to the skies”. Suddenly, I noticed someone sitting beside me. He pointed to me and corrected me, saying “you ascended him to the skies.” I corrected myself and resumed reading the prayer, while I had totally missed the odd point of the man who sat next to me. A few moments later, suddenly I asked myself: Oh God. Who is the man sitting next to me? How did he enter the cellar? I had locked the door from inside and I was sure no one could come into the cellar.

All these thoughts thundered my brain and I started quivering. I could clearly hear my heart beating and I hardly could look back to where that person was sitting, but he was not there anymore. I looked for him into the cellar and I didn’t find him. I was made certain that he was our master, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.”

• MOTHER

The mother of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, and the wife of the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi was the daughter of Sayyid Abd Al-Sahib, and a granddaughter of the Great Mirza Shirazi. This respectful lady passed away on June 28, 1976 on her seventies.

The Grand Jurist’s mother was known for her deep insight and virtuous conducts. She was an inspiration to her children who dedicated her life to preserve the genuine Islamic morals and observe the acts of worship in all stages of her life.

Every day, she was committed to soften her heart by shedding tears and remembering the tragic martyrdom of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to read the events of Ashura Day from the famous book of “Jala Al-Uyun” for her wife.

• Upbringing Children

As an exemplary lady and self-giving mother, the Grand Jurist’s mother was deeply keen and solemn to bring up her children to serve the sublime culture of the Prophet of Islam and his pure Household in the future. The history’s judgment can obviously show us that she was successful as each of her children became known as great scholars and protectors of the genuine Islamic teachings.  

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi clarified on her mother’s upbringing methods in these words:

“My dear mother, may she rest in peace, woke me up every night, before the sunrise and taught me how to humbly make my prayers to the Lord. As a young boy, I was at times so sleepy that I couldn’t walk, but she always was kind and caring to me and taught me to get used to staying vigilant at nights.”

She had six sons with the names of Muhammad, Ali, Hasan, Husayn, Sadiq, Mujtaba, and seven daughters. Sadly, two of her sons, Ali and Husayn, and one of her daughters died at a young age.

• THE LINEAGE OF THE SHIRAZI FAMILY

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has said:

“Indeed, the friends of God are those people who look at this world and see its inside, while the rest of people are amused by its appealing appearance. They look forward to the afterlife while the rest of people are pleased with this petty life. Quran is made known by them, and they are known by Quran; the book of God is upheld by them and they are strengthened by the book of God. They don’t see more that they hope for and they don’t fear except for what they must.”

All these qualities and characteristics can best describe the noble and great family of the Shirazi. They are the family who have preserved the light of true knowledge, piety, morals, virtue, resolution, tenacity and service to the genuine Islam and the holy Quran in our disturbed time.

A noble family with strong and deep roots …

“a blessed tree which has firm roots and branches rising up into the sky”

Chapter 14, Verse 24, Holy Quran

The Islamic Authority and Jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is a descendant of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali. He is brought up in a family, known for their strong commitment and dedication in leading the Shia Muslims and their expertise in the Islamic Jurisdiction in the last century and a half. Here, we mention some of the great names of the Shirazi family.

• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, may he rest in peace. Also known as the Great Reformer, he led the revolution of Tobacco Protest in Iran. He was the great grandfather of the Grand Jurist. Death, 1895.
• Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, may he rest in peace. He led the revolution of 1920 in Iraq. He was the paternal uncle of the Grand Jurist. Death, 1919.
• Grand Ayatollah Haji Sayyid Ali Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was a prominent Shia religious authority in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Death, 1936.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ismael Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. Death, 1887.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Abdul Hadi Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. Death, July 14, 1962.
• Ayatollah Mirza Abdullah Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He is the uncle of the Grand Jurist.
• Ayatollah Mirza Jafar Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He is the uncle of the Grand Jurist.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, may he rest in peace. He was a great religious authority and the Grand Jurist’s father. Death, February 15, 1961.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayni Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the elder brother of the Grand Jurist and the author of “Encyclopedia of Jurisprudence” that comprises 160 volumes. Death, December 18, 2001.
• The martyr, Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the brother of the Grand Jurist, and the founder of the first Shia Islamic Seminary next to the shrine of Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her. On May 2, 1980, Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi was assassinate by the Baath regime in Beirut.
• Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Husayni Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and he passed away in the holy city of Qom, on June 1^st, 2008, at the age of fifty. He was one of the best students of his uncle, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

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The Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was born and raised in a family, renowned for their long-time stance in protecting the Islamic values against its enemies.

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The Rise of another Scholar from the Family of Shirazi

• THE BEGINNING OF ISLAMIC STUDIES

Like the rest of his family members, the Grand Islamic Authority Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi began studying the basics of Islamic sciences and jurisdiction at his childhood, under the supervision of his late father, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi. As a young boy, the Grand Jurist learned about the genuine Islam and the culture of the Prophet and his pure Household and established his strong resolution to step in the path of serving the faith, in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq.

Since his childhood, the Grand Jurist was well observant to establish a deep perception and authentic understanding of the Islamic morals and virtues. He maintained his focus on memorizing the holy Quran and learning the sublime culture of the Prophet and his Household and in this way, he remained faithful to the famous hadith by the holy Prophet of Islam who invited the people to stick with the book of God and his pure Household.

• PUTTING ON THE RELIGIOUS ROBE

In 1950 and at the age of ten, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi officially engaged in the Islamic and religious studies and put on the religious robe at this very young age. The beginning of these religious studies next to the sacred shrines of Imam Husayn and his loyal brother, Abbas, was a big privilege to many young and determined students of Islamic sciences who made it their cause, to respond to the centuries-long call of their leader, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, on the Ashura Day and transmit the message of this holy leader to the entire humanity in every epoch of the history.

The sacred shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, has had a deep influence on the spiritual devotion and the scientific dedication of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, both as a young student of Islamic sciences in the holy city of Karbala and as a reliable and popular religious authority and Jurist in our times.

• A MEMORY OF THE FIRST DAYS

At the time when I used to read the basics of Islamic sciences, I remember an old person, a religious scholar, who came to my father and talked to him for a long time. In fact, he was an old friend of my father’s. They were classmates and they studied together. Finally, when he said good bye to my father, he came to me and said: Keep studying so that you become a great and learned man like your father. I have spent years with your father and we studied together. Your father always made his time for studying and doing research. He never left any subject unless he had mastered it. But I didn’t do much in studying. I always waited for the weekends to go out with my friends and have fun. I always requested your father to come with us, but he was always busy studying and reading. He never joined us on the weekends and kept reading, writing and discussing different subjects. I once got angry at him and told him what he is going to make out of all these studying.

But now, you can see your father has become a famous religious authority and jurist who funds the students, and I am only one of the many students who is funded by your father!

• AN ADVICE FOR STUDYING

My father used to tell us repeatedly that we should never let anything stop us from studying. He always used to tell us to give top priority to our studies, even if we had to quit doing recommended acts of worship. He also told us that we shouldn’t stop studying for the sake of some party or get-together. That is why, we never let anything to be an obstacle in our course of studying.

• PERSISTENT PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

The Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi started studying the basics of Islamic sciences under direct supervision of his late father, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi. In addition, he enjoyed the loving company of his elder brother, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, who was a founder of the School of Imam Sadiq, and several other Quranic Institutions in the holy city of Karbala. During this period, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi had the chance to learn a lot from his prolific brother, the king of authors, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.

In short, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi completed the preliminary and basic stages of Islamic sciences at the Islamic Seminaries. Then, he had the chance to sit at the feet of many great scholars and jurists of his time and began his studies in the Advanced Courses of Jurisprudence. His sharp mind and quick pace of learning made the Grand Jurist a popular and much-admired face among his teachers and the scholars. In fact, the rise of many great and prominent scholars and jurists, who each left many great legacies to protect Islam, signified that intelligence and sharpness runs in this family.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was a humble and keen student, whose earnest resolution for learning made him attend the courses of advanced jurisprudence under the top Islamic scholars of his time. After proving his profound reflection and weighty expertise in the Islamic sciences, the Grand Jurist was granted the level of Islamic leadership, Ijtihad. Since then, the Grand Jurist has been known as a qualified Islamic jurist, a skilled expert in deducing the hadiths, and an adept authority in giving interpretations of the holy Quran.

• SIMULTANEOUS LEARNING AND TEACHING

In his youth, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was recognized as an accomplished and capable character in the Islamic sciences. Soon, other Islamic scholars in the holy city of Karbala requested the young Ayatollah to start teaching the large number of avid students in this holy city. Following these requests, the Grand Jurist began teaching advanced courses of Islamic sciences by the shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

The Grand Jurist had dedicated all his time to studying and learning the extensive realm of Islamic sciences and he never missed a chance or opportunity to respond to the unprecedented issues in the Islamic law and jurisprudence.

In respect to acquiring the teachings of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household, the Grand Jurist always makes this recommendation to all young students of Islamic sciences:

“Studying and learning the teachings of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household was my best ever decision and I believe it is the best choice one can ever make in this world; therefore, I recommend all the young people, especially the young Islamic students to make this decision and do their best in this long route. I also ask you to encourage all young friends to pick up this route and dedicate their lives in learning the teachings of the AhlulBayt.”

• TEACHERS

Despite being recognized as a distinguished teacher of Islamic sciences in the holy city of Karbala, the Grand Jurist always took part in the courses held by the well-known and prominent Islamic Jurists and scholars and benefited from their deep perception of Islamic Jurisprudence. In fact, the interminable thirst of the Grand Jurist for the Islamic sciences could never be quenched except by kneeling at the feet of the great Islamic Jurists and scholars of his hometown.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi studied under many great and outstanding figures of Islamic sciences, who all influenced the Grand Jurist in many juridical, moral, and doctrinal matters. Here, we bring you the names of some of these scholars:

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Mahdi Husayni Shirazi

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayni Shirazi

Martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Husayni Shirazi

The late Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Rida Isfahani

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Shahrudi

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Sidqi Mazandarani

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Jafar Rashti

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi describes his teachers and instructors as following:

“The most important quality of my teachers and many other great Islamic scholars, which made them stand out in the history was that they feared their Lord and had a durable state of piety. The real state of piety is a reality and understanding that causes the people to put God above all of their ambitions, such as power, supremacy, wealth, health, comfort, and luxury. This is not something beyond reach, as these scholars acquired this state of piety.”

• ACHIEVING THE SATISFACTION OF IMAM MAHDI (PBUH)

For his entire lifetime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was determined to step in no other paths, except for the path of the genuine Islam set by the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. With every step he took, the Grand Jurist tried to earn the satisfaction of his leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. In this regard, the Grand Jurist says:

All my concern was not to be derailed from the path of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household, the path of Imam Ali, peace be upon him.

The Grand Jurist has also mentioned that:

All the believers, especially the youth and the Islamic students should make efforts and endeavor hard to achieve the satisfaction of their leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.

The satisfaction of Imam Mahdi, is a token of the God’s satisfaction; as the God’s satisfaction is a result of the satisfaction of Imam Mahdi, may the Lord hasten his advent. This means that there is a coherent and straight forward connection between the satisfaction of God and Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him.

This straight forward connection can also be deduced from the cause and effect relationship between God’s satisfaction and that of the chosen leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.

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The Joint Cultural Activities of
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and His Late Brother in Iraq

• Alongside His Brother

The Grand jurist and religious authority, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was always by the side of his late brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and accompanied him in all of his sociopolitical plans and cultural activities. After the sad departure of his brother, the Grand Jurist took the helm of all these events and institutions, and continued the unfinished work of his brother.

Here is a brief summary of the social, cultural and political activities by the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi which was taken up again by his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• Religious, Cultural and Social Institutions in Iraq
• Schools for Memorizing Holy Quran

More than three thousand boys and girls enrolled and studied in six Quranic Schools, which held up to thirty three different cultural and religious programs. The management of these schools were in the safe hands of more than two hundred Islamic scholars and teachers of Islamic Seminaries.

• The Institution of Darul Quran

Darul Quran Institution, with more than seventy branches across Iraq, especially in the cities of Najaf, Baghdad, Mosul, Amarah, and Rumaitha is dedicated to publishing and selling religious books. Although the Grand Jurist expected the number of the branches of this institution to rise to one thousand, but the critical political situation in Iraq stopped the number of these branches to grow.

• Public Libraries

More than forty public libraries have been founded directly by the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi in many cities and villages. The public library of Quran Karim, which is located behind the Islamic Seminary of Ibn Fahd Hilli in holy Karbala, is one of these libraries.

• Islamic Publications and Journals

Print media, appearing the form of newspapers, journals and magazines have had an undeniable role in the public awareness of any society. In fact, many social movements have begun to exist by the power of the magazines and journals that illuminate on the ideological and doctrinal issues.

With full knowledge of the power of the media, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with some other progressive Islamic scholars and intellectuals in the Islamic Seminaries utilized the huge potential of the print media to promote the Islamic values. Here is a list of the Islamic journals established by the supports of the Grand Jurist.

1. Codes and Ethics in Arabic
2. Call of Islam in Arabic
3. Quran’s Guidance in Arabic
4. Voice of the Preachers in Arabic
5. Shia Media in Arabic
6. Islamic References in English
7. Voice of the AhlulBayt in Arabic
8. Memories of Infallibles in Arabic
9. Voice of Islam in Arabic
10. Response to Islamic Queries in Arabic
11. References of the Culture of Islam and many other Islamic magazines and journals.

• Construction and Renovation of Mosques

The renovation projects of the deserted mosques was one of the social programs started by the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. More than fifty mosques in different neighborhoods of Karbala city in Iraq were renovated and expanded in these projects. In addition, there were communities and societies founded to manage the affairs of these mosques.

• Construction and Renovation of Islamic Schools

More than thirty religious schools, including: Husayniyah School, Razawiyah School, Ibn Fahd Hilli School, and Sharif Al-Ulema School were renovated in projects that were directed by the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. In addition, there were many other schools, such as the school for Memorizing Quran and Islamic Morals, schools for handicrafts, the school of “Book and Household”, training lecturers and speakers, and the elementary school of Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, which were constructed in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. It is worth mentioning that two more schools were constructed in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

• Quran Hakim Clinic

This clinic was founded to provide treatments to the patients, who were incapable of fully paying for thorough medical treatments. This clinic which was located in the Imam Ali square, in front of the Central Library, received only modest sum of money for providing full treatments by experienced and seasoned doctors and personnel.

• Marriage Grant

The deprived and the poor groups of young people who faced financial problems for starting a family were offered and provided with grants and other financial plans. These plans were part of the social security plans to combat social instability and sexual corruption.

• Promotion of Islamic Memorials

In an innovative and ground-breaking move, the schools of Quran memorization trained groups of scouts who held various programs on different religious occasions throughout the year. These scouts changed the face of Karbala city both during the happy celebrations and the days of the AhlulBayt martyrdom with their numerous programs.

• The Islamic Club

This facility was established to provide the youth with a healthy atmosphere for entertainment and sports. In this regard, the Islamic Club was equipped with a full set of sporting goods and gym equipment, along with Islamic and scientific journals for the youth to have both physical and mental trainings. The Islamic Club was directed by a chosen board of the youth.

• Sending Missionaries Abroad

To address the crucial subject of missionary tasks, there was a special committee appointed to administer the public funds and resources. This committee sent Islamic missionaries abroad on different religious occasions and took care of the expenses of these missionary tasks. African and European countries were two main destinations of these missionaries.

• Religious Community of the Youth

With instructions and the guidance of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, a number of educated young men and women started the religious community of the youth. This community set up funding for three major purposes.

1. The establishment of religious gatherings for the youth
2. Publication and distribution of valuable religious books among the people
3. Transmission of the AhlulBayt’s message and culture to other Muslim societies

• Mobile Preaching Group 1

The mobile preaching group was engaged in many cultural activities and events. This group was successful in sending religious preachers to remote areas on a regular basis. This religious group also printed significant religious books and massive copies of prayer books on important occasions such as Arbaeen and Ashura.

• Mobile Preaching Group 2

This preaching group followed the same procedures and programs, however, in a much greater scale. This mobile preaching group spread its activities to all of Iraq and sent its specialists to all cities and villages with automobiles branded as “Mobile Preaching Group 2”.

• Religious Guidance Institution

In some countries, the private sector including the big companies and the famous universities establish and run radio stations for their own purposes. Now, the question is “would it be right to have radio stations, supervised by the religious Jurists and experts to broadcast programs that improve public awareness about religious matter?” The answer is absolutely positive.

It was always one of the main goals of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi to establish a radio station and speed the pace of his wide preaching activities in Iraq and across the world. However, authoritarian regimes and dictators were a big obstacle for this goal to be achieved. Therefore, the late Grand Jurist made preparations and installed loudspeakers in busy parts of the city of Karbala and performed many cultural and religious programs in this city. These loudspeakers broadcasted religious, scientific, and Islamic lectures by distinguished and famous characters.

• Center for Islamic Preaching

The Center for Islamic Preaching performed many activities including installing placards, giving out religious pamphlets to people, and making statements on religious occasions such as Arbaeen, Ashura and Arafah day. This religious Center organized many outstanding religious gatherings with large numbers of people attending them.

The Center for Islamic Preaching was overwhelmingly successful in its efforts to encourage people and mark the religious celebrations in the entire city of Karbala. During the birthday anniversaries of the holy Imams, this Center used to install placards and stands with important quotes from the noble Infallibles.

• Visitations to Sacred Shrines

A community was established to organize pilgrimage trips and visitations to the sacred shrines in different cities of Iraq, such as holy Najaf, holy Kadhimiya, and Samarra. During the month of Ramadan, this community made arrangements and held tour visits to the sacred shrine in the holy city of Samarra every day. The pilgrims in these trips were given free services such as food and transportation.

• Statements and Announcements

On different religious occasions, the loudspeakers installed in different parts of Karbala city made necessary announcements and statements to the public from the Central Library. In the absence of TV and other mediums, the people were informed of the latest programs and plans for the city and special religious ceremonials.

• The House of Islamic Services

This foundation followed three major goals:

1. Starting ties and Collaboration with the pool of newspapers, journals, and authors that published articles about the culture of Shia Islam and the Prophet of Islam and his pure Progeny.
2. Publishing critiques and objections to the journals and magazines that insulted the Islamic principles and values. In cases, these criticisms led to reconsiderations by these journals.
3. Making connections and laying out the ground for cooperation with other Islamic Communities across the world.

• Establishment of Islamic Guidance Community in entire Iraq
• Establishment of almost 200 religious communities in different mosques

With the discretions and guidelines of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, the religious communities had organized a weekly get-together in mosques to coordinate their religious and cultural programs. These programs included sessions for Quran interpretations, courses of Islamic Law and Ethics, and publishing articles and pamphlets on different social and religious matters. The Islamic communities of Rasul Azam, Al-Quran Al-Hakim, the Islamic Awakening, the Islamic Awareness, and Imam Sadiq were some of the religious communities that engaged into these cultural and religious activities.

• Job Center

To assist and guide the massive workforce towards decent paying jobs and occupations, there was a Job Center established in the holy city of Karbala by orders of the late Grand Jurist.

• Under direct supervision of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, there were annual glorious celebrations held on the birthday anniversary of Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him and may the Lord hasten his advent, in his birthplace, the holy city of Samarra.
• Each year, on the birthday anniversary of Imam Hasan Askari, peace be upon him, a large pack of Shias were organized to visit the shrine of this holy Imam in the city of Samarra. Free food and services were also part of this religious program.
• After nonstop efforts of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, and his two brothers, the martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, and the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi for transmitting the message of Ashura and Imam Husayn’s uprising, the state-run radio station of Baghdad was left with no other option but to respect the Shia feelings and honor the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, by streaming a speech by Sheikh Abd Al-Zahra Ka’abi, may he rest in peace.
• The foundation of religious preachers for fighting off the sacrilegious activities.
• The foundation of Council of Islamic Scholars, which was meant for addressing the latest problems and developments in the Muslim world.
• The establishment of Quran Hakim Publication.
• The formation of “Political Establishment” for influencing the Muslims’ social fate.
• The foundation of religious organizations that served pilgrims from other countries.
• Forming Islamic theater groups
• Establishment of Community of “Servants of Mosques”
• The foundation of Technical workshops
• Collaborations on the establishment of AhlulBayt printing company.
• The establishment of community of authors for the publication of religious and ethical books
• Setting up religious gatherings.
• Setting up groups for managing ceremonials on religious occasions
• The foundation of Cultural Centers
• Organizing cultural and religious programs for students on their summer vacations
• Publication of religious books, in which the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with his students at Imam Hasan community managed to print and publish up to a hundred thousand volumes of books.
• The foundation of a large Islamic Center in Samarra, in the exact place where Imam Hadi, peace be upon him, was prisoned. This Islamic Center was built in this place in honor of Imam Hadi, peace be upon him.
• Fundraising and encouraging people to build Islamic Centers in Iraq. Due to these activities, more than twenty Islamic Centers were founded in those days.
• Encouraging and organizing the enthusiasts for beginning communities to present Quranic educational courses. Due to these efforts, hundreds of Quranic educational courses were formed.
• Encouraging the talented youth to continue their educations in Islamic Seminaries. Due to the continuous lectures and inspirations by the late Grand Jurist, hundreds of teenagers enrolled at the Islamic Seminaries.
• Encouraging the educated young talents to fill in the place of great Islamic scholars and put on the Islamic robe to serve Islam, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure progeny.
• Encouraging many scholars and authors to speed and expand their activities. Due to these words of encouragement and the assistance by the late Grand Jurist, many great religious authors and speakers were trained.
• Encouraging the people to establish interest free loan funds.
• Encouragements for organizing groups and fractions to provide services to the pilgrims of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, on Ashura Day.
• The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi made three speeches every week to coordinate activities by his Office members.

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THE FIGHT AGAINST DICTATORS IN IRAQ

Without the slightest doubts, all governments ruling over Iraq in recent decades have been formed and presided over by dictators and authoritarian presidents who dishonored the religious sanctities of the Iraqis and undermined the rights of the people.

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi always stood against all of those puppet and suppressive governments and exposed their hidden intentions to eliminate religious symbols. (In the meantime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was always at the side of his brother and gave his outright support to this great Islamic figure.) Some of the ways and methods used by the late Grand Jurist to expose these regimes are listed in the following:

• THE MONARCHY
• The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi held firm and strong stances on all religious matters; these stances were announced and published by the wide network of PR offices established by the Grand Jurist. These announcements were included in the three books of “the Pure Tree”, the Reflection of Martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi on Jihad, and the book of “the civilization of mankind”. The regime of Nuri Said, however, prevented some journals such as the magazine of “Ethics and Conducts” to include these announcements and reports. These announcement were mostly objecting the regime’s destructive policies, especially the Treaty signed between Iraq and Britain.
• In the final years of the monarchy, Abdul-Wahab Mirjan, who claimed to be a Shia person succeeded Nuri Said as the new prime minister of Iraq.

The late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi sent a delegation to the new prime minister in order to negotiate the “Lawsuit of the Sacred Sites”. This lawsuit was proposed under the tenure of Sayyid Muhammad Sadr as the head of the two legislature bodies of Iraq but after his resignation, this lawsuit never passed.

The delegation held a meeting with the prime minister and negotiated the lawsuit of sacred sites and talked about the implementation of other Islamic laws in the country.

After this bold move, the prime minister issued a secret order to the security officials to arrest the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Sayyid Hasan Shirazi. However, the 14 July Revolution left all their plans unfinished. During this revolution, Nuri Said, Bihjat Atiyyah and other keynote figures of the regime were arrested and then executed.

• ABDUL KARIM QASIM

Following a coup, which was orchestrated by the Old Colonizer, the Britain, Abdul Karim Qasim defeated the monarchy in Iraq and ushered the way for the communists to tighten their grip on the power. Since the very first steps, the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi openly criticized their beliefs and their social and political plans. The Grand Jurist also denounced their violent and ferocious governing styles which had spread the shadows of terror across Iraq.

In those disturbed times, the late Grand Jurist wrote and published the two books of “Hawar Hawl Tatbiq Al-Islam” (A Word on the Implementation of Islam), and “Mubahithat Ma’a Ashuyui’yn” (Debates with Communists). He also published several books about the beliefs of Shia Islam, including the books of “Social Beliefs” and “In the Shade of Islam”, in order to spread public awareness against the poisonous propaganda of the communists. Meanwhile, the Grand Jurist held round table discussions and talked straightly to the people who were under the influence of the communists’ propaganda.

Aside from all of these cultural and religious activities, the Grand Jurist was determined to uncover the true and irreligious face of Abdul Karim Qasim, to the masses of people. The Grand Jurist never missed any chance to voice his serious concerns over the dominion of the communists over Iraq and the Muslims.

• NATIONALISM IN IRAQ BY ABDUL-SALAM ARIF AND HIS BROTHER ABDUL RAHMAN

In this period of the Iraq’s political history, the Baath Party acceded to power and General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr was elected prime minister. His first move was the formation of the National Guard, which was meant to intimidate the public and the dissidents. Unfortunately, the Baath Party followed the communists and Abdul Karim Qasim in their footsteps and committed many unspeakable crimes.

Therefore, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with many other notable Islamic figures and scholars staged a resistance against the Baath Party.

With the hopes of opening a route for dialogue and as a demonstration of good will, the Grand Jurist sent a delegation, comprising of famous Islamic scholars, to Abdul Salam Arif. This delegation was given the mission to negotiate these two requests:

• The revocation of all anti-Islamic laws in all ministries and official departments, including the laws which were passed during the Monarchy or the Republic.
• Making schedules for implementing the Islamic Laws in Iraq

Abdul Salam promised he will take time to see into these requests and implement the Islamic laws in the country. However, the time proved that his promises were only lies. Since then, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi started a full-force resistance against the ethnic government of Abdul Salam. In this period, all authors, speakers, the journals and papers affiliated to the Grand Jurist formed the ranks of resistance against the Baath Party and continued their works until the reign of Abdul Rahman Arif.

• THE NEW ERA OF BAATH PARTY

After the July 17 Revolution, the new era of Baath Party began in Iraq. At this critical period, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, as well as other great scholars and jurists from the cities of Najaf, Karbala, and Kadhimiya united to fight the new era of suppression by the Baath Party. In this era, the Baath Party which enjoyed from the full support of the Britain, started to arrest the large number of its dissidents and opposition with the fabricated charges of espionage and acting against the national security. Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi along with many other notable characters were immediately imprisoned; Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsen Hakim also faced many restrictions and threats by the regime while his son, Sayyid Mahdi Hakim was sentenced to death in absentia. He was charged with espionage. The late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi resisted against the atrocious crimes of the Baath Party and continued his fight against this ferocious regime. Following his firm stances, the journals and the charity organizations affiliated to the Grand Jurist were closed and suspended. Thousands of religious and media activists, who were born in Iraq were stripped of their nationality and were deported from the country. Consequently, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was forced to leave the country and immigrate to Kuwait. In the meantime, the Baath Party sentenced the late Grand Jurist to death in absentia.

The mounting pressures on the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi led to an upsurge of anger and umbrage among the Muslims in India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and many other Islamic countries. The news of the pressures by the Baath Party and the immigration of these two great figures of the Muslim world was widely covered by many newspapers.

Al-Hayat newspaper, number 8033 wrote:

“The exile and immigration of religious scholars continue in Iraq”

The Al-Hayat political reporter continues:

“The Baath regime intensifies its fights against the Islamic sanctities and the Islamic Seminaries of holy Najaf, holy Karbala, and holy Kadhimiya after it forced scores of notable Islamic scholars out of the country. These waves of deportations started with the exile of prominent Shia religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. Imam Shirazi and a number of other notable scholars have chosen Kuwait as their destination.”

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IMMIGRATION FROM IRAQ TO KUWAIT

It was a difficult decision for the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi to leave Iraq in secret. The suppressive Baath regime had surrounded the house of the late Grand Jurist and was determined to arrest and execute his eminence. On October 9, 1971, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi along with his brother left the country and traveled to Syria, where they paid a visit to the sacred shrine of Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her, in Damascus. Then, they moved to Beirut and after they received invitations from the Shia Muslims in Kuwait, they traveled to this country and were warmly welcomed by the large number of Shia Muslims at the country’s airport.

Shortly after the Kuwaiti Shia Muslims were informed of the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in their country, they rushed to visit the Grand Jurist in large groups. The late Haji Sheikh Abbas Ali Islami, the head of “The Community of Islamic Learnings” describes the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in these words:

“The great spirit, the dignity and the confidence of the Shia Muslims in Kuwait is a heritage of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi. The presence of this great scholar in Kuwait was a big blessing to all people, and they should be grateful to God for giving them the chance to enjoy the presence of this distinguished Islamic figure.”

• INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS IN KUWAIT

After the settlement of the Shirazi Family in Kuwait, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi began numerous projects to prepare the grounds for more religious activities in this country.

• The foundation of an Islamic Seminary

In less than a year after their immigration to Kuwait, the Shirazi Family founded an Islamic Seminary in this country and invited many enthusiasts from all Islamic countries to enroll at this School.

This Islamic Seminary which was named “The School of Rasul Azam”, started its activities with 60 rooms that housed 150 students. This Islamic Seminary played an important role in the growth of the public interest in the Islamic activities and ideals in Kuwait and other Islamic countries. Soon, the School of Rasul Azam turned into a light that pierced through the darkness of corrupt and suppressive regimes of the region.

• The foundation of Rasul Azam Husayniyah

The Husayniyah of Rasul Azam was an Islamic Center founded by the late Grand Jurist in order to help promote and spread the rituals and the message of Ashura and Imam Husayn’s uprising.

• Interpretation of holy Quran

During the eight years of their stay in Kuwait, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi held courses of Quran interpretations for the public groups of people. These courses were handled in way so that the ordinary people could also join these discussions and develop a deeper insight from the holy Quran. In addition, these courses addressed the importance of rescuing the Muslim nations from the claws of colonialism.

• Spread of AhlulBayt Culture in Kuwait

The presence of such great and learned figures from the Shirazi Family in Kuwait was very rewarding in that critical period of time. In that period, the colonizers had waged a serious and forceful fight against all Islamic and moral values in Kuwait, and the youth were greatly influenced by these anti-Islamic propaganda.

However, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi stood up in the face of the colonizers and protected the Islamic identity and culture of Kuwait.

The masses of people were attracted to the far-reaching and profound ideas of these two great scholars from the Shirazi Family. Subsequently, the large number of students who were trained by these two great scholars spread the light of guidance to all corners of Kuwait and helped the vulnerable and curious souls of the youth to find relief and salvation in the rich and insightful values of the genuine Islam. In short, Kuwait turned into a strong base for the Islamic scholars and religious activists, who coordinated the numerous Islamic activities and projects, especially during the month of Ramadan in the neighboring countries.

Furthermore, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, along with his brother Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi founded series of Islamic Institutions in Kuwait. Here is a list of these Islamic Institutions.

1. The foundation of Rasul Azam library, with more than thirty thousand books.
2. The foundation of a large hall for religious gatherings and ceremonies.
3. The foundation of an institution which had the task of renovating Islamic Centers and Mosques.

• The publication of Islamic Journals

Some of the Islamic journals and magazines published by the Shirazi family are listed as following:

1. “Al-Iman” journal which translates into Faith Magazine.
2. “Al-Islam wa Al-Hayat” which translates into the Magazine of Islam and life
3. “Fitat Al-Taqadumiya” which translates into Pioneer Girls Magazine
4. “Al-Hidaya” which translates into Guidance
5. “Al-Jihad” Magazine

• The foundation of two hundred small libraries
• Encouraging the people to form religious gatherings on a weekly basis. Formerly, the religious gatherings were only held on the months of Muharram and Ramadan, but after these encouragements, the Kuwaitis held gatherings on a regular basis.
• The foundation of two big libraries due to the encouragements of the Grand Jurist.
• The foundation of a center to facilitate marriage
• The publication of sixty books, including the book of “Al-Muraji’at” translates as The Right Path. This book was written by the late Sayyid Sharaful Din and it published in thousands of copies and was distributed in Kuwait, Egypt, and during the Hajj rituals.
• Holding Ashura gatherings at the Universities.
• After persistent efforts by the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, the rituals of Ashura day were given media coverage.
• The foundation of Al-Jahra’ Mosque and Husayniya
• The foundation of Rasul Azam library in neighboring countries.
• The Grand Jurist had weekly speeches to the public on Friday mornings. In addition, the Grand Jurist also talked to the Islamic scholars and experts at the School of Rasul Azam on Thursdays.
• The construction of a Public Baths and a Morgue.
• The Grand Jurist used to send prayer leaders to mosques and Islamic Centers.
• The foundation of publication centers for publishing Islamic books.
• The establishment of “the assembly of authors” whose members were mostly young and educated writers.
• Establishing interest-free loan funds. This fund also provided financial supports for the religious celebrations and ceremonials in Kuwait.
• The Grand Jurist established religious courses during the school holidays. These courses were held in different stages for the elementary students, for junior school students, for high school students, and for college students and their teachers. The participants at these courses studied the Islamic principles and sciences by new methods. The graduates of these courses could write many substantial articles and books on different religious matters.
• The foundation of a publication center that published more than fifty Islamic books in one year.
• The Grand Jurist contacted many non-Shia and non-Islamic institutions and communities in different countries in order to invite them to the rightful culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his progeny.
• RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES

The School of Rasul Azam in Kuwait played an important role in making the new generations familiar with the principles of Islamic morals and beliefs. In fact, this school gave rise to many famous speakers, writers, and religious activists who widened the scope of Shia Islamic activism in many other Islamic countries too.

During his stay in Kuwait, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi expanded the beams of Shia culture in many other countries neighboring Kuwait. This is while that these oil-rich countries were suffering from the overwhelming and irresistible dominion of colonialist powers and the communists. The colonizers were decisive to annihilate all Islamic values and tenets, in order to pave the way for their undisputable rule over these oil-rich countries. The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was one of the few leaders who could preach the Islamic concepts and principles in these countries. The tireless efforts of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi were an important part of the Islamic awakening in many Islamic countries. After eight years of nonstop works and efforts in Kuwait, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi traveled to Iran to continue his religious activism and his everlasting fight against corruption and oppression in a broader scope and arena. 

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IMMIGRATION TO IRAN

In 1979, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi made a pivotal decision and chose Iran as their next destination to continue their nonstop scientific, cultural and political activities.

Upon the arrival of these two great Islamic figures to Iran, the throngs of scholars, intellectuals, and the masses of people welcomed the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his honorable brother. The big turnout of people and the attendance of distinguished scholars who received the two notable Islamic characters so warmly, was noticed by the newspapers published in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

The presence of these two great characters was a blessing to the people and the Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi continued to serve his elder brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi as a loyal aide and an honest advisor.

• The Intellectual Movement

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi continued the intellectual movement he had started in Iraq by his numerous publications and books. Many of these books were translated and published in different languages such as English, Persian, and Urdu, in many Islamic and non-Islamic countries.

With a tireless resolution, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi continued to put down his innovative and ground-breaking ideas in different realms of the Islamic sciences during his stay in the holy city of Qom, since 1979 to 2001. In these years, the Grand Jurist wrote 60 volumes out of the 160 of volumes of his major collective studies in Islamic Jurisprudence, called “Al-Fiqh”.

In spite of his great collective study with regards to Islamic jurisprudence, the late Grand Jurist authored many other great works such as the collection of “Al-Wasail Ela Rasail” (The means of the missions) in twenty volumes, and the books of “The path to the Islamic Awakening”, “The frameworks for a new world with freedom, welfare, and peace” and finally the book of “Make Change to Wake Muslims”. In addition, the Grand Jurist illuminated on the history of the fourteen infallible figures in 14 separate books. In those years, the Grand Jurist made thousands of valuable lectures on Islamic sciences and morals, especially during his weekly speeches on each Thursday at Imam Zainul Abedin Mosque in holy Qom. His eminence also taught the highest levels of Islamic Jurisprudence, Al-Fiqh and Usul, to hundreds of ardent and enthusiastic students since 1979.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi also began his religious and cultural activities by writing books, teaching the highest levels of Islamic Jurisprudence to the passionate students, and holding gatherings to speak about the genuine Islamic morals. In the following years, the Grand Jurist was known as a symbol of Islamic morals and a skilled expert in the Islamic sciences. At the moment, many students of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi are among the top Islamic preachers and speakers in the Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

In short, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi became known as a pious and insightful company for many great Islamic jurists and scholars. The large number of Islamic students along with the notable Islamic scholars and jurists eagerly sought the companionship of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and enjoyed his vast knowledge of Islamic sciences.

Like his elder brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi spares no moment and effort in his scientific activities. In the years, when the Baath regime was brutally attacking the holy city of Qom, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi along with his brother traveled to the holy city of Mashhad, and continued their studies of the Islamic sciences at the Islamic Seminary of Imam Rida, beside the sacred shrine of Imam Rida, peace be upon him, in this city. This transition was widely welcomed by the Islamic students in holy Mashhad, as they could join the courses of advanced Islamic jurisprudence by these two great Islamic scholars.

• Community Centers

One of the greatest concerns of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was to establish centers that can be effective in the realm of cultural and religious activism in different countries. This great concern pushed the Grand Jurist and his brother Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi to support and found a large number of cultural and religious centers, which are operative in many different countries.

Here is a glimpse of these Religious and Cultural Centers:

• Schools
• The school of Rasul Azam in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Mahdi in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Hadi in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Baqir in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of martyr Sayyid Hasan Shirazi in holy Qom, Iran
• The female school of Al-Zahra in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Rida in holy Mashhad, Iran
• Libraries
• The library of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib in holy Qom, Iran
• The library of Ale Rasul in Isfahan, Iran
• Iman Publication Center in holy Qom, Iran
• Darul Mahdi Publication Center in holy Qom, Iran
• The institution of Islamic Thought in holy Qom, Iran
• The library of Darul Husayn in Yazd, Iran
• The female library of Al-Zahra in holy Qom, Iran
• Mosques
• The mosque of Imam Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Zainul Abedin in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Rida in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Hasan in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Sayyida Masoumah in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Al-Zahra in holy Mashhad, Iran
• Interest-free loan funds
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Tabriz, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Rahnan town, Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in holy Mashhad, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Yazd, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Varamin, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Adrian town, Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Imam Jawad in holy Qom, Iran
• The loan fund in Kahak, holy Qom, Iran
• The loan fund of Husayn ibn Ali in holy Mashhad, Iran
• The Husayniyahs (Islamic Centers)
• The Islamic Center of Isfahan
• The Islamic Center of Fatimiyun in Dihnu, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Rahnan, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qamar Bani Hashim in Adrian town, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Yazd, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Shahre Rei, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Ahwaz, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Shiraz, Iran
• The Islamic Center of holy Mashhad, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Meibod, Yazd, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qazwin, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Tehran, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Mahallat, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Kashan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Darul Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Zaynabiyyah in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qarchak and Varamin, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Dowlat Abad, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Malek Shahr, Isfahan, Iran
• Clinic of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• Marriage Foundation of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• The Beginning of the Intellectual Movement of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, alongside his brother continued to serve the path of the Prophet’s Household by producing valuable books, establishing numerous Islamic foundations, and organizing huge movements for introducing the real Islam across the world. The two brothers had set their goal to approach the Islamic utopia and globalize the culture of the Prophet’s Household and the Shia Islam. In this long path, they preserved their hopes and dedicated their lives for achieving these lofty goals.

The Central Office of the Shirazi scholars was always a shelter to all the Muslims, and even the non-Muslims. The presence of the leaders of other faiths and religions was a significant mark that demonstrated the high respects and popularity of the Shirazi scholars beyond the spheres of Islam. In fact, the two Shirazi scholars were the suns of the Islamic jurisprudence whose warmth had even overwhelmed the non-Muslim scholars.

• The end of a star

“Verily we are from God and to Him, we shall return.”

On December 18, 2001, the Shia Muslims suffered an irreparable loss. The statue of piety and wisdom, the Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi departed this world and joined his masters, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. On this very day, the world of Islam lost a great Islamic scholar, whose huge contributions to the culture of Shia Islam remained matchless in the last century. Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, in his youth time, had once the honor of meeting the twelfth infallible leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, in the mosque of Sahlah in Kufa city. In that meeting, Imam Mahdi set the road for this great Islamic scholar and prolific author, and commanded him to write. This was a light that showed the long path ahead of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the author of more than 1200 invaluable books that laid out the stance of Quran and the Prophet’s Household in all important matters of our modern world.

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was the author of the extensive study into the Islamic jurisprudence called “Al-Fiqh” that comprises 160 volumes and addresses up to fifty thousand topics, which have been unnoticed before.

Due to the countless and invaluable books and publications of the late Grand Jurist, the International Association of Arab Writers granted the title of the “King of Authors” to the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.

However, the Grand Jurist was not merely admired as a prolific and productive author, but he was a respectful character among the public for his humane and ethical stances on different social topics. The popularity of the Grand Jurist grew so much that even his adversaries warned each other not to meet the Grand Jurist in person, as his mild manners and deep words would soften their hearts and make them attracted to him.

With the special attentions of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi became known as a leading figure and Jurist in Islamic jurisprudence and surpassed all his contemporaries. After a meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the late Grand Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi expressed his feelings for the Grand Jurist in these words: “Tears role down my face only because I know that our generation won’t recognize the great position of this man (Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi). Maybe two centuries later, his real character will be appreciated.” These words speak of a reality, which was repeatedly pointed to by many other great figures of Shia and Sunni Islam.

After the sad departure of the Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, it became a matter of great concern that who should succeed and fill in the empty place of the late Grand Jurist as the next leading Marja and Jurist of the Shia Muslims? This question whirled around the minds of millions of Shia Muslims, who knew the precarious and hazardous situation of Shia Islam in those disturbed times. Someone had to pick up this burden and continue the path treaded by the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, someone the public could look up to and become inspired by his deep knowledge and earnest preservations.

After the death of Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Ansari on 1864, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, also known as the Great Mirza started a path, which was later treaded by many great Islamic scholars from the Shirazi family. On 1894, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi succeeded the Great Mirza and led the Shia Muslims against the invaders. The respectful son of the Great Mirza, Sayyid Mirza Ali Shirazi was the next Islamic scholar who stepped up to this position on 1919, and on 1936, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi was given the burden of the Muslims’ leadership. This path was later continued by one of the greatest scholars of the time, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. But after the passing of this great character, no one, except for the great Islamic scholar and jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi could ever pick up the steam and continue to lead the Shia Muslims in this disturbed era.

The news of the passing of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, the king of authors ripped through the entire world and put the Muslim populace into shock. Consequently, floods of people came together in the holy city of Qom and participated in the glorious funeral service of this exceptional Islamic scholar and jurist. Finally, the pure body of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was put to rest in the holy shrine of Lady Ma’soumah, peace be upon her, after the Grand Jurist’s brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi performed the dead prayers on his body. Today, the resting place of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi is an inspiration to the countless believers and Islamic scholars around the world to step in his feet.

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THE RISE OF A SUN FROM HOLY KARBALA

• The Rise of the New Islamic Jurist and Scholar, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

With his far-reaching and broad knowledge of the existing state of affairs, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi could know that he has to introduce a potent and accomplished heir to continue the movements he had started. He needed to make sure that his replacement will be someone who surpasses all others in the realm of Islamic sciences and spirituality, someone who will continue to lead the Muslim world with an unshakable faith and undeniable popularity; therefore, in a historic letter, he introduced his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi as his successor and invited all Shia Muslims to help and follow him in the lengthy and hard path ahead. Since then, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi has been praised as a loyal follower of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Pure Household, and a stern reviver of the Islamic rituals of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure Household.

And so, I acknowledge that the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, may his services be continued, has mastered the Islamic sciences with a thorough understanding and that he has acquired piety and justice to its brims. I believe he has earned all the qualifications of an Islamic Jurist, someone who can release fatwas and be referred to by the believers.

Therefore, I declare it is permissible for all the believers to refer to his eminence in all of their religious matters, on the condition of the permission by the just Islamic jurists. And I ask him to preserve piety, which is the path to salvation. I also ask my believing brothers to follow his eminence in all related affairs.

God, the Almighty, is the one who determines success and power, and He is the only helper.

Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi

• The Great Legacy

In this regard, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi, the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi said: “I ask the Almighty Lord to help all of us, our scholars, our speakers, and our women and men to preserve the legacy of my father, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi and obey his eminence.”

• The Memory of Sun

Ayatollah Sayyid Murtida Shirazi, the second son of the late Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi also said:

“The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi is alive, because he has left us a great legacy; a legacy that outweighs everything else. My late father left us a great scholar and a statue of piety, someone who is a relief to our souls and hearts. My father is still alive, because he left us a unique and peerless leader and scholar, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

He is a renowned scholar and a great man who spent half the century to help his brother. After the martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, he always stood up for his brother and became his loyal supporter.

Yes, my father is still alive, because there is a man from his blood, whose deep knowledge and unshakable piety is attested by all Islamic scholars; he is the fountain of knowledge and we should enjoy and value his presence among us.

The Islamic seminaries admit his great scientific character and his invaluable books prove his vast and profound knowledge of the Islamic sciences. The name of my late father will live on, because he has left us such a great legacy, the scholar Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.”

• The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, Personality Traits

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, a competent, compassionate and concerned leader

In a noble hadith, it is stated: “One who doesn’t have concerns for the Muslims’ problems and doesn’t try to solve them, is not a Muslim.”

This hadith is a scale by which we can tell apart the real Muslims from the rest. In other words, this hadith tells us that one’s knowledge and understanding of Islam is only measured by their dutifulness and observance of their responsibilities, which are inscribed to them by Islam. Although this hadith serves as a scale that measures the reality of every individual’s faith, yet it is by far a more valuable tool that can be helpful to the influential and public figures, especially the scholars and the religious authorities in a society.

Likewise, we can see that the holy Prophet of Islam always had concerns about the bad conditions of the Muslims either when he was in holy Mecca or in holy Medina. His holiness had so deep concerns that he couldn’t have a moment of comfort. During his residence in holy Mecca, Lady Khadija, who couldn’t see what the holy Prophet went through, told him: “Oh, the messenger of God. I am worried about you. You are working day and night, and it is wearing you down. You must take some rest.” The holy Prophet answered her in these words: “Khadija, the time for sleeping is over; there is no time for rest or respite.” This is while that in holy Medina, the holy Prophet had even more concerns as he always had to defend the Muslims in the frontlines against the enemies.

In the same way, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was deeply concerned over the bad conditions of the Muslims, in all stages of his life in holy Mecca, holy Medina or Kufa. He let go of all luxuries and comforts, and didn’t spend a moment unless he was working out a way to improve the conditions of the new born Muslim nation. The loyal companions of Imam Ali expressed their concerns for his holiness and said: “You should give yourself a time for resting.” But Imam Ali told them: “If I sleep at nights, I would have lost the chance to worship my Lord; and if I sleep in daylight, I would have failed the Muslim nation.”

In this subject, the Islamic scholars and religious authorities, including the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi adhered to the path of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household and grew an all-time concern for the Muslim nation. The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, during his residence in holy Karbala, Kuwait, and in holy Qom, always tried to serve and keep alive the intellectual movements created by his late brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. Furthermore, the Grand Jurist pioneered many influential movements by his valuable and priceless publications and like his father, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, continued his nonstop works for promoting the conditions of not only the Muslim populace but also the entire humanity. The Grand Jurist strongly believes that knowledge becomes valuable only if it is accompanied by piety; therefore, his eminence set an example in this regard and became known as a symbol of knowledge and piety in our contemporary times.

The highest courses of Islamic sciences by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi show the immense level of the Grand Jurist’s knowledge, and his high manners are a token of his surpassing state of piety and devotion. The Grand Jurist always bears with him a big concern for the Muslim populace and works day and night to improve the lives of the Muslims.

Many of the Islamic Jurists and contemporary scholars, when asked about the Shirazi scholars, highlight that this great and old family has a long history of unparalleled sacrifices for the Muslim world, signifying their big concern for the Muslim nation.

The long-time scientific works of the Grand Jurist such as his interpretation of the precious book of “Al-Urwatul Wuthqa”, resolved many complex and the yet-unanswered questions. In addition, the Grand Jurist’s ingenious introduction to his book of Islamic laws, which illuminated on the most challenging principles of the Islamic beliefs in the most simple and brief wordings helped the large number of Shia Muslims to get familiar with the depth of the genuine Islamic beliefs. In the meantime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi kept working on a big social plan, on the international level in order to promote the lives of the oppressed Muslim nation in the entire world.

In this regard, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi tried the old and new methods to introduce the true reflection on the holy Quran, the genuine culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household to the entire world. The numerous publications of the Grand Jurist about the culture of the Household of the Islamic Prophet and the countless web pages and TV networks, along with the various cultural and religious institutions and the Islamic and the human rights associations, they all try to present a deeper and more authentic approach to the real Islam and the peaceful culture of the Islamic Prophet and his Household. At the moment, many Shia human rights organization such as Shia Rights Watch have emerged to carry the heavy responsibility of defending the oppressed nation of Shia Muslims and have voiced out the unheard story of their sufferings at the international podiums. All these great achievements are indebted to the far-reaching thoughts and plans of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• The Daily Schedule of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi has dedicated his whole time to serving the Almighty God and helping out the people. A portion of the daily schedule of the Grand Jurist is dedicated to teaching the highest levels of Islamic jurisprudence to the large number of avid students; his eminence has also specified a certain time of his every day to his personal studies and researchers on different Quranic topics and the hadiths. In the meantime, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has devoted a part of his daily schedule to doing acts of worship and helping out the people. In this part of his schedule, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi receives all groups of people and holds face to face meetings with them in order to keep in touch with the everyday problems and challenges of the people. Furthermore, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is watchful to all of the political and social developments occurring in the world of Islam. In order to develop a realistic and thorough understanding of the nature of events that happen in the Islamic countries, the Grand Jurist spends a part of his time to study and meet social and political experts in his private meetings. In most of these meetings, the representatives of the Grand Jurist, the social and political experts and the distinguished religious activists present reports of their activities and then listen to the precious guidelines of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi. The crammed daily schedule of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi doesn’t leave his eminence more the three or four hours of sleep in every day. Finally, the Grand Jurist has specified the rest of his schedule to answering the written questions sent to him from around the world.

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Moral and Ethical Codes of Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi

• A Statue of Moral Traits

The public admires the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi as a perfect scholar, a caring religious leader and a statue of moralities. In this chapter, we try to clarify on the deep and inclusive character of this Islamic Jurist and scholar.

The sweet company of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is a sign of his high morals, which make everyone sweep away any feeling of exhaustion and weariness. Anyone who experiences the companionship of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi can unfold their overjoyed spiritual feelings and emotions. In all of his meetings, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi gives out many precious advices and instructions, all derived from the Quranic teachings and the hadiths by the holy infallibles. In addition, the Grand Jurist reveals many invaluable moral lessons to his visitors by sweet and short stories that opens new horizons to the people.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi continues the path of his forefathers, the holy infallibles, and represents their high morals and ethical codes. The humble manners, the courtesy and the mild morals of the Grand jurist inspires all his visitors and guests and vibrates the fragrant of genuine Islamic morals in our disturbed epoch. His eminence always invites the people to preserve piety, devotion and virtue and encourages everyone, especially the youth, to acquire the genuine Islamic sciences and teachings. The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi always insists on perseverance and hard work as two important elements that can help all groups of people to serve the path of God, and the society. Likewise, the Grand Jurist emphasizes on the social services in all his remarks and helps the religious activists and the passionate youth to engage in such activities.

• The Shelter of the Public

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is known as a public figure, who opens his arms to all groups of the society, regardless of their affiliations and their ethnicities. Therefore, the masses of the people consider the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi as the healer of their problems and hardships, and a compassionate father. 

At the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, color, language, and race are all out of question and this is why that all groups of the public, from all around the world, and from all different classes of the society and different scientific, social or financial backgrounds seek the company of his eminence. The Central Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi always welcomes large numbers of the people, with different nationalities, from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Tajikistan, and many other European, American and African countries.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi always reminds the staff of his Central Office not to let down or fail any visitor, as the Grand Islamic Jurists and leaders have always been a shelter to the Shia Muslims all along the history. In fact, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is a refuge and a sanctuary to all of those people who find themselves at the doors of this Office.

The two qualities of generosity and humility have given the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi a strong impression on any person who meets with his eminence. The sense of humility by such a great figure in the entire world of Islam along with such a generous attitude are two exceptional gifts which are never found except in the men of God and the Lord’s chosen people.

• A Pure Heart and a Big Soul

The mild and good morals of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi easily finds its way into the hearts of all people who visit his eminence on different occasions. The warm smile on the face of the Grand Jurist is a soothing sight and his perceptive directives and guidelines are a sign of his insightful and visionary character. In a nutshell, spirituality, morals, and the perfection of human values are well represented in the character of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi.

As a matter of fact, the Grand Jurist has stepped in the path of his noble ancestors, Imam Ali and his pure descendants, may God’s peace and blessing be upon them all.

• Tunisian Convert Astonished of Grand Jurist’s Great Spirits

In his first meeting with the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, a famous Tunisian Shia convert admitted to his astonishment when he faced the great spirits and the high morals of the Grand Jurist. This Tunisian Shia convert expressed his feelings in these sentences:

“The warmth of your smile makes me think of the holy Prophet of Islam and Imam Ali, whose enemies couldn’t find any faults with him, so they started criticizing him for having a sense of humor. They wanted to criticize him, but unintentionally, they unfolded another great quality of his holiness.”

Courtesy, passion, and forgiveness are the most significant moral characteristics of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, which are important characteristics of any successful and popular leader and role model. All these qualities and characteristics have made the Grand Jurist to stand out all other contemporary Islamic jurists and scholars, and have given his eminence a powerful influence over all friends and adversaries.

• The Company of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The sweet company of the Grand Jurist, according to the dozens of people who have enjoyed it, is a gift that reminds every one of the Almighty God and the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam. Anyone who has experienced the company of the Grand Jurist has been cherished with the abundant blessings from the culture of the Prophet’s Household and the genuine Islam. In all of his meetings, the Grand Jurist, as a man of faith and devotion, gives unique and invaluable advices to all of his visitors and reminds them of their religious duties and social obligations.

The wise advices of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi always penetrates through the hearts of the visitors and helps them to get a new start and change their lives. In many cases, the visitors of the Grand Jurist state that the advices of his eminence moved them from inside and showed them the way out of their complex and many-sided problems. The peaceful and soothing face of the Grand Jurist is a token of the constant and powerful soul of his eminence which injects tranquility and serenity to all of his visitors.

• Along with People

With every person who comes to visit the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, his eminence asks questions about the religious affairs, and the socioeconomic situations of the people of that area. These questions open a new door and a direct path towards understanding the needs and the problems of the people of different areas.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is always relentless about the problems of the Muslims in different corners of the world and always shows his sympathy and concern for all of their complications and problems. This intimate and close bond between the Grand Jurist and the people with different ethnicities has planted the seeds of compassion and love in the hearts of millions of Muslims around the world who see the Grand Jurist as their compassionate and concerned father and a comforting shelter. In holy Quran, God Almighty states:

“Surely (as for) those who believe and do good deeds, for them will Allah bring about love,”

Chapter 19, Verse 96

• The Statue of Piety

The great scientific and spiritual character of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi leaves people with very few words to describe his eminence. In fact, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is an Islamic jurist who has mastered Islamic knowledge, is recognized as a popular Islamic leader, and has acquired the moralities of the holy Prophet of Islam and Imam Ali, peace be upon them both. All these characteristics are the best means to describe a true and real Shia person to the entire world. The high manners of the Grand Jurist give us the notion of what the Islamic utopia and the perfection of piety and morals can be like in an exemplary time. In short, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is a depiction of the famous hadith by Imam Ali, who describes the character of the pious and faithful people.

In this hadith, the commander of the faithful and the gate of knowledge, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, describes the pious people in these words:

“They possess pre-eminence and excellence because they always speak truthfully, rightly and to the point, their way of living is based upon moderation, and their mode of dealing with other men is founded on their good will, fellow feeling and courtesy towards them. They deny themselves the things prohibited by God. They concentrate their minds upon knowledge of things which will bring them eternal bliss.

They bear hardships and sufferings as happily as they enjoy comforts and pleasures. If God had not fixed the span of life for each one of them, their souls in desire of attaining His Heaven and out of fear of falling into His displeasure, would not have stayed in their bodies for long.”

“They have visualized mentally the glory of God in such a way that beyond him nothing in this world alarms, frightens or awes them. Everything other than His might appears to them as insignificant and humble. They believe in the Heaven and its blessings like a person who has been there and has actually seen everything of the Heaven with his own eyes.

Similarly, their faith in the Hell and its torments is as strong as that of a person who had passed through its sufferings. They feel that the tortures of the Hell are around them and very near to them.”

“The ways of worldly people make them sorry. They harm nobody. They do not indulge in excessive eating and pleasure seeking. Their wants are limited. Their wishes are few. They have accepted patiently sufferings and adversities in this mortal and transitory life for the sake of eternal bliss which by the grace of God proved for them a very profitable transaction.

The vicious world desired their fellowship but they turned their faces away from it. It wanted to snare them, but they willingly accepted every trouble and discomfort to free themselves from its clutches.”

“Their nights they spend in carefully studying the Quran, because, of their weaknesses and short-comings, and try to find ways from this Holy book for improvements of their minds. In the study of the Qur’an when they came across a passage describing the Heaven they feel highly attracted towards it and develop such a keen desire to reach it; that the Heaven with all its blessings is visualized by their minds, while a passage about the Hell frightens them and makes them feel as if they are seeing and hearing the raging fire and the groans and lamentations of those who are suffering the tortures of the Hell.”

“Nights they spend in praying before the Lord and requesting and beseeching Him to deliver them from the Hell. Days find them occupied with such works that clearly indicate their wisdom, depth of knowledge, virtuousness, and piety. Constant fasting, simple diet: avoidance of every aspect of luxury and regular hard work make them look lean and haggard, but they possess very sound and robust health.

When people hear them discussing various problems of life they often take them to be whimsical fanatic or even half-witted. But it is not so, they are not satisfied with the quality and quantity of the work done by them in the cause of religion and humanity .The more they work the less they feel satisfied. Having set up a very high standard of efficiency for their work they fell nervous that indolence may not make it impossible for them to attain those heights.”

“If anyone of them is praised for piety, virtuousness and the good deeds done by him, he does not like to be so complimented; he is afraid that such praise may not allure him towards vanity, self-flattery, and self-glorification. He says, I know my mind and my work more than others, and God knows much more than me.

O Lord! Please do not hold me responsible for what they have said about me. You know very well that I did not instigate them for such praises. Please Lord! Grant me excellence far greater than what they complimented me for. And Lord! Please forgive those of my sins short-comings which they do not know.”

“You will find every pious person possessing the following attributes. He is resolute though tender-hearted and kind. He is unwavering in his convictions and beliefs. He is thirsty for knowledge. He forgives those who harmed him, fully knowing that they have wronged him. Even when owning wealth his ways of life are based upon moderation. His prayers are models of humility and submissiveness to God. Even when starving he will maintain his self-respect. He will bear sufferings patiently.”

“He will resort only to honest means of living. Leading others towards truth and justice, will give him pleasure. He disdains avarice and greed. Though he does good deeds all the time, yet he feels nervous of his short-comings. Every night, he thanks God for having passed one more day under His Grace and Mercy.

Every morning finds him starting the day with the prayers of the Lord. Of nights he is cautious that he may not carelessly waste those hours in comfort and ease. He starts his days happy with the thought the Lord has given him another day to do his duty.”

“If his mind wishes for something unholy and impious he refuses to obey its dictates. He desires to achieve eternal bliss. Worldly pleasures do not interest him. His wisdom is mixed with patience. His deeds reciprocate his words (he does what he says). Inordinate desires do not trouble him. He has few defects in him. He is courteous to others.

He possesses a contended mind. He eats little, he does not harm anybody. He is easy to be pleased. He is strong in his faith. His passions are dead. His temper is controlled.”

“People expect good out of him and consider themselves immune from his harm. Even if he is found among godless people his name will be written in the list of Godly persons. If he is in company of those who always remember God, naturally his name will not be included amongst those who forget Him. He forgives those who harm him. He helps those who have forsaken him and have refused to help him.

He is kind to those who have been cruel to him. He does good to those who do evil to him. He never indulges in loose talks. He has no vice in him, and his good qualities are outstanding, noticeable, and prominent, when facing dangers and disasters he is calm and undisturbed. In sufferings and calamities he is patient and hopeful. In prosperity he is thankful to God. He would not harm his worst enemy. He will never commit a sin even for the sake of his best friend.”

“Before anybody has to bear testimony to his fault he accepts and owns it. He never misappropriates anything entrusted to him. He never forgets what he has been told. He does not slander anybody. He does not harm his neighbors.

When misfortunes befall any person he does not blame him, neither is he happy at the losses of others. He neither goes astray from the right path nor follows a wrong one. His silence does not indicate, his moroseness nor his laughters are loud and boisterous.

He bears persecution patiently and God punishes his oppressor. He is hard to himself and very lenient to others. He bears hardships in this life to attain eternal comfort and peace. He never wrongs a fellow being. If he avoids anybody it is to retain his piety and uprightness. If he forms contract with anybody it is on account of his kindness and clemency.

He does not avoid anybody because of his pride and vanity, and he does not mix with others with ulterior motives of hypocrisy, pretense, and vile.”

• The Youth

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is very observant about the youth and always receives them with open arms and opens face to face dialogues with them. The youth also consider the Grand Jurist as a trusted and wise counselor who always gives his whole attention to their problems and needs.

With regards to the youth, the Grand Jurist has said: “In our modern age, which is titled as the age of information and technology, the crime rates have risen and we need to take care of the youth. We need to promote the public education and make the youth familiar with the bulk of the Prophet’s Household culture. We need to create an obstacle between the youth and the deceptive misleading paths, such as the deviating schools of thought, the satanic teachings, and the corrupt propaganda of this age.”

Additionally, the Grand Jurist always puts strong stress on the youth, when speaking to his representatives and deputies across the world. With full knowledge of the undeniable role of the youth in ushering the world into a better future, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi always instructs his representatives and office members to attract the youth and help them with their needs and problems.

In one of his addresses to the Islamic preachers, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi stated:

“Pay attention to the teenagers and the youth. Bring them together and teach them the Islamic principles, the Islamic beliefs, the Islamic morals and the Islamic laws. Make them familiar with the conducts of the pure Household and answer their numerous questions. Encourage them to engage in cultural, religious and social activism so that they are kept away from the corrupt and immoral currents and waves.”

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, also states: “Take care of the youth, because they are the quickest in all goodness.”

In another gathering of the Islamic preachers, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized on making the youth familiar with the genuine Islamic beliefs and said: “Protect the youth and try to bring them up with the faith in God, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. Help them to add to their pool of knowledge about the doctrine of the Prophet’s Household. We are responsible to introduce the Islamic Prophet and his pure Household to the youth using the same lexicon which was employed by the holy Quran and the Household. We should do away with all extremes and exaggerations. There are certain lexicons used by the enemies of Islam who try to describe the holy Household in a way to exaggerate or downsize their real positions in public.”

Then, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi continued:

“We are not allowed to give even one of the divine attributes to the pure Household. Instead, we must make the youth familiar with the absolute and solid facts about the pure Household, such as their infallibility and their knowledge of the unseen.”

• The Thirst for the Culture of the Household

The youth have a strong thirst for the culture of the Prophet’s Household and all they need are the people who can lead them to this path and make them familiar with this sublime and inspiring culture.

Anyone off the road to guidance is like a sick person. The sick people, sometimes, fail to understand the instructions of their doctors, however the doctors are duty bound to take into consideration the needs and the cure of the people who have gone off the road to the genuine Islam.

A while ago, a young person, who had lost the way to guidance, came to me. I talked and unfolded to him some of the precious quotes of the holy Infallibles and the verses of the holy Quran. After a few minutes, I saw him shedding tears and expressing his remorse for what he had done in the past. I told him what’s done is done and that he should repent from all his past mistakes and start a new leaf, but he told me that he feels ashamed. These were the feelings of a young person who didn’t have a sound belief in God but in just a few minutes, he developed such a deep insight of the Almighty God that made him feel the presence of his Lord.

• The Youth and Islamic Sciences

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, in all of his meetings with the youth, invites all young and motivated minds to join the ranks of Imam Mahdi, may the Lord hasten his reappearance, and enroll at the Islamic Seminaries. His eminence always says: “The only way to earn the good of this life and the next is to kneel before the school of Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him. No matter what your job and profession is, you can be a student of Imam Mahdi, may our souls be sacrificed for him, and you must know this fact that it is never late to put on the Islamic robe and join the Islamic Seminaries.”

• The Simple Lifestyle

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is like a compassionate and sympathetic father to the poor and the needy. This special connection with the poor has made the Grand Jurist to lead a simple lifestyle like the poor. The humble lifestyle of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi reminds the people of the simple living standards of the Grand Jurist’s late brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi who was also well-known for his humility and modesty. The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, by leading a simple life like the poor, tries to sympathize with the lower classes of the society and makes them aware of the fact that poverty should not break them. In the meantime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is engaged in many activities that are aimed to help the poor in order to promote their life standards while preserving their dignity and honor. In fact, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is serious in helping the poor to have their life standards improved on the one hand, and on the other hand, his eminence tries to sympathize with the needy families by leading a simple lifestyle.

• A Comprehensive Character in Islamic Ethics and Sciences in the Words of a Lebanese Scholar and Intellectual

The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is a perfect example of purity, honesty, peacefulness, and serenity; he is the statue of piety and self-effacement. He is at the summits of true faith in the Lord and the pure Household. He is a source of inspiration and a shelter of knowledge. He is a figure of devotion, virtue and dedication. He is the lantern that leads to the roads of guidance.

He is the symbol of attachment to the God’s strong ropes. He is a holy scholar, a brave leader, and a wise jurist; the words fall short in giving him what he deserves and thus, his insightful character remains invisible to the public. He is the character whose life has been dedicated to serving the people by leading them towards the ark of salvation and the light of guidance, the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam.

Devotion, diligence, piety, and self-awareness on the one side, and firm willpower and action in preaching the genuine Islamic teachings has made the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi stand out among most of his contemporaries.

In order to strengthen and improve constant preaching of the Shia culture, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has set up a wide network of institutional work which is run by several cultural, religious and social Islamic communities across the world. All these influential activities of the Grand Jurist root in a strong belief in the God’s promise in the following verse of the holy Quran:

“Say: ‘Allah will see your works and so will His Messenger and the believers; then you shall be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the visible, and He will inform you of what you were doing.”

Chapter 9, Verse 105

In this long path, the Islamic jurist Ayatollah Shirazi ignored the hardships and the obstacles, and step by step, continued his pace to serve the humanity by contributing to the creation of a faithful community where genuine and authentic Islamic tenets and beliefs are upheld. To actualize this far-fetched ideal community, the Grand Jurist employed all the means and tools necessary and went to great lengths to earn the satisfactions of the Almighty God and the holy Prophet of Islam.

In truth, the Grand Islamic jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, with his untiring spirits and hardworking attitude, and as a prolific and productive author, has lit up a lantern that calls all faithful people, regardless of their connections and blood relations to the genuine Islamic culture, which is based on the teachings of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. The unchanging manners of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in these years, portrays the stern and firm stance of this Islamic jurist on preserving the morals and the ideologies of the holy Household and creating the means for unity and solidarity among all the believers. The continuous calls of the Grand Jurist for peaceful coexistence, and his longtime warnings for division among the Muslims also give us the implications of the Islamic utopia which is displayed by the Grand Islamic jurist Ayatollah Shirazi.

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The Scientific Dimension of the Character of
Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

To appreciate the great scientific character of the Grand Islamic jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, we might need to refer to the comments, quotes and the viewpoints of other great Islamic figures and jurists about his eminence.

Despite the fact that the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is mostly famous for his unwavering piety and devotion, but many great Islamic figures have honored the Grand jurist for his scholarly and great scientific character in many different words. As a skilled and accomplished figure in Islamic jurisprudence, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is also regarded as one of the top experts in the Arabic literature which paves the way for his eminence to make a deeper insight of the Islamic concepts and perceptions.

• The Peak of Knowledge

The wonder of the century and the master of all authors, the late Grand Islamic jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, who was the leading jurist of his time as testified by many great Islamic figures, referred many of the questions sent to his eminence to his noble brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi. The reason behind this move can be better understood if one knows that the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was the first assistant and a trustworthy company of his late brother whose earnest piety and mastership of the Islamic sciences was hidden to none.

In fact, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi introduced his brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi to all of his followers by referring them to his learned and knowledgeable brother.

It can’t be overlooked that such a great Islamic figure, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi introduced his brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi as the only person who can fill in his empty place after his departure. Here is the letter in which the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi unfolds the great scientific character of his brother.

 

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure Household.

And so, I acknowledge that the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, may his services be continued, has mastered the Islamic sciences with a thorough understanding and that he has acquired piety and justice to its brims. I believe he has earned all the qualifications of an Islamic Jurist, someone who can release fatwas and be referred to by the believers.

Therefore, I declare it is permissible for all the believers to refer to his eminence in all of their religious matters, on the condition of the permission by the just Islamic jurists. And I ask him to preserve piety, which is the path to salvation. I also ask my believing brothers to follow his eminence in all related affairs.

God, the Almighty, is the one who determines success and power, and He is the only helper.

Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi

• The Mastership of Ijtihad

Ijtihad and Jihad are two fundamental elements of the Shia Islam.

In fact, the term Ijtihad refers to the deduction of the Islamic law from the holy Quran and the traditions and Jihad denotes the actualization and implementation of the Islamic justice, Islamic law and other Islamic concepts in the world.

Ijtihad, which is considered complementary to the holy Quran and the traditions, does also assist the Islamic scholars and experts to find answers and solutions to the most recent queries, while Jihad is responsible to pave the way for the divine justice in a society where Islamic values and tenets are upheld.

These two theoretical and practical efforts to build up a genuine Islamic society have seen many great sacrifices in the disturbed course of the Islamic history. For these two sacred causes to survive, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, who was the loudest voice of justice and the widest gate of knowledge, was unfairly martyred in the mosque of Kufa, where he was praying to his Lord. This path was also colored red by the pure blood of the third Shia leader, Imam Husayn, who was also sacrificed in the sacred land of Karbala. The concepts of Ijtihad and Jihad, each signifying the theoretical and practical aspects of a sound Islamic community, have outlived the long history by the sacrifices of many great men and women.

In our time, which is the time when the twelfth leader, Imam Mahdi has been kept from the humanity, these two fundamental elements of Shia Islam have become even more crucial since they can guarantee the survival of Islam in the long centuries ahead. In modern history, Ijtihad and Jihad, which both translate into the deduction of Islamic law and its implementation respectively, have become the burden of the deputies of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. These deputies are just people, who have specialized in the Islamic jurisprudence; they fulfill the two important elements of Ijtihad and jihad by providing comprehensive responses to the most recent queries about Islam and working tirelessly to practice the Islamic justice in the leadership of the Muslim community.

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi describes his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi in these words:

“He (the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi), as I have known for sure, have acquired the highest levels of Ijtihad, (Islamic jurisprudence).” This rather short sentence shows the strong faith of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi in his brother as the future leader of the Shia Muslims and the right person to continue his path.

The late Grand Jurist also adds:

“I recommend my dear brothers and sisters to reunite by the side of this great scholar and benefit his presence in all domains.”

This sentence also signifies the comprehensive character of the Grand Islamic Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, since the late Grand Jurist recommended the entire Muslim populace to enjoy and benefit the presence of the great Islamic scholar in all domains and respects.

In another occasion, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi described his brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi as his perfect reflection in all aspects and features:

“He has achieved high ranks of devotion and knowledge and he is a skilled Islamic scholar who is capable of deducing the Islamic law from the reliable sources. Therefore, I appoint him as my second-in-command in all religious and personal affairs. His hand is mine, his words are mine, his acts are mine, and his decisions are my decisions.”

Now, we can better appreciate the words of the Christian thinker and scholar who said:

“After the loss of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the Islamic Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is the best person to fill out the place of his brother and continue in his path. The empty place of the late Ayatollah will be filled with his brother, and his honorable path will be continued with strong determination.”

• Scholarly Character of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in the Words of the Late Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Haeri Yazdi, the Son of the Founder of Qom Islamic Seminary

The Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Haeri Yazdi had inherited the deep insight of his father, the founder of Qom Islamic Seminary in both spiritualties and the Islamic sciences. This great scholar who was considered as one of the outstanding Shia Islamic scholars of his time, kept the continuous company of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in the holy city of Qom. The high ranks of this Islamic scholar in spiritualties and Islamic sciences have been testified by many great figures and renowned characters.

In the biographies written about the life of the Grand Ayatollah Haeri Yazdi, it is said:

“Whenever the Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Haeri Yazdi ran into a problem in some discussions and topics, he used to visit the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi in his home and asked about his opinions on the matter. Then, the two scholars discussed their opinions and debated each other’s reasons on the matter.”

• Scholarly Character of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in the Words of the Late Ayatollah Faqih Imami

The late Ayatollah Sayyid Ahmed Faqih Imami was one of the prominent and popular Shia scholars in the Islamic Seminary of Isfahan in Iran.

When listening to the words of this great scholar, who described the deep and profound knowledge of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in all realms of the Islamic sciences, everyone were struck with wonder and astonishment.

In his final years, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Ahmed Faqih Imami used to say:

“I hope the Almighty God gives two more years to live, so that I can leave off my personal works and be at the service of the great scholar, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and enjoy his deep knowledge of the Islamic sciences and appreciate his matchless piety and morals.”

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The Comprehensive and Scholarly Character of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

To establish a better understanding of the great scholarly character of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, we referred to the words of some great Islamic scholars and jurists. Now, we asked Ayatollah Fedayi, one of the distinguished students of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, to clarify on the scientific and scholarly character of his teacher.

In this regard, Ayatollah Fedayi said:

“I am in no place to evaluate or accredit the great scholarly character of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi; however, I, as a student of his eminence, will tell you about my personal opinion of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi as a unique Islamic scholar.

The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is born into a family that is renowned for their long history in the Islamic sciences and jurisprudence. His eminence is grown in an environment which was entwined with the precious bits of knowledge from the holy Prophet of Islam and the infallibles. The Grand Jurist’s eyes were always fixed on the path leading to knowledge and truth, and he, since his childhood, was a under the education of many great Islamic scholars. As a young child, he has been at close company of books and he spent his life studying the scientific discussions. He has spent all his power and time in the path of knowledge and he never let anything else interrupt this path.

I have heard that once, his eminence started writing a book on the Arabic grammar. The approach of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi to this topic was new and groundbreaking and this book could surpass all other books in Arabic grammar, either by grammarians in the past or the present time. However, his eminence talked to his late father, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi about this book, and the Grand Jurist’s father asked his son not to lose track of the main path, which is the path of the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam. The Grand Jurist’s father asked him to dedicate his entire life to acquiring the knowledge of the Prophet’s Household and the genuine Islamic culture. The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi accepted the advices of his late father and stopped writing that book on Arabic grammar. Since then, his eminence spent all his efforts to remain in the path of the Prophet’s Household and in this way, he has dedicated his scientific studies to the Islamic jurisprudence. All these years of nonstop researches and studies into the Islamic jurisprudence have resulted in the Grand Jurist surpassing all other contemporary scholars in these fields. In particular, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is considered a complete master in the field of Usul, and the Grand Jurist’s book named “Bayanul Usul” has become one of the best and exceptional publications in this field. This book has managed to stand out among the large number of publications in the field of Usul, as it encompasses all aspects of the Islamic jurisprudence.

In this regard, a similar story occurred to the author of the book Sharia. It is said that the author of this precious book departed his family to engage in the Islamic studies. After a while, the father of this great Islamic scholar wrote a letter to him and inquired about his son’s conditions. In response, this author wrote a poem to his father in which he explained his good health and success in the Islamic sciences. The scholar’s father, after receiving and reading that letter, understood that it must have taken a long time for his son to write down such a great piece of poetry. He also concluded that such activities would make his son to have less time for studying the Islamic jurisprudence; therefore, he wrote back to his son and asked him to leave off all other works and focus on acquiring the knowledge of the Prophet’s Household and the Islamic jurisprudence. The great author accepted his father’s advice and dedicated his whole time to his studies in the different fields of Islamic sciences. Finally, this great scholar succeeded to write the extraordinary book of Sharia which has been unique and exceptional ever since.

The two books of “Bayaul Usul” and “Bayaul Fiqh” are clear signs of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s deep and profound knowledge of the Islamic jurisprudence. With the help of these two books, we can easier understand the distinctive and matchless scholarly character of the Grand Jurist among his contemporary scholars.

These two invaluable books cover a large number of topics and discussions addressed in former books of the Islamic jurisprudence and they present a full set of impeccable and delicate discussions in the fields of Usul and Fiqh.

• The Books of Bayaul Usul and Bayanul Fiqh Indications of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s Great Scholarly Character

The book of Bayanul Usul by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi comes in ten volumes. This book enjoys an expressive and eloquent language that unfolds the most complicated and convoluted discussions in the field of Fiqh. In this book, the Grand Jurist has employed an innovative method to make a better approach to the comparative narrative between the theoretical and practical usage of Fiqh, and in this way, his eminence has managed to make sure that all his Usuli principles are well-defined and addressed to.

What’s more, the book of “Bayanul Fiqh”, which is a commentary on the precious book of “Urwatul Wuthqa”, written by the late Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Tabatabaei Yazdi, is a good proof to the leading role of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi as an Islamic jurist and expert. The Grand Jurist has also written a detailed commentary on the 72 topics presented in the book of Urwatul Wuthqa, the section of Ijtihad and Taqlid. This commentary consists of four volumes and is regarded as one of the best commentaries in the Islamic Seminaries. This commentary addresses topics such as: the necessity for Taqlid proven by logic and hadiths, the opinions and viewpoints of contemporary and preceding scholars, the conditions of a mujtahid (Islamic Jurist), the signs of a leading (most knowledgeable) jurist, comprehensive and partial potency to deduce Islamic law, the difference in initial and continuous Taqlid, shifting Taqlid from one Marja (jurist) to another, issues bound or unbound by Taqlid, the rulings that have changed due to a change of opinion by the Marja or a change of the Marja, and the issues regarding people who have failed to choose the leading (most knowledgeable) Marja. This detailed commentary presents a full table of discussions with logical and well-founded responses in an expressive and easy-to-read tone. In fact, these four volumes have mirrored the strong mastership of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in the topics of Ijtihad and Taqlid. This commentary has been an exceptional work which has stood out all other similar works in the fields of Ijtihad and Taqlid. Apart from these two complicated topics, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has proven his inclusive and wide-ranging knowledge in other fields of Islamic jurisdiction and Fiqh. In the topic of Khums, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has employed the same innovative approach in his two volume book, “Bayanul Fiqh: Khums”. In this book, not only the Grand Jurist proved that the Khums tax is an obligatory duty, but also his eminence, using the Quranic verse of Khums, the noble narrations and hadiths, and the words of some preceding Islamic scholars, developed a new principle in the matter of Khums tax that says: One fifth of any income that one gains, regardless of its amount, does not belong to the owner. The Quranic verse of Khums makes it clear that one fifth of every income belongs to God, the holy Messenger, the pure Household, and the orphaned, poor and needy people from the line of the Islamic Prophet. No one has the right to make use of his or her income unless they spare one fifth of it to its owners. Then, the Grand Jurist proves that if a person sets a timing for his or her yearly incomes and pays one fifth of his or her income as the Khums tax, they are permitted to use all the profit business and income they earn during the year, before the coming of the next year’s timing for Khums tax. This new and exceptional understanding of Khums tax, was an innovative and inventive principle which was put forward by the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• The Encyclopedia of AhlulBayt in Quran, a Masterpiece by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The encyclopedia of “AhlulBayt in Quran”, written by the Grand jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is a groundbreaking work about the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam. This encyclopedia has been a monumental work in the big pool of books that were written about the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household; this work has filled out the ideological, doctrinal and cultural gap that existed before. According to reliable narrations and hadiths, the Almighty Lord has specified a quarter of the holy book, Quran to praise and defend the holy Household. The next quarter of the holy Quran is specified to denounce the enemies of the Household; these staunch enemies fought against the God’s chosen people and usurped their right to rule over people. Unfortunately, the truth about the holy Household is still hidden and overlooked and their real position and ranks are still in the dark. However, the encyclopedia of AhlulBayt in Quran enjoys a unique tone that addresses the followers of other schools of Islam who have turned a blind eye to the virtues and the real position of the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam. In this end, the encyclopedia of AhlulBayt in Quran employs the narrations and hadiths accredited by the Sunni references to prove the high ranks of the holy Household, peace be upon them. In fact, the Almighty God has left enough signs and proofs in holy Quran to show the real status, position, and the rank of the holy Household (AhlulBayt) and this encyclopedia has employed these proofs and their interpretations from the Sunni references. This unique publication of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has been successful to put forward the hidden aspects and dimensions of the Quranic verses about the Prophet’s Household and unfold the truth to its lovers.

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Written Works and Publications of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The books- as explained in the hadiths- are a translation of human thought and intellect. The books are the scales of man’s wisdom and knowledge and a measurement for understanding and perception. The publications of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, which exceed one hundred in number, are also a translation of the Grand Jurist’s thoughts, scientific position, and cultural attitudes.

• The Titles of Books Written by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi
• Bayanul Usul (Arabic)
• Bayanul Fiqh fi Sharhul Urwatul Wuthqa (Arabic)
• AhlulBayt in Quran (Arabic)
• Islamic Politics (Persian, Arabic, English)
• Commentary on Urwatul Wuthqa (Arabic)
• Commentary on Al-Samadiyah (Arabic)
• Commentary on Tabseratul Muta’allemin (Arabic)
• Commentary on Sharaei Al-Islam (Arabic)
• Commentary on Luma’ah (Arabic)
• Mujiz fi Al-Manteq “Logics in Brief” (Arabic)
• Islamic Ruling (Persian, Arabic, English)
• Chosen Islamic Ruling (Persian)
• The Islamic Law (Persian)
• The Islamic Law in Brief (Persian)
• Queries about Music and Song (Arabic)
• Congregational Prayers and its Place in Islam (Arabic)
• Fasting and its Rulings (Arabic)
• Queries about Haj and Umrah (Arabic)
• Manasek Haj “Haj Rites” (Persian)
• Women’s Ruling in Haj and Umrah (Arabic)
• Women’s Ruling (Persian)
• The Rulings of the Youth (Arabic)
• Reply to Doctrinal Questions (Arabic)
• Rulings of Sacred Sites (Arabic)
• 1000 Rulings in Western Counties (Arabic)
• Reply to Questions Related to Imam Husayn, peace be upon him (Arabic)
• Islamic Rulings and Novel Issues (Arabic)
• Medical Rulings (Arabic)
• Selective Islamic Rulings (Arabic)
• Rulings of Islamic Transactions (Persian)
• Lady Fatima in holy Quran (Arabic)
• Mahdi in holy Quran (Arabic)
• Mahdi in Quran and Tradition (Arabic)
• Shia in holy Quran (Arabic)
• Mahdi in Tradition (Arabic)
• The Promised in Quran (Persian)
• Topics of Islamic Economy and Usury (Persian)
• A Path to Islamic Banking (Persian and Arabic)
• Shia and False Accusations (Persian)
• Repercussions of Ignoring Hijab (Persian)
• Land Reformations in Islam (Arabic)
• Comparative Methods in Islamic Jurisdiction (Arabic)
• Truth about the Shia (Arabic)
• Preliminary Beliefs (Arabic)
• The First and Second Martyrs (Arabic)
• Breeze of Guidance (Persian and Arabic)
• The Beauty of Good doers (Arabic)
• Lessons from Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him (Persian)
• Fragrance of Mercy (Arabic and Persian)
• Spiritual, Intellectual and Public Lectures (Arabic)
• Oh, Abu Dhar (Arabic and Persian)
• Useful Knowledge, the Way to Salvation (Arabic)
• Honoring the Rites of Lady Fatima, Peace be Upon Her (Arabic)
• Reviving Ashura (Arabic)
• Perks of Ghadir (Arabic)
• Iraq’s Future and Reconstruction (Arabic)
• Ghadir, the Fountain of Wilayat (Persian)
• Ramadan and the Pattern for Serving God (Persian)
• Moral Discussions (Arabic)
• The Secret to Visiting Karbala (Arabic and Persian)
• Who is Fatima? (Persian)
• The Shipmaster of Guidance (Persian)
• Ghadir, A Gift to Mankind (Persian)
• God’s Law above All and Imam Husayn Rites Are Permitted (Arabic)
• Honoring the Fatimi Rites (Persian)
• How to Improve Soul and Society (Arabic)
• You don’t Know Fatima! (Arabic)
• Iraqis and Awakening (Arabic)
• A Slice of Ghadir (Persian and Arabic)
• Iraq’s Future (Persian)
• The Gifts of Imam Husayn Sacrifice (Arabic)
• High Ranks and Immortal Monuments (Arabic)
• Lessons from Ashura (Persian and Arabic)
• Women’s Rights in Islam (Arabic)
• A Drop of the Ocean of Tragedy (Persian)
• Lessons of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon (Arabic)
• Relation with God (Persian)
• Sanctities Violated (Arabic and Persian)
• A Glimpse at the Prophet’s Lifestyle (Persian)
• To Actualize Imam Husayn’s Purposes (Arabic)
• Future Iraq and its Horizons (Arabic)
• Ramadan, the Month to Improve Soul and Society (Arabic)
• How to Live in God’s Light (Arabic)
• The World Suffered by Missing Ghadir (Arabic)
• Imam Husayn’s Sacrifice and Gifts (Arabic)
• Plan of God’s Action (Arabic)
• Effects of Deeds (Arabic)
• Islamic Prophet, Best Guidance to Mankind (Arabic)
• Imam Husayn, the Savior of Faith (Arabic)
• The Lifestyle of Imam Sajjad, Peace be Upon Him (Arabic)
• The Gifts of Ghadir (Arabic)
• Freedom in Islam (Arabic)
• What Happens After His Reappearance? (Arabic)
• Gleams from Imam Husayn (Persian)
• Imam Husayn in the Face of Tragedies (Arabic)
• Marriage and Facilitations (Arabic)
• Advices to Men of Faith (Arabic)
• The Blood of Husayn and Our Responsibility (Persian)
• We Must Turn to Quran and the Household (Arabic)
• Future Government in Iraq (Persian)
• Wise Choice (Persian)
• Imam Mahdi in Quran (Persian)
• Punishment of Sins in Islam (Persian)
• Fasting, Why and How? (Persian)
• Violence and Nonviolence (Arabic)
• The Hope (Arabic)
• Imam Husayn, A Universal Concern (Arabic)
• We Must Know Our Imams (Arabic)
• The Last Imam is the God’s Favor upon the Oppressed (Arabic and Persian)
• Imam Husayn, the Exception of Universe (Arabic and Persian)
• Honest Step towards Husayn (Persian and Arabic)
• No Day Like Yours, Oh Husayn (Arabic)
• Imam Husayn, the Gem of the History (Arabic)
• Compete in Reviving Husayni Rites (Arabic)
• He Was My Hope (Persian)
• School of Ashura (Arabic)
• Ashura and the Doubters (Persian and Arabic)
• Ghadir and Ashura, Essentials of Shia (Arabic)
• Samarra, the Ruined Paradise (Persian)
• Islam and Universal Preaching (Persian)
• To Earn the Satisfaction of Infallibles (Arabic)

And more …

• A Brief Introduction of Some Books Written By Grand Ayatollah Shirazi
• Bayanul Fiqh (six volumes): A commentary on the book Urwatul Wuthqa

This collection is a study on the topics of Ijtihad and Taqlid (Four Volumes) and Khums (Two Volumes). This book collection is a detailed study on the famous book of Urwatul Wuthqa, written by the great scholar and author, Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Yazdi.

The author addresses different views and opinions on different juridical topics and then makes a logical and simple approach to his own views on the matter.

This book was written by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, during his residence in the holy city of Qom, and it was republished later, with new appendixes and revisions in holy Qom, Iran.

• Bayanul Usul (Ten Volumes)

In one volume of this book, the Grand Jurist clarifies on the principle of “There is neither harm nor malice in Islam.” The next three volumes of this book addresses the subject of “Istishab”, and the next two volumes cover the subjects of “Certainty and Doubt” and “Ta’adul Va Tarjih” respectively. This book is published both in holy Qom and Lebanon.

This book offers a detailed and scientific approach to the most technical discussions in the field of Usul; it also clarifies on the Quranic verses and the hadiths, which are related to these discussions. This book contains a full table of discussions, along with narrations, problems, and critiques written by prominent scholars in the field of Usul. The author has been successful to cement his own views on each of these discussions by employing a scientific and rational approach.

The book of Bayanul Usul is one of the books written by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, during his residence in the holy city of Qom. This precious book has been republished for several times.

• An Interpretation on Shara’e Al-Islam (Four Volumes)/ Published in 1968

This book is an interpretation of the book, Shara’e Al-Islam, written by Muhaghegh Hilli. This precious book offers thousands of interpretations and explanations on different chapters of Islamic jurisdiction, such as acts of worship, transactions, and so on and so forth.

This book was written by the Grand Jurist in the holy city of Karbala, in the year 1967, and it was widely embraced by the Islamic Seminaries and Universities. This book became a textbook in many courses and has been republished for several times.

• A Commentary on the book Tabseratul Muta’allimin (Two Volumes)/ Published in 1962

This book is a short and brief study on “Tabseratul Muta’allimin”, one of the famous works of the late scholar, Allamah Hilli. This book was authored in the holy city of Karbala, in 1962. This book has been republished for many times.

• A Commentary on Al-Suyuti (Two Volumes)/ Published in 1967

It is a brief commentary on the book “Al-Bihjatul Marziya Fi Sharh Al-Alfiya.” This book is regarded as one of the important textbooks in the Islamic Seminaries in the fields of Arabic grammar. This book was firstly published in holy Karbala in 29 November 1966, coinciding with the fifteenth of Sha’aban, the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. This book has been republished after it was widely welcomed by the students of Islamic sciences.

• A Commentary on Al-Lumʿa al-Dimashqiyya (Ten Volumes)

This book is a detailed and complete commentary on the precious work by the famous Shia Islamic scholar and author, the second martyr,       Muhammad b. Makki al-Jizzini al-‘Amili on the Islamic Fiqh. The book’s name which is titled as “Al-Lumʿa al-Dimashqiyya” has been chosen as a textbook in the Islamic Seminaries. This commentary has not been published yet.

• Al-Mujiz Fi Al-Mantiq (Logics in Brief)/ Published in 1965

This book uses an innovative method to approach Islamic logics, which can be very helpful to the elementary students of Islamic sciences. This book which has been used as a textbook in some Islamic seminaries, was published in 1965, in holy Karbala, Iraq.

• Ali, peace be upon him, in Quran (Two Volumes)

Many Quranic verses were revealed to honor the great character of Imam Ali, peace be upon him. In this book, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi discusses the occasions of the revelation of 711 verses of Quran, using famous Sunni source books and references. This book was written in holy Karbala and has been republished for eight times.

• Fatima Zahra, peace be upon her, in Quran

As the title suggests, this book has brought together the Quranic verses about Lady Fatima Zahra, peace be upon her, using the famous source books and references from the Sunni Islam. This book was published in holy Qom, and has been republished for seven times.

• AhlulBayt, peace be upon them, in Quran

This book is a study on the Quranic verses that relate to the holy AhlulBayt of the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon them all. In this book, the Grand Jurist has used famous source books and references from the Sunni Islam. This book was published in Kuwait.

• Al-Mahdi, may he reappear soon, in Quran

This book comprises of 110 verse of the holy Quran, which were revealed to honor the great character of the twelfth Shia leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. In this book, the Grand Jurist has used famous source books and references from the Sunni Islam. This book has been republished and translated into Persian.

• Al-Mahdi, may he reappear soon, in Traditions

This book contains a full table of traditions, narrations and hadiths about the savior of humanity, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. All the traditions and hadiths used in this book are quoted from the holy Prophet of Islam, based on famous source books and references from the Sunni Islam. This book was written by the Grand Jurist in holy Karbala, and it has been republished for several times.

• Shia in Quran

This book includes the set of Quranic verses that are about the followers and the Shia of the commander of the faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him. The occasions of revelation and the interpretation of verses are all based on famous source books and references from the Sunni Islam, which were compiled and ordered by the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi.

• Truths about Shia

This book presents a full table of questions and answers about the Shia ideology in the forms of a dialogue between two Shia and Sunni characters. The dialogues and the approach to different questions and their answers are easy to understand and brief.

This book was written by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Karbala and it has been republished tens of times. This book has been translated into Persian with the title of “Shia and the False Accusations.”

• Comparative Methods in Islamic Jurisdiction

This book sheds light on the much-debated topic of comparison in Islamic jurisdiction. In this book, the Grand Jurist employs series of the Quranic verses and the hadiths by the holy infallibles to prove that comparative methods have no place in the deduction of Islamic law. This precious book was written in holy Karbala, Iraq.

• Congregational Prayers

This book presents a full set of hadiths and narrations about the great rewards, the philosophy and the rulings regarding the congregational prayers. This book was written by the Grand Jurist in Kuwait.

• Fasting

This book explains the philosophy and the rulings regarding the act of fasting in a very simple and attractive tone. This book was compiled by the Grand Jurist, during his residence in holy Karbala and it was published in holy Najaf, Iraq.

• Hajj

This book presents a simple and expressive discussion on the philosophy and rulings of Hajj ritual. This book was published in holy Karbala, Iraq.

• Overtures of the Islamic Economy

This book is a complete study on the field of economics and its significance in Islam; it also proposes solutions and guidelines from the Islamic economics. This book was published in Kuwait.

• Usury, an Economic Disease

This book sheds light on the repercussions and damages of usury in the world economy. In this book, the Grand Jurist also presents a set of proposals for combating this economic disease. This book was written and published in Kuwait.

• Islamic Politics

This book aims to uncover the Islamic view of politics and to make this happen, it studies the methods and approaches used by the holy Prophet of Islam, Imam Ali, and other members of the Household when dealing with different political issues. This precious book is a guideline of the Islamic politics which guarantees justice, fairness, mercy and humanitarian policies in any society and stands up to suppression and injustice. The book of Islamic politics was written by the Grand Jurist during his residence in holy Karbala and it has been republished for several times. This book is now available in three languages of Arabic, Persian, and English.

• Intoxication, a Social Disease

This book explains the damages and destructions caused by intoxication in a society. This book was written in holy Karbala and has been republished both in Iraq and Iran.

• The Damages of Improper Hijab

This book offers a detailed, yet simple and brief study on the significance of hijab and the disadvantages of improper hijab and nudity in a society. This book was written by the Grand Jurist, during his stay in holy Karbala, Iraq.

• Instructive Stories

This book contains a series of instructive, pleasing and useful stories for all age groups. This book was published in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq.

• Punishments in Islam

This book tries to unearth the philosophy of the punishments which are mandated and fixed by God under Islamic law (Shariah). This precious book was authored by the Grand Jurist in holy Karbala, Iraq and it was published in Beirut, Lebanon.

• Malik Ashtar Nakhaei

This book is an introduction and survey into the great character of one of the bravest and most influential commanders of the armed forces in the early Islam. The Grand Jurist uncovers the yet-unknown dimensions of the loyal companion of Imam Ali, Malik Ashtar in a book he wrote in holy Karbala, in 1967.  This book was published in holy Najaf.

• The First Martyr

This book is a brief biography of the great Shia scholar and author, Sheikh Shamsuddin Abu Abdullah ibn Jamal Al-Din Makki, also known as the first martyr. This book was published in holy Karbala.

• The Second Martyr

This book is a brief biography of the Shia scholar and author, Sheikh Zainuddin Ali ibn Ahmed Al-Jabal Ameli, also known as the second martyr. This book was written by the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, during his stay in holy Karbala.

• My Father

This book comprises of some sensitive and instructive stories from the life of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi, the father of the Grand Jurist. This book was written and published on the fortieth death anniversary of the Grand Jurist’s father.

• The Path to Islamic Banking

This book tries to propose a new outlook to the crucial topic of Islamic banking. In this book, the Grand Jurist introduces several solutions for the eradication of usury in the banking system and clarifies on the fundamental functions of the Islamic banking system, benefitting from the latest theories on global economy. This book was written and published in Lebanon in 1972.

• Rulings and Queries

The Grand Jurist has written several books with regards to the Islamic law, Islamic rulings, and the reply to Islamic questions. Here is a list of some of these books:

“Islamic Rulings, the Rites of Hajj, Comprehensive Collection of Hajj Rulings, Women’s Rulings, Fasting and its Rulings, Rulings of the Youth, Transactions’ Rulings, Medical Rulings, Rulings of the Sacred Sites, Rulings of Imam Husayn’s Rites, Rulings of Walking (to Sacred Sites), Response to Questions about Islamic Beliefs, 700 Questions about Hajj, 1000 Rulings about Living in West, Rulings of Traveling, and so on and so forth.”

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Advanced Courses of Islamic Jurisprudence by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, since the early years of his presence in the Islamic Seminaries, received many requests by other Islamic jurists and many great seminary teachers to begin his career as a teacher in the Seminary of holy Karbala, in Iraq. After a short time, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi became known as one of the pillars of this Islamic Seminary and started his courses of Advanced Jurisprudence.

Now, it is almost half a century since the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi began his advanced courses of the Islamic Jurisprudence. These courses have so far trained thousands of ardent students who have contributed to the promotion of the word of God and the holy religion of Islam.

In this regard, Ayatollah Fedayi states: “The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi began teaching the advanced jurisprudence as a young teacher. In fact, it has been decades since the Grand Jurist started teaching the highest levels of Islamic jurisprudence. I personally, have had the honor to participate in these advanced courses for more than twenty years.

• Teaching Methods of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is a popular teacher, for his unique ability to present the most difficult concepts in an easy way. In fact, the Grand Jurist’s power to simplify the most complicated discussions and issues roots in his deep and scholarly approach to the different subjects in the Islamic Fiqh and Usul. The recorded audios and videos of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s courses of jurisprudence are solid proofs that can support this claim. On the whole, the Grand Jurist’s approach to the complex issues in Islamic Fiqh and Usul is founded on the most powerful and deepest scientific principles on the one hand, and on the other hand, his eminence is well capable of breaking down these complex issues into easy-to-understand topics.

• Accuracy and Precision

One of the great and well-respected scholars in the Iranian city of Yazd, clarified on the comprehensive scientific character of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, and the reason why the large number of followers of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi refer their religious questions to the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi: “The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is an embodiment of his late brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi in many aspects such as knowledge, diligence, piety, accuracy and precision.”

In this regard, the late Grand Ayatollah Fatemi Abhari also says: “Without a doubt, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is a well-qualified Islamic scholar and jurist who can lead the Shia Muslims perfectly.”

• Matchless Expertise in Hadiths and Narrations

One of the great scholars and famous speakers in Yazd, who have been for long in touch with the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi and his late brother in Kuwait and Iran, explained more about the matchless expertise of the Grand Jurist not only in Fiqh and Usul, but also in hadiths and narrations from the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household, peace be upon them.

“I have never met the Grand Jurist unless his eminence unfolded to me the hadiths and narrations that I had never heard of before.

It is while that I, as a religious speaker and scholar, have always been studying the large bulk of hadiths and narrations of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household.”

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NEXT SECTION

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, Vigilant of his Time

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying:

“A scholar who is vigilant of his time, won’t be swallowed by the seditions and miseries.”

One of the distinctive qualities of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is his updated and efficient awareness of the latest developments in the entire world, especially the Muslim world.

Vigilance, sharp observance and the brilliant decisions of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, in many cases, have destroyed the sinister and evil plots of the enemies of Islam, the holy Quran and the pure Household. In addition, the Grand Jurist, by means of his immediate and reliable account of the ongoing events in the world, has been able to guide many of the disbelieving, distrustful and misleading schools of thought to the path of the holy Household.

Absorbed in the divine light of knowledge, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi reminds the believers of the statements of Imam Rida, peace be upon him, who said:

“Beware of the faithful’s insight, because they look unto God’s light.”

As the hadith suggests, the God’s light has shined over the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, helping him in making brilliant and clever stances, well-founded on sensible strategies and plans, leading the Muslim nation through hard trials and tests.

• Jurist and Politician

It has rarely been witnessed that an Islamic Jurist masters such a whole and precise view of the ongoing political issues and the politics in general; however, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is not only vigilant of the latest political developments, but also he has put down several precious books on Islamic politics.

The Grand Jurist is well aware of the social and political situations in Africa, Europe, America, and the Muslims living in these continents. This updated and fresh knowledge of the world’s political situation has given the Grand Jurist a realistic and accurate assessment and evaluation of the future of the Muslim world and the Islamic countries.

• Global Concern

[Broadcast Satellite Providers, the Media and Global Foundations]

The Grand Jurist’s concern for introducing the culture and the teachings of the pure Household has been unwavering all along these years. In this regard, his eminence has said: “The followers of the pure Household must have their own broadcast satellite providers in order to introduce the pure Household of the Prophet of Islam and their teachings to the entire world and expand their preaching activities freely.

To have a satellite TV provider, there is only need for one of the dear brothers, with enough financial means of course, to step forward and pave the way for an exclusively Shia satellite provider; the number of these satellites can also increase by the efforts of the dear youth.

There should be a satellite TV provider in Iraq that covers the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, with all its magnificence, beauties and exceptions. People from remote areas of Iraq and even other countries rush to the sacred land of Karbala and pay tribute to Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. We should present these beauties to the entire world so that they all develop a fair understanding of the great character of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.”

The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has established and stationed numerous delegations and institutions in different continents in order to defend the rights of Shia Muslims and promote their living and spiritual standards. Shia Rights Watch, which is only one of the many human rights foundations established by the Grand jurist has dedicated all of its efforts to protect the rights of Shia Muslims on a global scale and deliver the universal call of the Grand Jurist in the international communities. These institutions and Islamic centers are also responsible to monitor the latest developments in the world and pursue the guidelines of the Grand Jurist.

• Political Stances of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The political stances of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, as a religious leader, are unique and exceptional. In the following, we will present series of political viewpoints and stances of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi regarding politics; these viewpoints were extracted from the lectures and the advices of his eminence to politicians and the governmental officials who were proposed to follow up the same path as the holy Prophet of Islam and Imam Ali, peace be upon them.

• Freedom in Islam in the Views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has stated: “Don’t be anyone’s slave, because God has created you free.”

Islam has defined a set of freedoms for all of its followers, the Muslims which are unprecedented in the entire history of mankind, including the recent age of freedoms in the western countries.

Islam has granted complete freedom, not only to the Muslims but also to the non-Muslims in all legitimate affairs unless they bring harm to other individuals.

• Freedom of Thought and Speech

Islam, as a set of beliefs, has given freedom of thought and speech to all individuals. Islam has never forced anyone to accept any specific religion and faith, even though it has provided security and welfare to them. The holy Quran expresses this reality in these words:

“There is no compulsion in religion.”

Chapter 2, Verse 256

The holy Prophet of Islam always upheld this slogan in all of the eighty four wars that were imposed on his holiness. The continuous victories of the Muslims never made the Prophet to force people into converting to Islam; instead, his holiness only let Islam come to people as a proposition. Everyone was free to accept or reject this proposition, without having to worry about its consequences.

• The Conquest of Mecca

The Conquest of Mecca is the best display of freedoms in Islam. The Meccan, for thirteen constant years, put the Muslims under pressure and oppressed them in every way they could. They slaughtered, disrespected, boycotted, and imprisoned the Muslims; they also planned to assassinate the holy Prophet of Islam, but the Almighty God revealed their ominous plans to His Messenger and the holy Prophet left Mecca at night, while Imam Ali, peace be upon him, had slept in his place.

The city of Mecca had turned into the center for anti-Islam movements for almost twenty years. This city waged tens of bloody wars against Islam, wherein hundreds of people were killed and wounded. However, when the holy Prophet of Islam entered this city as the victorious army, it was high time for the God’s promise to be fulfilled:

“God, Who has commanded you to follow the guidance of the Quran, will certainly return you victoriously to your place of birth.”

Chapter 28, Verse 85

In fact, this victory was the fulfillment of the God’s promise to the exiled and oppressed Muslims in holy Quran:

“If God wills You (believers) will enter the Sacred Mosque, in security,”

Chapter 48, Verse 27

The holy Prophet of Islam, along with the Muslims’ army, entered this city; but did the holy Prophet of Islam force any of the unbelievers to become Muslim or not?

The answer is no because the freedom of thought and belief is one of the rudimentary and basic principles of Islam.

The way the holy Prophet of Islam treated the people of Mecca stands out in the entire history of conquests, except for that of the God’s messengers and His favorite people.

In order to deepen the bonds of mercy and forgiveness, the holy Prophet of Islam even went beyond that. For instance, on the day of conquest, one of the Muslims had taken the banner of the Muslim army and shouted in the streets: “Today is the day of revenge and killing. Today is the day when women and girls are captivated.” When the holy Prophet was informed of these slogans, he commanded Imam Ali to take up the banner and declare the merciful message of Islam. Imam Ali, peace be upon him, picked the banner and declared: “Today is the day of forgiveness and mercy, today the girls and women are in protection.”

To be honest, we never come across a victorious army in the history who treats its staunchest enemy in such a merciful and forgiving way. This is the real Islam. This the Islam that brings prosperity to the entire humanity, even to those who don’t establish a belief in this holy religion. Islam brings happiness and goodness to all. This is the real Islamic freedom.

• The Conquest of Lands

After conquering a land, the holy Prophet of Islam always sent a judge, a governor, or a teacher of Quran to that area so that they spread the word of God to those people. The local people were given complete freedom to choose whether if they are willing to convert to Islam or otherwise.

• Nonbelievers in Mecca and Medina

The large number of Jews, Christians and the polytheists in holy Mecca and Medina, and the suburban villages of these two sacred cities are evident proofs of the tolerant Muslim community. During the tenure of the holy Prophet of Islam as the Islamic ruler, none of these groups were expelled or forced to convert to Islam.

• Quranic Verses

All of these freedoms were defined by the holy verses of the Quran. The holy Quran employed merciful, sympathetic and beautiful methods to lay out the principles for these freedoms. Here we read some of these verses of Quran:

“In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciul. There is no compulsion in religion. Certainly, right has become clearly distinct from wrong. Whoever rejects the devil and believes in God has firmly taken hold of a strong handle that never breaks. God is All-hearing and knowing.”

Chapter 2, Verse 256

“God is the Guardian of the believers and it is He who takes them out of darkness into light. The Devil is the guardian of those who deny the Truth and he leads them from light to darkness.”

Chapter 2, Verse 257

“There are those who follow the Messengers, the illiterate Prophet (not conventionally educated), whose description they find written in the Torah and the Gospel. [He (the Messengers) enjoins them to do good and forbids them to do all that is unlawful, makes lawful for them all that is pure and unlawful all that is filthy, removes their burdens and the entanglements in which they are involved].”

Chapter 7, Verse 9

“Have We not shown him the ways of good and evil?”

Chapter 90, Verse 10

“This is a reminder. Let those who want, seek guidance from their Lord.”

Chapter 76, Verse 29

“Say: I do not ask you aught in return except that he who will, may take the way to his Lord.”

Chapter 25, Verse 57

“We showed him the right path whether he would be grateful or ungrateful.”

Chapter 76, Verse 3

• Freedoms

Islam grants complete freedom to all people to do anything, at any forms, at any time and place. This holy verse of Quran supports this claim.

“The Prophet has more authority over the believers than themselves.”

Chapter 33, Verse 6

This holy verse of Quran indicates that all individuals have authority over themselves and what that belongs to them. The Islamic jurists deduced this principle from this holy verse of Quran.

In this regard, the holy Prophet of Islam is also quoted saying:

“Verily, the people have right over their belongings.”

Imam Ali is also quoted saying:

“Don’t be enslaved by anyone, because God has created you free.”

These verses of the holy Quran and the noble hadiths indicate that all humankind have full authority over their personal behaviors, within the charters of Islam. Everyone is free to use their wealth and belongings in any way they desire unless their freedoms cause personal harms such as suicide and squander, or social harms such as homicide, oppression, or the confiscation of properties by force.

In a nutshell, each individual is given full authority to perform any kind of action, engaging all powers and resources at their disposal, on the condition that they don’t bring harm to other people and don’t disregard the limitations set forth by Islam. Consequently, the Muslims are given complete freedoms in many different matters such as freedom in trade and business, freedom in selecting an occupation, freedom in traveling, freedom of thought and expression, and so on and so forth.

In Islam’s view, the businesspeople are free to do any business in any place they desire, without having to take permissions, pay customs, or receive certificates from the government. In fact, there are no political borders between the Islamic countries, which in this case, facilitates trades and business in the Islamic countries.

In Islam’s view, the people are free to travel to any destination and settle down in any city or country, without having to apply for a visa or residence permit. To be more precise, the people have every right to live and travel to anywhere they desire, without any restrictions or conditions.

In Islam’s view, anyone including the laborers and people with crafts and professions are free to choose their own occupations without having to pay the government for receiving a work permit. More exactly, within the laws of Islam, nothing can hinder people from choosing the jobs they desire.

In Islam’s view, the authors and writers are free to publish and express their thoughts without any censorship and restrictions, except for the contents that can harm the mental, moral, and the public health of the society.

• Islam’s Policy to Fight Crimes in the Views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Islam’s policy to fight crimes and law breakings still remains as the most successful policy in the entire history. This holy religion, with its progressive set of laws, promoted the public education and created a pure society where its people did not commit any crimes and delinquencies.

If we read about the vast Islamic government, since the birth of Islam until the next two centuries, we rarely come across any case of robbery or theft. It is while that even in our age, the US government, as the most powerful and civilized government on the face of the earth, desperately urges for international collaboration to fight the six million law breakers in almost a quarter of a century. To make a better understanding, we need to pay attention to two points:

For two hundred years, there rare cases of robbery recorded in the vast Islamic territories while in just a quarter of a century, the powerful US government struggles with more than six million thieves and law breakers.

Recent figures of the crime rates in the US, uncover a horrifying reality in our so-called civilized world; each year, there are seventeen thousand and two hundred and eighty murders taking place in the US. The number of sexual harassments and rapes in the US are also reported to be seventy seven thousand and seven hundred sixty cases. Lastly, the numbers for robbery, including bank robbery, shoplifting, and break-ins, stand on fifty one thousand and eight hundred and forty cases.

Practically, it means that with every hour that passes in the US, more than seventeen crimes occur in this country; to be more precise, more than two murders, nine sexual harassments, and six cases of robbery.

Other crimes, according to figures provided by the US security agencies, courts and police departments, outstrip millions of cases in each year.

• Scholars Don’t Know the Punishment of a Thief!

The following story is a noticeable account of the accomplishments of the Islamic government in fighting crimes and law breakings.

Mu’tasim, the Abbasid king, was hosting a large number of famous Islamic scholars and judges in his court. Among those famous scholars, the ninth Shia leader, Imam Jawad, peace be upon him, who was in his teenage years, was also present.  At then, a thief was brought to this assembly at presence of the king.

After the thief was found guilty of robbery, Mu’tasim turned to the group of scholars and asked about the punishment of theft in Islam.

All scholars, in a consensus, said that the thief’s hand should be cut off, because in holy Quran, the Almighty God says:

“As for the thief, both male and female, cut off their hand. It is the reward of their own deeds,”

Chapter 5, Verse 38

However, there was an argument among the scholars as to how much of the hand, should be cut off. Some of the scholars such as Abu Dawood, said: “The hand should be cut off from the wrist, because the Almighty God says:

“Then rub (perform tayammum) your face and your hands.”

Chapter 4, Verse 43

In this verse of the holy Quran, the term hand is used to address the palm of a hand.

A number of other scholars and judges said: “The thief’s hand should be cut off from the elbow, because God Almighty also uses the term hand, to describe the part of hand from elbow to the end.”

“wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbow,”

Chapter 5, Verse 6

Imam Jawad, peace be upon him, was silent and didn’t leave any comments. In fact, he didn’t agree with any of the scholars and judges in that assembly. The Abbasid king, who was watching the debate between the scholars, noticed that Imam Jawad was silent and that he didn’t agree with any of the verdicts. So, he turned his face towards the holy Imam and asked:

“What is your opinion?”

The Imam answered: “You heard what they said.”

But, Mu’tasim insisted and said: “You must have an opinion on this case. What is your opinion?”

Finally, Imam Jawad replied: “I need to say that the rule of God and the traditions of the Messenger indicate that we should have the four fingers of the thief cut off, and leave the palm unharmed.”

Mu’tasim asked: “What is the reason?”

The Imam replied: “It is because the holy Prophet of Islam have stated that the seven parts of the body should rest on the ground in prostration: the face, two hands, the knees, and the two big toes. Therefore, if you cut off the hand of the thief from the elbow or the palms, he won’t be able to rest his palms on the ground when prostrating to God.

The Almighty God, in holy Quran, states:

“All the parts of the body to be placed on the ground during prostration belong to God.”

It addresses the seven body parts in prostration.

“so do not call to anyone else, other than Allah.”

Chapter 72, Verse 18

Mu’tasim was amazed by this answer and ordered to only have the thief’s fingers cut off and leave his palms unharmed.

• Islam’s Policy to Establish Social Security in the Views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The holy Prophet of Islam is quoted saying:

“If someone dies and leaves some property, it belongs to the inheritors; but if someone dies and leaves debts, it belongs to me (I will have to pay it).”

In Islamic agendas for social security, the love for humanity is a top priority. The Islamic social security agendas are deeply entangled with human nature and the promotion of virtue, since Islam, this holy religion, looks unto this important matter taking all needs of humankind into consideration. The history can also testify that the pre and post Islamic civilizations have never achieved the successes of Islam in the promotion of social security and welfare.

Islam believes that the debts of the deceased are liable to the Islamic leader. To be more specific, the Islamic leader is responsible to pay off the debts of the deceased in an Islamic country. However, if anyone passes away and leaves an inheritance, the inheritors can hold on to the inheritance without having to make any payments to the government or the Islamic leader.

Now, the question is, are there any similar examples in the biggest civilization that ever existed in this world? Certainly, no.

• The Large Number of Scriptures on Social Security

There have been numerous pieces of hadiths and narrations on Islam’s view on social security and welfare, indicating the high significance of this subject in Islamic thought. Now, we will have a glimpse on some of the hadiths by the holy Prophet of Islam and the pure Household, peace be upon them.

• Prophetic Hadiths

In this subject, Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, the sixth Shia leader, quotes his grandfather, the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, in such words:

“I have authority over all believers, and after me, Ali inherits this authority.”

Then, Imam Sadiq was asked: “What does it mean?”

His holiness replied: it refers to a statement by the holy Prophet of Islam who said: “If one dies and leaves a debt or a poor family, I will take responsibility but if one dies and leaves a property, it belongs to the inheritors.”

After quoting this hadith from the holy Prophet of Islam, Imam Sadiq added: This statement was the only reason that motivated the majority of the Jews to become Muslim, because they were relieved of the future of their families after their death.

Jabir ibn Abdullah Ansari, may he rest in peace, has also narrated that the holy Prophet of Islam never performed the death prayers on a deceased person, who was in debt. One day, when the holy Prophet was asked to perform the death prayers on a body, his holiness asked: “Is this deceased person in debt?”

The family of the deceased answered: “Yes, but it’s only two coins.”

The Prophet told them that he won’t perform the prayers.

One of the attendees in the funeral, named Qatadah, said: “I will pay the debt of the deceased.”

Jabir narrates that upon saying that, the holy Prophet performed the prayers on that dead body. Later, the holy Prophet declared: “I have authority over the believers more than themselves; so if they leave behind a property, it belongs to the inheritors but if they leave behind a debt, I will take responsibility.”

Ali ibn Ibrahim has also narrated that the holy Prophet of Islam used to say:

“If someone, as a debtor, can’t pay off his debts to his creditors, they can go to the Islamic ruler for help. The Islamic ruler, also is responsible to make sure if the debtor is truly incapable of paying off the debt, and if so, the Islamic ruler should take responsibility and pay off the debt from the Muslims’ Public Treasury.”

• The Hadiths by Pure Household

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying: “Anyone who dies and leaves a debt, it would be our responsibility to pay his debt and take care of his family; but if one dies and leaves an inheritance, it would belong to the inheritors.”

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has also mentioned that the holy Prophet of Islam never left the pulpit, unless he said in public: “Anyone who dies and leaves a property, it belongs to the inheritors; but if one dies and leaves a debt and a family that needs to be taken care of, it is my responsibility.”

The two famous Shia scholars, Tusi and Kulayni, may they rest in peace, have also narrated that Imam Kazim, peace be upon him, said: “Everyone should try to provide for himself and his family by legitimate means, because it is like that he has sacrificed his life in the path of God. However, if he was not successful, he should borrow what he needs as ordered by the Almighty God and the Messenger. If this person passes away and can’t afford to pay his debts, the Imam (leader) should pay off his debts, and if he doesn’t, the sin is on him.”

These two famous scholars have also narrated that Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, said: “The Imam pays off the debts of the believers.”

Sheikh Tusi, may he rest in peace, also narrated this story from Imam Baqir, peace be upon him.

A man went to Imam Baqir and said: “Sire, I have a debt and whenever I think of it, it makes me feel upset. The Imam told him: “Why? Haven’t you heard that the holy Prophet of Islam, in one of his sermons, said: Anyone who dies and leaves nothing to his family, I will take responsibility for them; but if one dies and leaves an inheritance, it belongs to his family. Now, you should know the promises of the holy Prophet of Islam are in effect even after his death.

The man said: “Oh, my life be sacrificed for yours. It is a relief”

Ayyashi has also mentioned the story of a man, named Abul Hasan from the peninsula, who asked Imam Rida, peace be upon him:

“Your honor, the Almighty God states in holy Quran:

One who faces hardship in paying his debts must be given time until his financial condition improves.

Chapter 2, Verse 280

Could you please clarify on the concept of the term “time” in this holy verse? Is there any specific time that should be waited for the debtor to pay back his debts? What if the debtor had already spent the entire debt to feed his family, and that he had no farms nor had he had any capital so that he could sell them and pay off his debts.

The Imam answered the man: The debtor must be given enough time so that the Imam is made aware of his incapability to pay off the debt. Then, the Imam will pay for him from the share of the debtors.”

Sheikh Saduq, in the book of Ma’ani Al-Akhbar, reveals a document from Imam Rida, peace be upon him, where he narrated:

“The holy Prophet of Islam ascended to the pulpit and said: Anyone who dies and leaves a debt or a vulnerable family, I will take responsibility for them and they should come to me; but if one leaves behind a wealth or a capital, it would only belong to the inheritors. This is why that it is said the holy Prophet of Islam announced that he has authority over the believers even more than themselves. After the holy Prophet, his successor, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, practiced this method, bearing the same responsibility and authority of the holy Prophet of Islam.

Sheikh Mufid, in his book Amali, quotes Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said:

The holy Prophet of Islam went up to the pulpit, while his face looked brighter than usual. Then he looked at the crowd of people and said: Oh, the Muslims. My mission as the God’s messenger and the Day of Judgment are like these two fingers. Oh, people. Anyone who dies and leaves an inheritance to his family, it belongs to them but if one dies and leaves behind an orphaned family, they should come to me and I will provide for them.

It is also narrated that Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, stated: “If a debtor fails to pay off his debts, in case he hasn’t spent the money for a sinful or wasteful purpose, the creditor must give him enough time until God provides for the debtor so that he can pay off his debts. If there was a just leader and Imam, he is obliged to pay off the debts because the holy Prophet of Islam used to say: Anyone who dies and leaves an inheritance, it belongs to the inheritors; but if one dies and leaves behind a weak family or a debt, I will take responsibility. The promises of the holy Prophet are fulfilled by the just Imams even after his death.

This notion is an important clause in Islam’s plans for social security, depicting the depth of humanitarian values in this holy religion and progressive style for governance.

Unlike the real Islam, the developed and civilized countries levy taxes on the inheritance money; however, in return, if a person dies and leaves a debt, the governments take no responsibility for them. It is obvious that suchlike measures catalyze the process of division and disunion in any society, and they destroy the grounds for cooperation and assistance because there are no motives left for people to lend money to one another. In such a society, if the debtor fails to pay off his debts, particularly if he dies, who will take on the responsibility to pay off the debts?

In such systems and governments, the needy and poor will not be trusted to be given loans or credits.

Now, the question is: Is there social security plan, as sound and perfect as that of Islam in our civilized and developed world? The answer is clearly no.

• Islam’s Policy and International Relationships in the views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

“God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not fought against you about the religion,”

Chapter 60, Verse 8

To increase diplomatic stability and increase ties with other nations, even the non-Muslim ones, Islam has set one important principle. In fact, Islam supports establishing diplomatic and friendly relationships with the non-Muslim countries that have not incurred any damage to the Muslims. Likewise, Islam denounces any diplomatic ties with the countries that have hurt the Muslims. In this regard, the Almighty God says:

“God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not fought against you about the religion, or expelled you from your homes. God does not love the unjust people. He only forbids you to be friends with those who have fought against you about the religion, expelled you from your homes or supported others in expelling you. Whoever loves these people are unjust.”

Chapter 60, Verses 8 & 9

Henceforth, the Muslims were not allowed to befriend and establish ties with non-Muslim governments that have hurt the Muslims or have expelled them from their homes. Still, it remained legitimate for the Muslims to have diplomatic ties and befriend with the unbiased and impartial non-Muslim governments.

This holy verse of Quran denotes to the two clans of Banu Khuza’a and Banu Mudlej. These clans signed a treaty with the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, and promised that they would pick up an impartial role in the wars against the Muslims. To be more precise, they gave assurances that they would never fight the Muslims nor would they ever help a third party to fight with the Muslims. This treaty helped establish a status of peaceful coexistence among the Muslims and these two clans, giving enough space to the members of these different communities to help one another and exchange viewpoints. In a wider perspective, this treaty promoted the global bond between human beings, which was previously defined by Islam. In this regard, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, states:

“People are of two kinds, either your brothers in faith or your equals in humanity.”

The Muslims never cut ties with the peoples that have not fought or expelled them from their homes. However, if the Muslims are attacked by any nation or country, then, they will end their peaceful ties with the aggressors in order to defend themselves.

The behavior of the holy Prophet of Islam with the nonbelievers, including the polytheists, the Jews, and the Christians is the best example to follow for any Islamic government. The Almighty God has also stated:

“The Messenger of God is certainly a good example for those of you who have hope in God and in the Day of Judgment and who remember God very often.”

Chapter 33, Verse 21

Additionally, there are other Quranic verses about this subject. The following paragraphs will present a brief account of some of these holy verses, with interpretations from the book of Majma’ al-Bayan attached to them. Hopefully, these few verses can shed some light on the international relationships defined by the holy Quran.

• Islam Superior to Kinship

“Your relatives and children will never be of any benefit to you. On the Day of Judgment, God will separate you from them. He is All-aware of what you do. Abraham and those with him are the best examples for you to follow. They told the people, “We have nothing to do with you and with those whom you worship besides God. We have rejected you. Enmity and hatred will separate us forever unless you believe in One God.” Abraham told his father, “I shall ask forgiveness for you only, …”

Chapter 60, Verse 3 & 4

“Your relatives and children will never be of any benefit to you”: In the opening, this verse addresses the Muslims and tells them that their relatives and children should not make them betray the God’s messenger because they will not be of any help or benefit, if the Muslims commits sins for their sake. “On the Day of Judgment, God will separate you from them.” This part of the verse, unfolds the reality that the believers and obedient servants of God will reside in Paradise while the unbelieving sinners will be consumed by hellfire. On the Day of Judgment, the believers and nonbelievers will be separated and the believers will witness their nonbelieving relatives in fire.

Then, the Almighty God brings up the example of Abraham, peace be upon him, who renounced his friendship with the nonbelieving people. “Abraham and those with him are the best examples for you to follow.” This verse also introduces the God’s messenger, Prophet Abraham and his followers as good examples, because they renounced their friendships with the nonbelievers. “They told the people, We have nothing to do with you and with those whom you worship besides God.” In addition, Abraham and his followers renounced the false gods of the nonbelievers and declared that their friendship with them is over. “We have rejected you. Enmity and hatred will separate us forever,” However, the only condition that can amend these friendly ties, is that “unless you believe in One God.”

This verse continues: “except when Abraham told his father, I shall ask forgiveness for you,” This holy verse begins with God Almighty introducing Prophet Abraham as an example to be followed; however, at this point, the Almighty God says that the Muslims should not do as the holy Prophet Abraham did. He had promised his father that he would pray for his forgiveness. In fact, the Muslims were warned that the kinship should not stop them from performing their duties. In the end, when it became clear that Abraham’s father was also an enemy of God, this God’s messenger renounced him too.

• Abraham, an Example of Perseverance

“They are the best examples for those who have hope in God and the Day of Judgment. Whoever turn away should know that God is Self-sufficient and Praiseworthy. God will perhaps bring about love between you and those of the disbelievers with whom you were enemies. God is All-powerful, All-merciful, and All-forgiving. God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not fought against you about the religion or expelled you from your homes. God does not love the unjust people. He only forbids you to be friends with those who have fought against you about the religion, expelled you from your homes or supported others in expelling you. Whoever loves these people are unjust.”

Chapter 60, Verses 6-9

In these holy verses, the Merciful God once again introduces Abraham and his people as good example, saying: “They are the best examples,” The reason why Prophet Abraham has been mentioned as a good example twice is that each of these examples are independently discussed.

This time, God explains that Prophet Abraham and his people are good examples because of their strong hopes to their Lord; while they were previously introduced as examples for their enmity towards the pagans and nonbelievers.

The rest of the verse, “for those who have hope in God and the Day of Judgment” indicates the idea that this example is most fitting to people who fear God and the divine retribution. However, others believe that this part of the verse refers to people who look forward to God’s eternal rewards.

The next part of the verse, “Whoever turn away” means that people who have chosen not to follow the path of Abraham, or the rest of God’s messengers and the believers have in fact willfully spurned the benefits that could reach them. The next few words in the verse are a completion to this statement as Quran states: “God is Self-sufficient and Praiseworthy.” These two attributes of God also try to convey the message that the rejection of the nonbelievers cannot bring any harm or damage to the Almighty Lord.

“God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not fought against you about the religion or expelled you from your homes.” Quran also continues to say that the Muslims are allowed to behave justly and kindly to the nonbelievers who have signed and are committed to a peace treaty between them and the Muslims.

Furthermore, in this holy verse, the Almighty God instructs the Muslims to deal kindly and justly towards the peaceful parties because “God does not love the unjust people.”

Then, this verse adds:

“He only forbids you to be friends with those who have fought against you about the religion,” it means that God forbids the Muslims to befriend and deal kindly towards the peoples, such as the Meccan and other communities, who fought to abolish the religion or “expelled you from your homes or supported others in expelling you.” God does not allow the Muslims to make friends with the peoples with such records of enmity towards the Muslims and Islam. It was while that a fraction of the Muslims exposed the secrets of Muslims in their friendly relationships with these staunch enemies of Islam. Therefore, God closes this verse with this warning: “Whoever loves these people are unjust.”

• The Believing Immigrant Women

“Believers, when believing immigrant women come to you, test them. God knows best about their faith. If you know that they are believers, do not return them to the disbelievers. Such women are not lawful for them and disbelievers are not lawful for such women. Give the disbelievers whatever they have spent (on such women for their dowry). There is no offense for you to marry them if you agree to give them their dowry. Do not hold unto your disbelieving wives; you may get back what you have spent on them for their dowry and the disbelievers may also ask for what they have spent. This is the command of God by which He judges you. God is All-knowing and All-wise. If your wives go away from you to disbelievers who will not give you back the dowry which you spent on them, let the Muslims pay back such dowry from the property of the disbelievers which may come into their hands. Have fear of God in whom you believe.”

Chapter 60, Verses 10 and 11

The Almighty God, in holy Quran, explains the Islamic law about the believing immigrant women and their husbands, right after He announces the end of all friendly bonds and attachments between the Muslims and the aggressive nonbelievers.  “Believers, when believing immigrant women come to you, test them.” God orders the believers to test the faith of these women; still, God calls these women as believers since “God knows best about their faith.” The believers will only know about the surface of the faith of these women, while the Almighty Lord is all-aware of the faith in the heart of these immigrant women.

Quran continues: “If you know that they are believers, do not return them to the disbelievers. Such women are not lawful for them and disbelievers are not lawful for such women.” It indicates that the conversion of these immigrant women marks the end of their marriage to their nonbelieving husbands, despite it being against the wills of their husbands.

“Give the disbelievers whatever they have spent (on such women for their dowry).” And in the next part of the verse, Almighty God allows the Muslims to marry these women, by paying them for the dowry. “There is no offense for you to marry them if you agree to give them their dowry.” It again highlights the fact that the conversion of these women has officially annulled their previous marriage bonds.

“Do not hold unto your disbelieving wives; you may get back what you have spent on them for their dowry,” In this part of the verse, the Almighty God orders the Muslims not to continue living with their nonbelieving wives; if these women joined the nonbelievers, the Muslims can ask for the dowry they paid for those wives, just as the nonbelievers would have asked for the dowry they paid their wives who had converted to Islam.

“This is the command of God by which He judges you. God is All-knowing and All-wise.” It is only for the All-wise and All-knowing God to give commands because such commands are as much wise and righteous.

After the revelation of this holy verse, the Muslims followed these Quranic instructions and paid for the dowry of the believing immigrant women to their nonbelieving husbands; however, the nonbelievers were not satisfied.

Then, this verse was revealed: “If your wives go away from you to disbelievers who will not give you back the dowry which you spent on them, let the Muslims pay back such dowry from the property of the disbelievers which may come into their hands.” In this verse, God commanded the Muslims that if the nonbelievers refused to pay for the dowry of the women who left their Muslim husbands and went back to the nonbelievers, then the Muslims can pay Muslim men using the spoils they get from the battles.

The same method was in place for the women who left their Muslim husbands and joined the communities and tribes that had signed a treaty with the Muslim community. However, if these communities refused to pay for the dowry of these women, then, these Muslim men could receive their dowry from the spoils of war.

“Have fear of God in whom you believe.” In the end, God Almighty warns the believers to obey the God’s commands.

It is said that there were only six women, who left their Muslim husbands and went back to the nonbelievers.

1. Um Hakam, the daughter of Abu Sufyan and the wife of Ayaz ibn Shaddad Fahari
2. Fatima the daughter of Abi Umayyah ib Mughayrah, she was the wife of Umar bin Khattab and the sister of Um Salamah, the Prophet’s wife; upon the immigration of Umar, she didn’t leave with him and stayed with the nonbelievers.
3. Buru’ the daughter of Aqaba and the wife of Shammas ibn Othman
4. Amdah the daughter of Abdul Ezzi ibn Fazlah and the wife of Amr ibn Abduwad
5. Hind the daughter of Abu Jahl ibn Husham and the wife of Husham ibn Aas ibn Wael
6. Kulthum the daughter of Jarul and the wife of Umar

The holy Prophet of Islam paid the dowry of these women to their husbands from the spoils of war.

• Rejection of Colonialism

“Believers, do not establish friendship with the people who have become subject to the wrath of God. They do not have any hope in the life to come, just as the disbelievers have no hope in those who are in their graves.”

Chapter 60, Verse 13

Following the verses discussed in former pages, the Almighty God says: “Believers, do not establish friendship with the people (the Jews and Christians), who have become subject to the wrath of God.”

This holy verse refers to a group of poor Muslims who exposed the secrets of the Muslims to the Jews, made friends with them, and finally could benefit from their harvests. The Almighty God stopped the Muslims from establishing such relationships, telling them that the Jews have lost hope in the afterlife, just like the nonbelievers lost hope in the dead in graves. It was mainly because the Jews were fully aware that Prophet Muhammad is the last promised messenger of God; however, they rejected him out of pride. Therefore, they lost hope in the afterlife, because they knew that their rejection will bring them eternal retribution.

• Islam’s Policy on Population Growth, in the views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The holy Prophet of Islam stated: “tend to marriage and give birth so that your number grows; on the Day of Judgment, I will take pride in your large number, even if it’s the miscarried babies.”

Even today, the countries take pride in their large populations and it is just natural, because in countries with larger populations, there is more work force to push these countries forward. The number of industries and inventions will also increase and the military power of these countries will improve against their foreign threats.

A large population can also save a country from the threats of colonialism; usually, the small countries are easy targets for the colonialist powers, while the countries with large populations resist the colonialists in much greater force.

Now, we want to see into the stance of Islam in this matter:

At the time when the world was in a deep sleep, Islam foresaw the perks and outcomes of large populations and it set series of policies for turning the Muslim nation into a powerful and influential community. In the following, we will point out to some of these policies.

1. Islam always encourages the young boys and girls to get married, once they reach the age of religious maturity. The holy Prophet of Islam has also stated: “The worst dead people are the bachelors.”

The holy Prophet also said: “A two rakat prayers of a married person is worth more than seventy rakat prayers of the single ones.”

His holiness also said: “For a father, it is a blessing that her daughter doesn’t experience her period in his house.” It means that a father should marry her daughter off before she is on her first period.

1. Islam tries to remove all obstacles for marriage, by encouraging its adherents to simplify the marriage process and reduce their financial expectations. The noble hadiths state: “The best women are the ones with the most beautiful faces and the least Mahr (a mandatory payment, in the form of money or possessions paid or promised to pay by the groom).”

It is also advised that if a faithful person proposed to a girl, he should not be rejected for financial reasons, even though the suitor was not a well-to-do person.

The Almighty God also states:

“If they are poor, God will make them rich through His favor; He is Bountiful and All-knowing.”

Chapter 24, Verse 32

Even some scholars believe, it is religiously speaking, a forbidden act to reject a faithful suitor, only because he is poor. For instance, the great Shia scholar, Hilli, may he rest in peace, has said: It is obligatory to give a positive response to the faithful suitors, who can afford to pay for his family.

1. Islam has allowed the men to have as much as four wives, on the condition that they can behave justly with all of them. In holy Quran, it is said:

“marry another woman of your choice or two or three or four (who have no children). If you cannot maintain equality with more than one wife, marry only one”

Chapter 4. Verse 3

Issues such as infertility might encourage the men to have more than one wife. Islam has also granted the permission to the men, to have up to four wives, of course on the condition that they can deal with all their wives justly. Moreover, this permission, in its own way, has paved the way to the population growth.

It is believed that the Muslims enjoy three advantages that have turned them into a strong nation and a hard target for the colonialists. These three advantages are: a progressive ideology and culture, the bulk of minerals in Islamic countries, and the large populations of the Islamic countries.

It is needless to say that the practice of polygamy by the men in Islam is one of the most important elements in the large populations of the Islamic countries.

According to the history, a European country had planned to engage in a war; so, this country legalized the practice of polygamy for the men in order to speed up its population growth. This policy helped the country to strengthen its capabilities before the upcoming war. However, this country banned this practice after the war was over.

1. Islam has been supportive to any policy that has guaranteed the public health of its community. On the other hand, Islam has denounced anything that could endanger the health of its community. For instance, Islam encourages the Muslims to take shower every two days and on the other hand, it recommends the Muslims not to keep garbage and wastes during the night in their homes.

These four policies will guarantee the population growth in the Islamic countries. If the young boys and girls marry at their youth and the financial expectations in marriages reduce, meanwhile if the practice of polygamy for the men becomes legalized and the public health becomes a prime concern, in such conditions, we can witness a rapid population growth in the Islamic countries. However, it is so unfortunate to see that these policies are abandoned by the Muslims themselves.

• Islam’s Policy in Wars and Peace, in the views of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

“Believers, submit yourselves to the will of God as a whole.”

The religion of Islam invites all the believers to peace and reconciliation.

“Believers, submit yourselves to the will of God as a whole. Do not follow the footsteps of Satan; he is your sworn enemy.”

Chapter 2, Verse 208

“If they (the unbelievers) propose peace, accept it and trust in God. God is All-hearing and All-knowing.”

Chapter 8, Verse 61

Unfortunately, the beautiful slogans of peace and reconciliation are often heard from the majority; however, in critical times of war, the only thing that is heard are the deafening noises of bombs and bullets scraping through the hearts of innocents. It becomes even more pathetic and weird, when one witnesses that such false claimers boast their mastership in killing and destruction.

However, Islam treads in the peaceful path which is defined by its holy book, the Quran. All policies of Islam serve to the peaceful purposes described in holy Quran. The historical facts also testify that the newborn Islamic government, under the leadership of the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, fended off the confrontations of its enemies and the polytheists in the most peaceful ways. According to the historical evidences, the number of people killed in all of the wars against Islam did not go beyond 1400. This is while that all of these people were the victims of the wars which were triggered by the polytheists and infidels and the Muslims only acted in defense. However, in our today’s world, any military campaign or conflict at least leaves hundreds of thousands of innocent people killed.

The peaceful policies of Islam in wars has stopped this holy religion to start any wars and battles. This is why that all the battles during the life of the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, were defensive wars. In fact, Islam never allowed its adherents to start any war even against the infidels.

Moreover, Islam never authorized night attacks. In the battle of the Chains, the Muslims, under the leadership of Imam Ali, could grasp the element of surprise as they were ready to ambush the enemy at night. But Imam Ali, peace be upon him, did not allow his men to attack the enemy at night and waited until the sunrise.

“and produce sparks, while running during a raid at dawn,”

Chapter 100, Verses 1 & 2

In this holy verse of Quran, God Almighty has also referred to the Muslims’ attack at sunrise; since the Muslims moved their army to the enemy camps at night and arrived to their ambush in the next morning.

In the following, we will discuss a few more hadiths by the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household about the policies of Islam in wars. Hopefully, these hadiths will help everyone make a better understanding of the just, humanitarian and benevolent policies of Islam in wars. In opposition, wars and bloodshed, both in the distant memories of the history and in the contemporary ages and regardless of the parties involved in them, have been a resemblance of unrestrained violence and ferocity.

• Honoring the Pacts

In the famous book “Kafi”, Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying: “Whenever the God’s Messenger wanted to dispatch an army to a battle, he would have them all sitting before him and then told them:

In the name of God, with His assistance, in His path and for His messenger, march (to the enemy). Do not betray one another about the spoils. Do not mutilate the enemy. Do not break any pacts. Do not kill the elderly, the children and the women. Do not cut trees unless you have no other option. If any Muslim man, regardless of his rank or position, grants immunity to a polytheist, this person will be immune so that he can hear the words of God; if he followed your path, then, he is your brother in religion but if he rejected your path, he should be taken back to a safe place and you deplore the help of you Lord.”

Islam denounces immoralities and dishonesty in all aspects of life, especially in wartimes; and so, Islam’s policies in war do not comply with our today’s current policies that believe the end justifies the means.

• Military Instructions

In the book “Tuhaful Uqul”, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, wrote a letter to one of his marshals, Ziyad ibn Nazar, while he was sent to the battle of Siffin. Here is the letter written by Imam Ali:

“When you approach an enemy or when he approaches you, make it a point to keep your army on a hilltop or at the foot of a mountain or on the side of a river so that you easily watch the movements of your enemy. Do not involve the whole army in the encounter, allow only a few units to take part in the engagements. If your army is not on a hilltop then post your scouts and guards on high vantage points and along the line of fortification so that the enemy may not take you unawares. Remember that the commanders of an army are its guardians and the eyes of these commanders are the scouts. Try to avoid dissensions and do not cause superiority or inferiority complexes to take root among your officers and in your ranks. Wherever and whenever you camp, make it a point that all of your officers and soldiers camp in the same locality and are provided with the same comforts and conveniences and whenever you march, always march in company formation. If you want to rest during the night draw a circular formation of your lancers round your army and do not let sound sleep overpower you. You must be the guardian of your army, so you must take no more than a nap. Keep acting like this until you face your enemy ranks. Be patient and don’t make haste, unless you find a good opportunity. Don’t ever fight the enemy unless you are attacked by the enemy first or that you receive a letter from me. Peace and God’s mercy be upon you.”

Islam is a path which is set by the Almighty God for His servants; therefore, this holy religion encompasses all aspects of human’s life.

In the aforementioned letter, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, gives series of valuable military instructions to one of his marshals and at the same time, orders him not to be the starter of the war.

However, the only reason the two armies had ranked against each other was a fierce war. So why should any of the armies wait for the other one to start the war?

Mu’awiyah revolted against Imam Ali, who was the legal and legitimate successor of the holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him. In fact, he had revolted against the holy Prophet of Islam and the Almighty God. The holy Quran also says:

“If two parties among the believers start to fight against each other, restore peace among them. If one party rebels against the other, fight against the rebellious one until he surrenders to the command of God.”

Chapter 49, Verse 9

Even in the most intense and fierce moments of wars, Islam, this holy religion does not allow the morals and virtues to be ignored. This was only a glance over the policy of Islam in military action.

• No Toxics

The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali has said: “The holy Prophet never allowed Muslims to poison the infidels and the enemy.”

Fourteen centuries ago, the holy Prophet of Islam banned the use of toxics in any battles and conflicts. This ban was also put into practice by the holy Prophet of Islam and his true successors.

However, in our today’s world, although the international charters ban the use of toxic weapons in wars, we still see the large number of innocent people who fall victim to these prohibited weapons.

In fact, Islam’s perfect policies of war and its adherence to these laws has made this holy religion stand out among all other civilizations in the entire history.

• No to the Killing of Women

According to some narrations, Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, was asked: Why the infidel women are exempted from paying taxes to the Islamic government? Imam Sadiq replied: The holy Prophet of Islam ordered that the children and women should not be killed in a war, unless they fight against the Muslims. Even in that case, the Prophet ordered the Muslims not to kill the women, so long as they don’t pose any serious threats to the Muslims. So, when the holy Prophet doesn’t allow the Muslims to kill the women in enemy territories, he surely wouldn’t allow that infidel women to be killed in Islamic territories. Now, if the infidel women refrain from paying taxes, they cannot be assaulted or killed, therefore they are exempted from paying taxes to the Islamic government. However, if the infidel men refrain from paying taxes to the Islamic government, they have in fact broken their pact; so, they deserve to feel the full force of the law and be killed, as it is permissive to kill the hostile infidel men, in the non-Islamic territories.

All the disabled and poor infidels, as well as the women and children are also exempted from paying the Islamic taxes, since they all are given immunity in wars and battles.

Islam’s exceptional respect to the women stands out among all other definitions of women’s role in other faiths, religions and civilizations; because unlike the dominant definition of the women in our today’s world, Islam does not look at the women as a tool in the hands of the voluptuous or the sex industry.

• Any Muslim Individual Can Grant Immunity to the Nonbelievers

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, was asked: What did the holy Prophet of Islam mean by saying “their lowest people grant immunity and protection?”

Imam Sadiq answered: When an army of the Muslims surrounds the hostile infidels, if any Muslim individual grants immunity to any infidel person to go and meet the Muslims’ leader and talk to him, then the entire army of the Muslims should respect this pact.

Any Muslim individual, even from the lowest ranks, has so much authority to grant immunity and set up a meeting between a nonbeliever and the Muslims’ leader, while all other Muslims, regardless of their ranks and positions, are obliged to respect the immunity unless there is proof that this is a conspiracy, which poses a serious threat to the Muslims.

With this simple example, one can appreciate that Islam has given the highest value to each and every member of its community ever witnessed in any other faith, community or civilization.

What’s more, the Islamic jurists and scholars believe that even if a Muslim slave, man or woman, grants immunity to a nonbeliever, this pact of immunity should be honored because every Muslim individual is revered due to their faith as “Islam is above everything and nothing is above Islam.”

Muhaqqiq al-Hilli, the great Shia scholar, in his book “Sharia of Islam” states: in this case, there is no difference between the free Muslims or the Muslim slaves.

The author of “Jawahir Al-Kalam”, Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Najafi, has also stated: As endorsed by the great scholar, Allamah Hilli in his book “Al-Muntaha”, in this case (which was whether if the women can grant immunity to the nonbelievers), there is a unilateral agreement among all scholars.

There is also a unanimity among the scholars on this issue, with regards to the Muslim slaves, since the holy Prophet of Islam said: “their lowest people can grant immunity and protection.”

Many successive reports have pinpointed the right of every Muslim individual, regardless of their ranks and gender, to grant immunity to the nonbelievers. Here, we glance over some of these reports.

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying: Imam Ali, peace be upon him, honored the pace of immunity given by a Muslim slave to a nonbeliever and then, his holiness said: “He is the slave believer who gives shelter and immunity.”

This statement by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, might be an indication to this hadith by the holy Prophet of Islam, who said: “The blood of the believers is equal and their words for immunity should be honored.”

In this case, Imam Ali honored the pact of immunity granted by a Muslim slave, and justified his action by reminding the people of the fact that the slave is a believer and he has every right as others to give immunity to the nonbelievers.

In another narration, Muhammad ibn Hakam quoted Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, who said: (Consider) the Muslims lay siege to a city and the people of the city ask for immunity; now if the Muslims reject this request but the people of the city assume that the Muslims have given them immunity and leave the city, under these circumstances, the people of the city must be given immunity and should not be harmed.

The book “Jawahir Al-Kalam” makes reference to the book “Al-Muntaha” written by the great Shia scholar, Allamah Hilli, as follows:

Um Hani told the holy Prophet of Islam: “Oh the God’s messenger. I have given shelter to my relatives but my brother wants to have them killed.”

The holy Prophet said: The people whom you have given shelter, are safe with you. Any Muslim individual can give immunity to the nonbelievers.

In the book “Jawahir”, it is mentioned that Zaynab, the daughter of the holy Prophet of Islam gave shelter and immunity to Aas ibn Rabi, and the holy Prophet honored her daughter’s words.

• All Believers are Equal

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, quoted his father who said: I read it in the book of Ali, peace be upon him, that said: the holy Prophet of Islam inscribed an accord among the immigrants, the Ansar and the people of Medina who had joined them. This accord reads:

Warriors should join in the battles in turns and based on the principle of equality among the believers. The people under protection shall be treated on the same grounds as their protectors unless they harm others, commit sins, or violate the treaty. The people under protection are respected as the parents of the protector. In all wars for the sake of God, no believer should make peace with the enemy without the knowledge of other believers, unless that they preserve justice and equality.

As it has been witnessed in different lines of the Islamic history, the holy Prophet of Islam strongly emphasizes on equality and justice among all groups of the believers, either the slaves or the free people, the elderly or the youth, and the commanders or the foot soldiers, and in wartime or else.

• The Muslims’ Blood is Equal

In an account, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, narrated that the holy Prophet of Islam made a speech at the mosque of Khaif. In this speech, the holy Prophet said: May God have mercy on the people who hear my words, keep them in their minds and let others know about them as knowledge can reach the knowledgeable even through untaught people. The heart of a Muslim should not betray three things: first it is the purity of intention out of selfless love for God; second, it is honesty, good will and true guidance especially to the Islamic leaders; and finally, it is loyalty to the community and nation.

The Muslims are as brothers, their blood is equal, and all of them, even the ones with lowest ranks, have authority to give protection to the unbelievers. Therefore, if any of the Muslims grants immunity to the nonbelievers and polytheists, their words should be honored.

In this regard, Talha ibn Zaid narrates: I met with Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, and told him that there are two groups of hostile infidels and each of these groups has their own leaders. These two groups fought each other for very long, but finally they made peace. Still, one of those groups violated the peace treaty and signed a pact with the Muslims to help them fight the other infidel party.

Imam Sadiq replied: It is not appropriate for the Muslims to betray, give consent to betrayal or unite with the betrayers. They shall fight the enemy infidels at sight and they have no regards for the treaties among the infidels.

Islam does not differentiate between the lives of the illiterate or the educated, black or white, young or old, wealthy or poor, commander or a foot soldier; honestly, this is one of the exclusive characteristics of Islam which has had no precedent on the face of the earth.

• Fighting Corruption

In response to the questions of Muhammad ibn Sanan, Imam Rida, peace be upon him, wrote these lines:

“The Almighty God has made it forbidden for the Muslims to run from a war against unbelievers. It is a disrespect to the religion and a defiance to the God’s messengers and the just leaders and moreover, it is an infidelity to turn your back on the Muslims in the battlefields. It is the denial of what Muslims are invited to, which are the belief in the one God, the practice of justice, and the fight against oppression and corruption. It also emboldens the enemy to attack and enslave and slaughter the Muslims, and destroy the religion of God.”

Islam is the religion of purity and honesty and it is obvious that corruption and honesty can never coexist. Therefore, any corruption and dishonesty is strongly forbidden by Islam. It is forbidden for the Muslim warriors to run away from a battle because it edges the religion to destruction, and endangers the lives of the divine leaders of the Muslim community (the holy Prophet of Islam and the infallibles).

• Advice of the Islamic Leaders

The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, used to make several recommendations to the Muslims, when he assembled them in wartimes. Here are these recommendations:

First, beware of your prayers and uphold it. Pray much and seek nearness to God because prayers are given to the believers on specific occasions. The nonbelievers learned these things and thus they will be asked:

“What led you into hell? They will reply, we did not pray,”

Chapter 74, Verses 42 & 43

The people who upheld prayers in the middle of the nights, they know the real value of prayers. They are the believers whose children and wealth and the ornaments of this world cannot stop them from praying their Lord. The Almighty God states:

“A people, who can neither be diverted by merchandise nor sale from worshipping God, saying their prayers”

Chapter 24, Verse 37

Even though the Almighty God had promised paradise to His messenger, still Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, endeavored hard and said his prayers. It is because the Almighty God told him:

“Instruct your family to pray and be steadfast in your worship.”

Chapter 20, Verse 132

Therefore, the holy Prophet instructed his family to perform prayers and he kept being steadfast in his Lord’s worship.

Second, beware that Zakat tax, alongside prayers, is an obligation that brings the Muslims together. If anyone doesn’t pay the taxes willingly, and still expects to receive something in return, such a person is unaware of the traditions of the Prophet of God and has wasted his lifetime. He has disobeyed the very commands of God that purifies the souls of God’s favorite servants and he will be regretful for a long time.

The Almighty God states:

“Whoever gives the Messenger a hard time, even after having received clear guidance, and follows a path other than that of the believers, will be left alone.”

Chapter 4, Verse 115

Third, accomplish all your oaths. Anyone who fails to honor his words or what is trusted with them is at loss. The skies, the big earth, and the high mountains, they all were trusted with an oath and they remained loyal. They didn’t break their oaths because they were afraid of its punishments.

Fourth, know that jihad is the best of acts after embracing Islam. Defending against the unbelievers is the reason for the strength of the religion and there are many rewards for it. It brings dignity and security, and it makes the rewards multifold. It is a passage to paradise, and the martyrs would receive sustenance from their Lord.

“Do not think of those slain for the cause of God as dead.”

Chapter 3, Verse 169

Lastly, fend off any fears that stop you from fighting the people who should be fought because such a fear in fighting ignorance and corruption leads you away from the religion and makes you live your life in humiliation and disgrace. Running from the enemies instigates a fire as the holy Quran states:

“Believers, when you encounter unbelievers on the march do not turn your backs to them in fight.”

Chapter 8, Verse 15

Thus, uphold the commands of the Lord in these affairs, as it brings you the salvation and redemption in this world and the next. The Almighty God has no fears of what His servants do all days and nights, as God is all-knowing and all-wise. All the acts of the humankind are recorded “with my Lord in the Book. My Lord is free from error and forgetfulness.” Chapter 20, Verse 15

All deeds of humankind, good or bad, are recorded and won’t be forgotten; therefore, uphold the commands of your Lord, preserve patience, move for victory, prepare for the battle and fear only the Almighty God, because:

“God is certainly with the God-fearing and the righteous ones.”

Chapter 16, Verse 52

Each and every one of these recommendations by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is a sparkling light that points to a world enshrined with knowledge, art, beauty and humanity. These are all an extract of the holy religion of Islam, and the Muslims’ leader, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is the best person to illuminate on Islam and its far-reaching concepts. Therefore, it is crucial that Muslims give their hearts to these recommendations and put them in practice when they face a hostile army.

• Military Deployment and Trainings

With regards to the military tactics and the deployment of the troops, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has made the following remarks:

“Leave the on-foot lancers of your army in the first line so that they shoot arrows to the enemy until the two armies engage. Then, have your chosen cavalry keep the banner; if any of the enemy soldiers approached you, you shouldn’t move from your spot. Anyone who saw an opportunity to hit the enemy shouldn’t waste it, and after they were done, they should come back and take their position.

When you wanted to start an attack, you must firstly have your men at the front to engage. If they were defeated, then send in your special forces to their aide. If they were too defeated, the chosen cavalry should march into the battle and the lancers must keep shooting arrows and provide them with back up. In the meantime, station your scouts and watch men in the bushes, to avoid being ambushed. If the enemy raided you, point your spears to them, remain strong and point your lancers to them. Raise your banners and make noise by your shields; send in your men with armors and shields to face the enemy and if they were close to defeat, attack the enemy one by one; don’t move your entire army to the enemy while you’re still under attack by them. If the enemy soldiers didn’t attack you, call them to one-on-one battle and keep your lines and positions. If your defeat was imminent, march to the enemy with full force and don’t let your troops be neither dispersed nor condensed and when you retreated, come back in one whole.”

At the time, when the wars were a depiction of chaos and turmoil, the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam gave such detailed guidelines and plans to the Muslims in all different affairs, including wars and confrontations.

• Mental and Military Readiness

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is also quoted saying:

“If the enemy approached you, line up at the entrances of the trench and keep your lines firm. Hold your swords and don’t look at the enemy in the eyes, don’t let their large number haunt you. Fix your looks at your positions and if you were attacked, kneel and shelter in your shields and hold up your impenetrable lines. If the enemies turned their back, hit them with your swords and if they resisted, you should also keep up your lines. If the enemy was defeated, saddle your horses and put your trust in the Almighty Lord, and chase them away. But if you were defeated, call out to each other and speak the name of God and remember the fate of the people who run from the enemy. If you saw members of your army running away, don’t blame them and gather the banners in one place and have them heisted. Have your cavalry to take back the dispersed members of the army to the camps. When they were taken to the camps and the reinforcements and the runners joined you, send them to their commanders, order their lines and deplore the God’s help, and remain patient.”

The mental and military readiness are the key to winning a battle. This point has been repeatedly emphasized by Islam in different contexts such as the letter by Imam Ali, peace be upon him, who ordered his marshals and commanders to have their armies prepared both mentally and militarily.

• No Revenge in Wars

Hafs ibn Ghiyath narrates that he asked this question from Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him: A hostile enemy converts to Islam while he was living in a hostile territory. Later on, the Muslims conquered the enemies and their lands. How should the new convert be treated?

Imam Sadiq replied: His faith in Islam should give him and his underage children immunity and forgiveness. His children, his slaves and his possessions should not be taken as spoil; but his mature sons, will be captivated unless they have also converted to Islam before their defeat. The lands and the houses, however, are spoils of war because their territory is that of the hostile enemies and it can’t be treated like the Muslims’ lands. These lands can either be annexed to the Islamic territories or otherwise.

Islam proffers justice and truth, and it annuls any urge for vengeance or revenge. Therefore, if a hostile polytheist and a nonbeliever converts to Islam, he and his underage children should not be treated as captives.

The holy Quran also confirms this humanitarian approach and says:

“Do not accuse anyone who claims himself to be a Muslim of disbelief,”

Chapter 4, Verse 94

• Equal Share

It is narrated that Imam Ali, peace be upon him, asked for three of his assistants, Ammar ibn Yassir, Abdullah ibn Abi Rafi, and Abul Heitham ibn Tihan, and ordered them to distribute the surplus of the Public Treasury among the Muslims. Imam Ali told these people:

“Be just and don’t favor anyone over others.”

Those three people calculated the surplus in the Treasury and concluded that each Muslim individual should receive as much as three dinars; so they gave out three dinars to each Muslim individual. Among other Muslims, two famous figures, Talha and Zubayr, along with their sons, went to the Treasury and asked for their share. They each were treated like the rest of the Muslims, and received three dinars.

Talha and Zubayr, in grim voice said:

“Umar didn’t treat us like this. Who told you to distribute the Treasury in this way, is it just you or your boss?”

They answered:

“We have been ordered by the commander of the faithful (Imam Ali).”

Those two famous Muslims went to Imam Ali, peace be upon him, and found him standing by his worker, under the sun shine. They asked Imam Ali to talk to them in the shade.

Talha and Zubayr said:

“We went to your assistants in the Treasury to receive our share, but they treated us like the normal Muslims.”

The Imam asked: “So, what do you want?”

They said: “But Umar didn’t treat us like this.”

Imam Ali replied: “How about the God’s Messenger?” They both fell silent.

Then, Imam Ali continued: “Didn’t the God’s Messenger distribute the Treasury equally among all Muslims?”

They said yes.

The Imam said: “Now, you tell me. Which method is better to follow, the method of the God’s Messenger or that of Umar?”

They said: “Of course, it is the method of the God’s Messenger, but we are among the first Muslims, we suffered a lot for Islam, and we share the same blood with the God’s Messenger. Please don’t treat us like we are typical Muslims.”

Then, the Imam asked them: “Who believed in Islam first, you or me?”

They said: “You did.”

The Imam asked: “Who is closest to the God’s Messenger by blood, you or me?”

They replied: “You are.”

Finally, Imam Ali asked them: “Who did suffer more for Islam, you or me?”

They said: “Oh, the commander of the faithful, you have by far suffered more for Islam.”

Then, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, pointed to his worker and said: “I swear to God that this person and I take an equal share from the Treasury.”

In a lower degree to the holy Prophet of Islam, Imam Ali is the second greatest character of the entire history of humankind.

A western philosopher who converted to Islam, explains the reason for his conversion in the following lines:

“The reason I believed in Islam was that I saw, Ali the son of Abu Talib is a Muslim. If Islam was not the right path, then I am sure that a genius like Ali would have never chosen it. So, Ali showed me the way and I was made sure that Islam is the rightful path.”

• Islam is Above All

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, narrates this story from his father, who also heard this story from his father and so. This story points to an order by the holy Prophet of Islam, when his holiness had surrounded the enemy in the town of Ta’if.

While the enemy were besieged, the holy Prophet of Islam announced: “if a slave comes to us before his master, he or she will be free; but if the master comes to us before his slave does, the slave won’t be free.”

Technically, there is no distinction between the nonbelieving slaves or free men; however, if the slave becomes a Muslim before his master does, then he won’t be a slave anymore because “God will not grant the unbelievers any way over the believers.”

Chapter 4, Verse 141

Moreover, it should be noticed that “Islam is above everything and nothing is above Islam.”

This is why that if a master becomes a Muslim before his slave does so, he will still have authority over his slave.

• Respect for the Messengers

Imam Ali, peace be upon him, is quoted saying: “When you arrest an enemy soldier, who claimed to be carrying a message from his commanders, you don’t have the right to stop him. He shall deliver his message and leave unless you find proofs that his claims are untrue.”

Islam honors the laws of war, and pays respect to the messengers of the polytheists. Islam treated these messengers with respect and honor, and didn’t stop them from delivering their messages.

Islam, as a comprehensive religion honors all humanitarian pacts. In fact, Islam makes efforts to promote humane values in all aspects of life, even in the most brutal moments of war and bloodshed. In the meantime, Islam is not negligent of the plots and conspiracies of the polytheists and their noncompliance to the humanitarian values and tenets. Therefore, Imam Ali emphasized that in case, an enemy soldier claimed to be a messenger, his claims should be investigated.

• The Slogans of Islam

Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, is quoted saying:

Our slogan is “Oh Muhammad, Oh Muhammad.” In the battle of Badr, our slogan was “Come Close, Come Close the Victory of God.” In the battle of Uhud, the Muslims’ slogan was “Come Close the Victory of God.” In the battle of Bani Nazir, the slogan was “Oh, Gabriel, Come (and make us relieved)” In the battle of Banu Qaynuqa, the slogan of the Muslims was “Oh the Lord, Nothing Defeats You.”  In the battle of Ta’eif, the slogan was “Oh Paradise”; in the battle of Hunain, the slogan was “Oh sons of the God’s servants, Oh sons of the God’s servants”; in the battle of the Trench, the slogan was “Enemies won’t Win”; in the battle of Banu Qurayzah, the slogan was “Oh the peaceful God, make them submit”; in the battle of Banu Mustaliq, the slogan was “The Command is that of God”; on the day of Hudaibiyyah, it was “May God curse the oppressors”, in the battle of Khaibar, the slogan was “Oh, Ali bring them down”; on the Conquest of Mecca, the slogan was “We are truly the servants of God,”; in the battle of Tabuk, the Muslims’ slogan was “Oh the one and oh the needless”; in the battle of Banul Maluh, the slogan was “Oh, Victory kill”; in the battle of Siffin, the slogan was “Oh the God’s victory”; Imam Husayn’s slogan was “Oh Muhammad” and this is our slogan too.

It is narrated that Imam Ali, peace be upon him, said:

“The messenger of God ordered the Muslims to chant their slogans before the war and he said: mention the name of God in all of your slogans.”

Slogans are an essential and indispensable part of any society that wants to lead its next generations towards the summits of prosperity and virtue. A slogan is a manifestation of the pains and the ideals of the nations, which passes down from one generation to the next. The slogans throw light on the path and the fate of nations, giving them enough weight and insight to make their stances on internal and foreign matters. Therefore, Islam includes the name of God is its slogans in order to beseech to the Almighty and Merciful Lord.

• Respecting the Elders

It is narrated that when the Persian captives were brought to the holy city of Medina, Umar ibn Khattab ordered the women to be sold and the men to be taken to work.

The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, objected: Have you not heard the God’s messenger, who used to say the elders of any nation should be respected?

Umar nodded and said: Yes, I have heard the God’s messenger said: When the elders and chiefs of a people came to you, show them respect even if they have different beliefs.

Then, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, continued: These people have shown their interest in Islam in front of you; now, I take God and you as my witness and I free these captives on my behalf.

Other Muslims also repeated the words of Imam Ali and said: We also relinquish all our rights on the captives and leave it to you, Oh the brother of the Prophet.

Then, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, said: Oh, Lord. I testify that I was given the right over these captives by all the Muslims, and I take You as my witness that I free all of them for Your sake.

However, Umar strongly objected and said: How dare you ignore my command for these captives? How dare you disagree with me?

Once again, Imam Ali reminded Umar of the words of the holy Prophet of Islam.

Umar, who knew he can’t do anything else, also declared: I also relinquish my own rights and the rights or others over these captives and leave it to Ali for the sake of God.

Then, Imam Ali asked everyone there to testify that he has set free all of these captives for the sake of God Almighty.

A few people from the Quraysh expressed their willingness to marry the Persian women, but Imam Ali told them: You can’t force them to marry you, and they should be given a choice whether to accept or reject.

• Islam, the Religion of Mercy

In many successive narrations, it has been stated that “Is religion anything except for loving for God and hating for God?” These standards and moral traits were the distinct qualities of Islam that enabled this holy religion to overwhelm the entire world both politically and intellectually.

The historians believe: The spread of Islam and its growth happened in such a rapid pace which is unique in the entire history.

However, the main cause for today’s poor conditions of the Muslims, and reason for them lagging behind is their inability to express and practice the Islamic mercy and love in their societies. In the meantime, several groups of the non-Muslims have also tried to introduce Islam as a violent, strict and merciless code of laws so that they can unite the world against the Muslims and put them under pressure.

It is very well-said that Islam is a precious gem, which is veiled by the Muslims themselves.

If the Muslims represent the God’s Messenger and his pure Household as they really are, there is no doubt that floods of people will rush to Islam. The majority of have no ill intentions towards the truth and reality, but they are being kept in the dark about Islam. Therefore, if this majority of the people learn about the truth, they will surely embrace it with open arms.

This was only a piece of the words and instruction of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household, who have left us many invaluable guidelines on the different aspects of war and military action. All the contents, regarding the Islamic codes of war in this writing, are referenced to the two precious books of “Wasaeil Al-Shia” and “Mustadrakul Wasaeil.” It is noteworthy that these two books alone, present numerous hadiths by the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household on many more topics which need to be compiled and published.

• Scholars and Politics, in the views of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, states: “The enforcement of the rule of law is in the hands of the scholars, as they are trusted by God with what is forbidden and what is not.”

In the preceding centuries, the scholars have treaded the path to the reformation of the Muslim community, which is the same path of the God’s Messenger and his pure Household, peace be upon them. This is why that the scholars never alienated themselves from the matters of governance and the politics.

The scholars are given the responsibility to keep watch on the rulers and kings and admonish them when they make a mistake or act against the public good. In addition to that, the scholars should stand up in the face of corrupt and oppressive rulers who insist on their mischievous and treacherous acts despite being admonished and advised. Therefore, it was customary that whenever a ruler was derailed from the path of righteousness, the scholars told them about their mistakes and if it didn’t work out, these scholars stopped sanctioning the rulers and tried to stop them.

In this regard, the history can show us the large number of scholars who were either expelled from their homes, imprisoned, tortured, or brutally executed and burned alive. Many scholars were lynched, murdered, and skinned off by the very oppressive rulers who saw these scholars as a threat to their thrones and illegitimate agendas.

In the long history of Islam, the Muslim scholars always risked their lives to invite the rulers to justice and do good and keep away from doing evil and their lusts. The great Shia scholar, Allamah Amini, in his book named “Shuhada Al-Fazilah”, mentions the name of many of scholars who faced martyrdom for their bravery and perseverance in protecting the religion of Islam against the corrupt and oppressive rulers since the fourth century AH until now.

The following lines are dedicated to some of the great names in the history of Shia Islamic scholars who rose against the anti-Islam policies and fought corruption and dishonesty with their lives. It also should be noticed that all the sacrifices by the Shia scholars tell us that the politics is one of the principles of the religion of Islam.

• The Fights of Great Islamic Scholars
• Sayyid Muhammad Mujahid: He left Iraq and traveled to Iran so that he could stop the invasions of Russia, which had plans to annihilate the religion of Islam and colonize the Islamic countries.
• Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi: Also known as the Great Reviver, Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi cleverly undid the efforts of the British colonialists who wanted to colonize the Islamic Iran, under the pretext of Tobacco concession. After the famous verdict by this great scholar, the British colonialism suffered a big blow and eventually had to retreat from Iran.
• Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Shirazi: This great man commanded the people of Iraq to rise against the British colonialists, who wanted to overrun Iraq. Following the order of this great scholar, the people of Iraq ranked against the British invaders and left a glorious mark in the history, known as the revolution of 1920.
• Awhile after the 1920 revolution, the prominent scholars in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf rose against the illegitimate parliament of Iraq which was in fact a puppet controlled by the British. This move created a national outcry against the Iraqi parliament and resulted in the exile of many great scholars such as Sayyid Abul Hasan Isfahani, Mirza Husayn Na’ini, Sayyid Mirza Ali Shahrestani, and Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Ali Tabatabaei.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Qomi: This great scholar established a strong resistance against the British colonialists and their puppet, the first Pahlavi, Reza Shah, who had undermined all Islamic values and was trying to have them replaced with corrupt ideologies and apostasy. This scholar was later banished to Iraq by the Shah of Iran. However, after the second Pahlavi ascended to the throne, Sayyid Husayn Qomi returned to Iran and convinced the new Shah to stop the anti-Islamic policies of his father. After this great accomplishment, this great scholar returned to Iraq.
• The religious scholar, Sayyid Abdul Husayn Sharaf Al-Din: This great scholar stood up against the French colonialism in Lebanon and issued a fatwa against them. The resistance of this scholar resulted in his exile to Egypt where he survived attempts of his murder. Unfortunately, the house and the big library of this great scholar was set on fire and the world of Islam was denied from the bulk of precious books in this library.
• Sayyid Husayn Borujerdi: He lived at the time of the first Pahlavi and endangered his life to resist against the brutal Shah of Iran.
• In the reign of Abdul Karim Qasim in Iraq, communism, apostasy, and blasphemy had shadowed the entire Iraq. Therefore, many great Shia scholars of the time rose against these anti-Islamic policies. Many of these scholars were martyred, imprisoned or exiled.
• The religious scholars in Iran staged a strong resistance against the two Pahlavi Shahs of Iran and finally, they ended their reign in this country.
• The religious scholars in Iraq fought against the communist policies and destroyed their foundations and intimidating strategies in Iraq.
• Directives by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi regarding Politics

The holy Prophet of Islam, peace be upon him, stated:

“You all are accountable and responsible for your subordinates.”

If we define politics as a systematic effort to promote the welfare and culture of the public, everyone can agree that not only the scholars, but also all groups of any society should take responsibility for this collective duty. In fact, the entire Muslim populace is responsible to fight any deviation and corruption in the Islamic society or they will face justice on the Judgment Day. The holy Prophet of Islam has also emphasized that every individual is responsible for their subordinates. It means that all Muslims have duties regarding each other and in this subject, there is no distinction between the rulers and the peasants, the scholars or the uneducated, the men and women, or the wealthy and the poor.

The early Muslims had watered the tree of Islam and the newly-born Islamic government with their strong dedication and faith; this group of Muslims, with all their power, protected the genuine Islamic values and stopped any corruption and deviation. The history also confirms the strong urge in the early Muslims, who defended the sanctities and fought anti-Islamic traditions.

According to the history, once a Muslim man, after seeing the gambling tools in the hands of someone in the streets, asked: “Whose are these?”

That person answered: “It belongs to the governor.”

That Muslim person, without any hesitation, took those gambling tools and broke them and said: “Gambling is forbidden; I am a Muslim and I have the duty to break anything associated with it and I don’t care even if it belongs to the governor.”

Similarly, when the Umayyad ruler, Walid ripped up the holy Quran, the Muslims surrounded his house and broke in. Finally, the Umayyad ruler, Walid was killed, beheaded and hanged with a writing on his body that said: “This is the punishment of a person who ripped up the Quran.” It is while that Walid was a powerful ruler, whose empire outreached almost half the globe.

Also, when a Muslim confronted some camels carrying water skins filled with wine, he quickly ripped off all those water skins and poured the wine on the ground. When he was told that the wine belonged to the brutal ruler, Mu’awiyah, the man, without any sign of intimidation, said: “I don’t care.”

However, as the time went by, the Muslims lost sight of their social responsibilities and saw their temporary ease in sitting in their houses and closing their eyes to what was happening in the Islamic countries. As a result, miseries and agonies surrounded the Islamic nations and soon, they fell victim to colonialism by western and eastern powers.

Fortunately, the Muslim nations are now gradually waking up from this rather long sleep; and if they become successful in their efforts, they will have their dignity, honor and prosperity restored back to them. The main principle for progress, honor, dignity and prosperity is awareness and stern faith in the God. In a holy hadith, it is also said: “A scholar wary of time will not be struck with miseries and afflictions.”

Therefore, we deplore to the Almighty Lord to help the Muslim nations wake up and establish this awareness so much deep as they can in their societies. Hopefully, if the Muslims do away with this deep sleep, they will be able to fight back corruption and oppression in the entire globe and this is never far to be achieved.

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Activities and Services by

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi runs and supervises several social, cultural, charitable, religious, scientific, and educational projects on a daily basis. These projects are meant to address the needs of all groups of the society and help them in different stages of their lives. Mostly, these activities are made available to the public in the form of schools, Islamic centers, universities, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, technical workshops, specialized conferences, and charitable and social institutions.

• Shia Rights Watch Organization

As mentioned earlier in previous sections, the orders of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi for defending the rights of the Shia Muslims resulted in the foundation of a human rights organization named Shia Rights Watch, headquartered in Washington DC, the US.

Shortly after its foundation, Shia Rights Watch and its programs for promoting the public awareness about the religious and civil rights of the Shia Muslims received admirations and praises by Shia religious activists and legal experts in European countries and the US.

• The Foundation of Shia TV Channels

In our today’s world, no one can deny the significant role of the media and its strong influence over the public opinion and beliefs. However, it is so unfortunate to see that the mainstream media has turned into a propaganda machine that fuels anti-Islamic emotions and preaches immoralities and satanic concepts. In fact, the media serves to the annihilation of virtues and ethics and in the meantime, it tries to replace the moralities and spirituality with downgraded materialism.

This is why that the absence of genuine Islamic teachings and the Shia culture are felt more than ever in the media conceptualizations. At the moment, there are numerous famous TV Channels that operate in different parts of the world, however, one can easily feel the absence of proper media work that introduces the true message of Islam and the culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household to the entire world.

The need for media work was in fact, an old time concern of the late Shia Islamic jurist and scholar, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi who always insisted on using the state-of-the-art technology to introduce the real Islam to the world. His eminence used to say: “Internet and the social media networks are the miracle of our age only if we use it to introduce the real Islamic concepts, such as the holy Quran and the noble and genuine hadiths of the holy Prophet of Islam and the pure Household, peace be upon them. If we fail in this way, we will have to await justice in the hereafter.” His eminence always insisted that the Shia Muslims need to have their independent TV Channels in order to pursue their activities through media outlets; but this goal was never achieved during the lifetime of this great Shia scholar.

After the departure of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, his brother the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi continued this path and encouraged the Shia Muslims to establish their own TV Channels. Gradually, the young Shia Muslims and the believers joined their efforts and actualized this old wish of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. At this point in time, there are several Shia TV Channels operating in the different languages of Persian, Arabic, English and Turkish.

Here is a list of some of these TV Channels:

• Imam Hussein TV in Persian and English
• Salaam TV in Persian, English, and Arabic
• Salaam TV 2 in Persian and Turkish
• Zahra TV in Arabic, English and Turkish
• Ch4teen TV in Arabic
• Al-Anwar TV in Arabic
• Al-Anwar TV 2 in Arabic
• Al-Mahdi TV in Arabic, English and Turkish
• Anwar al-Hussain TV in English
• Ch4teen TV in Arabic
• Marjaeyat TV in Persian, Arabic, and English

These TV Channels stream a variety of programs about the Islamic beliefs, Islamic ethics, faith, and the Shia ideology. The directors of these Shia Television Networks, which are the first of their kind, is to further the thoughts and culture of the holy Quran, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household, peace be upon them.

• Direct Order for the Foundation of Imam Hussein TV Channel

The Grand Islamic jurist, Ayatollah Shirazi stated: Only God knows that how seriously the enemies of the pure AhlulBayt work day and night to manipulate the minds of the people and turn them against the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam, especially Imam Husayn and Lady Fatima Zahra, peace be upon them.

Now, it is important that the believers, so much as they can help or contribute, they should establish a TV satellite Channel with the name of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, introducing this great character by producing programs and streaming them in a vast coverage to the entire world. Obviously, it is not a one man’s job, therefore, all the dear believers should join efforts so that next year by now, this TV Channel starts working.

• The Foundation of a TV Channel Exclusively about Hazrat Abbas

In his meeting with the cultural directors of the shrines of Imam Husayn and Hazrat Abbas, peace be upon them, the great Shia Islamic authority and jurist, Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized on the need for the establishment of a new TV Channel exclusively about the great character of Hazrat Abbas, and the programs of this shrine.

The Grand Jurist further stated: Our situation today is very different from the past. In the past, if a person dared speak about the virtues of the pure Household, they would have been killed; but today, the situation has changed and there are partial freedoms. So try to establish a TV Channel exclusively about Hazrat Abbas, peace be upon him.

The Grand jurist also added: Once a media activist told me that there are three thousand Satellite TVs operating at the moment. Many of these TV Channels belong to certain people, and these TV Channels broadcast programs about these people. None of those people can ever match the great character of Hazrat Abbas, peace be upon him; moreover, Hazrat Abbas is a great and universal character who can change the lives of the people, both in this world and the next, for the better. If the public gets to know Hazrat Abbas, many of them will be attracted to the light of guidance. For this reason, it is really important to establish and run a TV Channel exclusively for transmitting the messages of real Islam through the great character of Hazrat Abbas, peace be upon him.

• The need for TV networks to introduce Imam Kazim and Imam Jawad

While hosting some members of the board of the shrine of Imam Kazim and Imam Jawad, the Grand Islamic leader and jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi emphasized on the need for TV Satellite Channels that produce and stream programs about Imam Kazim and Imam Jawad, peace be upon them.

His eminence, after greeting his guests, stated: The cultural and media works should never be taken lightly, because they can raise the public awareness and lead the society to the right path; the establishment of a TV Channel with the name of Imam Kazim and Imam Jawad, peace be upon them, is a good frame for these cultural and media works.

There are many lovers of the AhlulBayt, both in Iraq and abroad, Arab or non-Arab, and they are living in long distances from the sacred shrine of Imam Kazim and Imam Jawad, peace be upon them; all these people should receive the messages and teachings of these two noble Imams.

Furthermore, the Grand Jurist said: Who else can take this responsibility and actualize it? It is you who should grasp this great honor before anyone else does so.

His eminence also emphasized: The pure Household of the Prophet are the source of all light and blessings, their moral code is exceptional, and however, our world today is completely unaware of these things. In contrast, we witness that hundreds of TV satellite channels, which are affiliated and sponsored by deviant and heretic cults, work day and night to mislead the people. Therefore, it is really important that there should be several TV channels established to introduce to the world the real face of Islam, through the thoughts and morals of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household.

With regards to the significance of introducing the thoughts and culture of the pure Household, and its impacts on the reformation of societies, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi said:

Almost forty years ago in holy Karbala, I read that one of the scholars of Al-Azhar University in Egypt converted to Shia Islam. To explain the reason for his conversion, that scholar referred to a sentence quoted from Imam Sajjad, peace be upon him; the sentence was:

“Oh, God. At times when there is need for quick and serious action, make me seek help only from you.”

He believed that this very sentence opened up new horizons before his sight, and he converted to Shia Islam after continuing his studies and researches.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi kept on: So, you can see that even if you can broadcast one single sentence from Imam Kazim or Imam Jawad, peace be upon them, you might have revolutionized a nation or a group of people, showing them the path to salvation. Therefore, you should make the necessary arrangements and establish a TV Channel.

• Global TV Channels

When hosting some members of Imam Hussein TV, the Grand Islamic jurist Ayatollah Shirazi stated: “Sometimes, people do things that have no significant results, however, there are still people who do things that leave behind great and big results. It is like the person who lectures a handful of people, but the other person lectures millions instead.

It is the case with a TV Channel as it can be the means by which we speak to millions. Of course, there are hardships in this way but we can overcome them by hard work, patience and wise strategies. Everyone will have a share of success in this path, in accordance with their pure love for Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

• A New Move for the Globalization of the Shia Culture

In 1432 AH, and following the orders of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, the two online Television Networks of Al-Zahra and Al-Mahdi started streaming their programs, on the birth anniversary of Lady Fatima, peace be upon her.

The webpage of these two online TV channels lead the viewers to the live streaming of these two TV networks, the archive of the programs with different qualities and subtitles, and other features.

Al-Zahra TV is an independent internet TV which produces and broadcasts programs about the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam and the Shia culture. Following the orders of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi about the significant need for establishing a Shia TV channel in 2005, Al-Zahra TV was the second Satellite Television that produced programs to introduce the culture of Shia Islam in different languages of Arabic, Persian, English, and Turkish.

With considerations to the orders and guidelines of the eminent Islamic jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, some religious and media activists put into practice the long-awaited wishes of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and launched the Shia TV Channel of Al-Mahdi in 2007. Al-Mahdi TV was began its programs in Arabic on Nile satellite.

At the moment, this Shia TV channel has taken big steps to globalize the Shia culture and introduce the real Islam to its large number of viewers. Al-Mahdi TV broadcasts its programs in the two languages of Arabic and Persian.

*****************

Final Section pages 521-578

The Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi on Ashura Day 1428 AH,

29 January 2007

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and God’s peace be upon our master and leader, Muhammad Mustafa and his pure Household; and damned be their enemies until the dooms day.

With his great sacrifice, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, marked the path of virtue, forgiveness, and the lofty ideals of Islamic morals and beliefs for the entire humanity along the history. Imam Husayn clarifies on these ideals in the letter he wrote to his brother, Muhammad ibn al-Hanafiyyah:

“This movement of mine is not on account of stubbornness, rebellion, worldly passions or instigation by Satan. It is also not my object to create trouble or to oppress anyone. The only thing which invites me to this great movement is that I should reform the affairs of the followers of my grandfather,”

The reformation of the affairs of the Muslims is the very strong cause for which Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, stepped into the land of Karbala and sacrificed the pure blood of his family, his companions and himself. It was this significant cause for which Imam Husayn’s children and family were captivated by the brutal enemy; the very family whose renown is for their piety, devotion and intimacy with the messenger of Islam.

This reformative movement by Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, showed the path of righteousness to the entire Muslim nation along the history. This was the path which was firstly taken up by the God’s messenger, but was later smudged and blocked by the Umayyad oppressive rulers. The uprising of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, confronted the illegitimate domination of two corrupt dynasties of the Umayyad and Marwanids over the Muslim nation and this uprising, with its so many sacrifices, brought down the foundations of these two oppressive dynasties one by one. By the fall of these corrupt rulers, their name and reputation was either forgotten or remembered with disgrace and there are many evidences to confirm this claim:

For example, it is narrated that one of the descendants of the Marwanid rulers, Sa’d ibn Abdul Malik ibn Abdul Aziz ibn Marwan, was sobbing like the mourning women. When he was asked why he is crying, he answered: “Why should I not cry since I am from a tree which is cursed in the Quran?”

The successful movement of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, has outlived the history; obliviously, it was the God’s will who realized such a great success only by the hands of the master of the martyrs, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, even though there were greater people, like the holy Prophet of Islam, Imam Ali, Imam Hasan and Lady Fatima, peace be upon them all.

The blood of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, has been time and again remembered by many different holy Imams and Infallibles. He is the only Infallible Imam who was chosen by God Almighty to redirect the derailed train of Islam to its right course. Imam Husayn, with his illuminating and instructive words and uprising, exposed the ugly face of tyranny to the Muslim nation and the history.

If it weren’t for the big sacrifice of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, Yazid and his subordinates would have certainly changed the real course of Islam and destroyed all traditions and legacies of the holy Prophet of Islam.

It was the uprising of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, which uncovered the real face of brutal and cruel rulers such as Hajjaj, who killed and tortured tens of thousands of people and at the same time, delivered sensational and impressive lectures to the public. It was this illuminating uprising which showed the real face of people like Saladin Ayoubi. He was the person who besieged the Shia Muslims and the adherents of the pure Household in their cities. He was the one who massacred the Shia women, children and the elderly with no mercy.

If it wasn’t for this monumental and epic uprising, the line between truth and falsehood would have been so much blurred that even the atrocities by Marwanids, the Abbasid, and the Ottomans could have been labelled as Islamic practices.

Even in this recent age, which is most famous for its extensive developments and freedoms, it was only Imam Husayn, who could expose the brutal and savage nature of the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. He was the person who displaced millions of the oppressed nation of Iraq and tortured thousands of innocents. He was the one who plundered the wealth of Iraq and used it to satisfy his evil desires and ambitions.

And so, Imam Husayn will remain like a candle that throws its light on the path of the entire humanity, depicting the reality of the holy religion of Islam and showing the way to goodness and virtue.

Therefore, it is no wonder to see that all brutal and oppressive dictators, in the entire course of the history, have fought against the legacies of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and tried to stop the people from remembering the sacrifices and slogans of this holy leader. The oppressive dictators could well see the danger in the message of the uprising of Imam Husayn, and so they tried hard to wipe out the name of Imam Husayn from the memories, by demolishing the sacred sites relating to his holiness, killing thousands of women and men who commemorated Imam Husayn’s memory and mocking the exceptional uprising and the rites of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Despite all these desperate attempts, the holy Prophet of Islam announced it publically that not only God Almighty will never let this candle go out, but also this candle, by God’s blessings, will shine more and more.

The God’s messenger stated: “The disbelievers and the misleading parties will make attempts to kill the light of Imam Husayn, but the more they try, the more this light will shine.”

In our time, the Iraqi monarchy killed and tortured many people in order to stop them from visiting the gravesite of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him; however, today, there are millions of people, men and women, all in large groups, who walk their way to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq to pay their tribute to this holy Imam, regardless of the hot sun or the cold weather. According to the narrations, every step of a pilgrim in this path is rewarded in same manners of those doing pilgrimage in Hajj and Umrah.

I humbly ask the Almighty God to have us blessed by Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and bring to an end the oppressions and injustice across the world, especially in Iraq.

I beseech the Almighty Lord to hasten the advent of Imam Mahdi, the remarkable descendant of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and shower His everlasting mercy upon all humankind and the believers so that reformation and prosperity reaches out to the entire world.

Success is all from God and though I rely on Him alone.

Sadiq Shirazi

Muharram 2^nd, 1428 AH/ 21 January 2007

• The Condemnation of Desecrating the Holy Quran

At a gathering of Islamic scholars, Seminary teachers and the public groups of people, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi strongly condemned the desecration of the holy Quran and stated: “Desecration of the holy Quran is an affront to the entire Islamic sanctities.”

His eminence also added: “Disrespecting the holy Quran is the flicker of a fire, whose flames might burn the guilty and the innocent together. It is never unknown to the public that there are evil and covert plans to create division, tension and instability among the Muslims that serve to the realization of colonial plots and intrigues.

In the end, the Grand Shia Islamic Jurist, Ayatollah Shirazi underscored the responsibility of the entire world and the popular figures and said: “All governments and the influential role players should take control of this heated situation, before the scopes of this heinous crime gets out of control.”

• The Statement of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s Office on the Martyrdom of Shia Pilgrims in Baghdad and Hillah

Following a cowardly attack by the Takfiri, Wahhabi and Baath terrorists, hundreds of walking pilgrims, who were intended to visit the sacred shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, were severely wounded or martyred. In the wake of this heartbreaking incident, the Office of the Grand Islamic Jurist, Ayatollah Shirazi published a statement on 07 March 2007, coinciding with Safar 17, 1428 AH, and condemned this vicious act in the strongest terms. Furthermore, this statement asked the believers to ignore these attacks and don’t let such inhumane terrorist movements slow down the growth of religious rites of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

The script of this statement is as follows:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Grand Islamic Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi strongly condemns the recent terrorist attack, which led to the martyrdom and the injury of hundreds of Shia pilgrims who were marching to join the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage. His eminence prayed to the Almighty God to spread His vast mercy unto the martyrs in this incident and join them with their master, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, in the hereafter. The Grand Jurist also prayed for the quick recovery of the wounded and extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of these pilgrims, wishing them patience and rewards. Furthermore, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi hoped that Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his advent, gives his special attentions to all Shia Muslims.

Additionally, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi requested the believers to take necessary security measures and ignore the terrorists, and then organize the religious rites of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, with more power than previous years. In this subject Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her, states: “God Almighty has chosen a people to keep alive the memory of Imam Husayn and other martyrs in the land of Karbala so that time doesn’t wear out this great tragedy. Even though the disbelievers and the misleading parties attempt to wipe out the memories of this tragedy but it gets more vivid and bright with every day that passes.”

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Holy Qom, Iran

• Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Office Makes Statement to Condemn the Massacre at Imam Ali Mosque in Zahedan, Iran

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

A terrorist attack at the Shia mosque of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, led to the martyrdom and injury of a large number of Shia Muslims and worshippers in the city of Zahedan, Iran. Following this incident, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi in holy Qom made a statement on Monday, 1 June 2009, and condemned this terrorist attack.

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and God’s peace be upon our master and leader, Muhammad Mustafa and his pure Household; and damned be their enemies until the dooms day.

The Grand Shia Islamic Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi strongly condemns the killing of many believing worshippers in a terrorist attack on the Shia Mosque of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in the city of Zahedan, Iran.

His eminence referred to this unspeakable crime and said: “The terrorists hold animosity towards the Shia Muslims for having a strong belief in the Almighty God and the two legacies of the holy Prophet of Islam, his pure Household and the book of God, as the Household of the holy Prophet are his rightful successors.

The Grand Jurist, also demanded the followers of other Islamic sects and their religious and scientific institutions to educate their people and destroy the grounds for extremism, Takfir, and violence.

Furthermore, in order to sympathize with the families of the martyrs and the injured Shia Muslims, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi condemned this terrorist attack and cancelled his courses of Advanced Jurisprudence on Monday. His eminence also prayed God’s mercy for those martyred in this incident, hoped patience for the families of these martyrs and wished a quick recovery for the injured in this incident.

Verily, we are from Allah, and to Him we shall return

June 1^st, 2009

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

• Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s Office in Holy Karbala Condemns Terrorist Attack on a Church

A terrorist attack on a church in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad left 52 killed and 73 others injured. Following this incident, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Karbala, in a statement, condemned this heinous crime and held the Iraqi security authorities responsible for protecting the civilians’ lives against such brutal attacks.

The script of this statement comes as follows:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the best of mankind, and his pure and clean family.

The Almighty God declares: “Allah does not forbid you to be kind and to act justly to those who have neither made war on your Religion nor expelled you from your homes. Allah loves the just.” Quran 60; 08

The indiscriminate killings and the disregard of terrorists for all religious teachings and the sacred traditions have unveiled the ugly and inhume face of this phenomenon more than ever before, and the terrorist attack on a Christian church in Baghdad, which left 52 dead and 73 wounded, is a proof to this claim.

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in the holy city of Karbala condemns this inhumane and cowardly attack and demands the Iraqi security officials to restore security to this country and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.

“Do not think that Allah is unaware of the harm doers’ work.” Quran 14; 42

November 1^st, 2010

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi in holy Karbala, Iraq

• Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Office in Holy Karbala Condemns Massacres by Takfiri Terrorists

The Office of the Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi vehemently condemned the killing of tens of defenseless and innocent pilgrims of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, by the Takfiri terrorists. This Office also demanded the security officials to provide safe passage to the pilgrims of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

Here is the translation of this statement:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the best of humankind, and his pure and clean family.

The Almighty God announces: “Indeed, the righteous shall (live) in bliss. But the wicked, indeed they shall be in the Fiery Furnace,” Holy Quran 82; 13-14

The blood-stained hands of Wahhabism and the remnants of the Baath brutes have once again blew into the flames of ignorance and renewed the old rancor of their ancestor, Yazid.

Several believing people, who were educated at the schools of the AhlulBayt, peace be upon them, without being charged with any crimes, were brutally killed or injured.

Regardless of these horrendous crimes by the enemies of God, Islam and the humanity, the strength, resistance and the determination of the followers of the pure AhlulBayt and Imam Husayn, peace be upon them, increase at any moment and the Shias become more and more avid to step in the same path of their leader, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. The increasing number of the pilgrims of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, from all over Iraq and even other countries is the best proof to this claim.

The officials and members of the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Karbala condemn these appalling crimes and demand the Iraqi authorities to provide the Shia pilgrims with safe passage during their rituals. In addition, this Office believes that in response to the violent and Takfiri ideologies, there needs to be widespread ideological movements sanctioned by wise attitudes and approaches.

Furthermore, all religious groups and gatherings should continue all their activities to uphold the memory and the name of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, and take all precautions and have full cooperation with the security officials and the law enforcement.

In the end, we deplore to the Almighty God to show His mercy to the martyrs in these incidents and have them by the side of their master, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. We also pray for the families of these martyrs to have patience and wish a quick recovery for the people, who were wounded in these bloody attacks. May we all be under the attentions of Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance.

January 22, 2011

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Holy Karbala

• Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Office Following the Terrorist Attack in Tal Afar, Iraq

On March 27, 2007, a terrorist attack carried out by the Wahhabi and Baath agents at least killed tens of people and left hundreds of Shia Muslims severely wounded. Following this cowardly attack in the town of Tal Afar in Iraq, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi made a statement and condemned the brutal killing of the innocent Iraqis and demanded the international foundations to pass laws and and force all countries to eliminate Takfiri and violent ideologies from their educational materials.

The text of the statement is as follows:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

“We are from God, and to Him we shall return.”

On Tuesday, March 27, 2007, terrorist attacks killed tens of people, including women, children and the elderly, and left hundreds of others wounded, and many houses destroyed while families were inside. Following this heartbreaking massacre, the Grand Shia Islamic Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi condemns this terrorist attack, because the Shia Muslims are being targeted by the Takfiri terrorists for their beliefs in Allah Almighty, Prophet Muhammad and his noble and pure Household.

In this regard, a few topics should be noticed:

• The governmental organizations responsible for the families of the Iraqi martyrs should use all their potentials and increase their budgets in order to level up their services and provide the families of the victims of these terrorist attacks with their needs.
• Terrorism should be combated in all arenas and their ideological foundations should be eliminated. Therefore, it is advised that the international foundations pass laws and oblige all governments to remove Takfiri ideology from their school textbooks. This act will hopefully prevent the next generations to be usurped by Takfiri and extremist currents.

The governments offering political and ideological supports to the terrorists and extremists should know that it would soon that they will become the victims of their illegitimate sons, because the God’s promise is never mistaken: “the evil plots will afflict no one but its authors,”

Narrations also point to the same idea: “if a person aids an oppressor, he will be dominated by that oppressor.”

• All religious institutions and foundations should join efforts and expose the true face of Takfiri and radical ideologies and know that the threats of such ideologies will backfire at them. Therefore, they all should take back their place at the universities and schools from the Takfiri preachers.

In conclusion, we call out to God, by the name of His beloved messenger, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and our savior, Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance. We also pray for the victims of these terrorist attacks to be included in God’s vast mercy, beg patience for their families and wish a quick recovery for the wounded.

God is near and responder.

• Statement by Imam Shirazi World Foundation over the Incidents in Bahrain

Following wide protests in Bahrain which was responded by governmental crackdowns, many Bahraini civilians and Shia Muslims were killed and injured. In the light of this event, Imam Shirazi World Foundation made a statement.

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the words, and peace and blessings be upon the greatest of messengers, Prophet Muhammad and his pure Household.

“Give glad news to the people who have patience, who, in adversity say: ‘We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” Quran 2; 155-156

In the wake of the current situations in the Muslim world, all believers are religiously obligated to have accountability and cooperation in order to repel oppression and protect the lives and properties of the oppressed people to achieve their legitimate rights.

For that reason and considering the latest developments in Bahrain and some other Islamic countries, we extend our heartfelt condolences over the martyrdom of Bahraini civilians and share this grief with their families. We also ask the Bahraini government to listen to the demands of its citizens and stop using force and violence against its own people because violence will deepen tensions and turns peaceful demonstrations into turmoil and disorder.

We also ask the Bahraini government to do away with violence and help realize the demands of the great nation of Bahrain through civil and peaceful means, which will surely have the supports of other nations as well.

The late Grand Shia Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi warned of the damaging and destructive consequences of suppression and the lack of freedom a long time ago. His eminence had said: “The concept of council is much rather a safety valve for all governments, particularly the Islamic ones; because the humankind has strong needs both to feed his body and his thought. In other words, the hungry people will rise up against the forces that have kept them hungry as it is narrated: ‘I wonder why the destitute don’t take up arms and rise against the rich.’ Similarly, if the ruling force of a nation doesn’t seek the council of its people, the people will rise against the regimes that have confiscated and ignored the thoughts and ideas.”

Therefore, the Bahraini government should pay attention to the demands of its nation and aims for a constructive interaction by building up trust between them and the protestors. It would be wrongful for the monarchs who represent the minority of a country to use force and domination in treating the marginalized majority. It should never be forgotten that the history has proved that weapons and confrontation are useless means in the face of the oppressed nations. And to avoid further crises, the governments should peacefully distribute power in the society, contribute to the ideal of pluralistic and free society, and implement the principle of council by adherence to justice and virtue. All these steps will ensure peace, security and national reconciliation paving the way for a free society centered on justice, virtue, truth and fairness.

In conclusion, Imam Shirazi World Foundation (ISWF) emphasizes on the sanctity of the lives of all innocent people and warned against the violation of people’s rights. We ask the Almighty God to sweep away the duplicity and dishonesty from the Islamic countries, have mercy on all the martyrs, send patience to the families of these martyrs and expedite the recovery of the wounded. Verily God is hearing and knowing.

• Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Office after the Catastrophic Flood in Pakistan

On August 18, 2010, series of devastating floods in Pakistan left hundreds of people killed and millions homeless. Following this catastrophic incident, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Qom released a message and asked all Muslims around to the world to come to the help of the poor Pakistani Muslims.

Here is the message:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family and curse be upon all their enemies.

The holy Prophet of Islam states: “The similitude of believers in regard to mutual love, affection, and fellow-feeling is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body aches, because of sleeplessness and fever.”

The recent floods in Pakistan, which affected most of the country and destroyed millions of houses was a catastrophic incident which needs the attentions of all Muslims around the world, because the holy Prophet of Islam has said: “If a Muslim hears the voice of another Muslim calling for help and doesn’t answer this call, he is not a Muslim.”

Therefore, everyone is responsible to offer their help to the flood victims and support them both financially and spiritually and provide them with the basic requirements such as food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. The rewards of this good act will be multifold in the sacred month of Ramadan.

It also should be noted that such natural disasters can be divine trials or they can happen due to the spread of corrupt and heretic thoughts such as Takfiri and radical ideologies or the desertion of Islamic laws and the legacies of the holy Prophet of Islam, the holy Quran and the Household of the holy Prophet.

We pray to the Almighty God to save the Muslims, expedite the reappearance of Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his advent, and wash away the sorrow and grief from the victims of these floods. God is hearing and responder.

Office of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

Holy Ramadan 1431, August 2010

Holy Qom, Iran

• Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Office about Horrible Incidents in Bahrain

In the wake of the painful and tragic events in Bahrain, the neighboring Islamic country, where brutal mercenaries have committed unspeakable crimes against the believers, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Karbala released a statement and condemned the flagrant violation of human and religious rights of the Bahraini civilians. In this statement, the Grand Jurist’s Office demanded the Muslim world, especially the followers of the pure Household, peace be upon them, to stand by the side of the oppressed nation of Bahrain and urge the international community to prevent further suppressive measures against the defenseless Bahrainis.  Here comes the text of this message:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Almighty God states: “and whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority,” Holy Quran 17; 33

The holy Prophet of Islam has stated: “If a Muslim hears the voice of another Muslim calling for help and doesn’t answer this call, he is not a Muslim.”

The brutal suppression and crackdowns against the clever and honorable nation of Bahrain, who only ask for their legitimate and legal rights, is a flagrant violation of the basic rights of any nation, endorsed by all religions and faiths and the human rights charters.

In all places and under all circumstances, every person has the right to rally peacefully and ask for their legitimate rights; however, the enemies of humanity have gone to great lengths to kill the voice of nations chanting for freedom and their legitimate rights.

Today, the world is watching that the Bahrainis’ call for freedom has been responded by bullets. Criminals, mercenaries, and terrorists attack the defenseless people of Bahrain with all sorts of cold weapons and the law enforcement and the police support them. It is in fact a loud cry for help from the international community and the civil rights foundations who can support the Bahraini nation by means of the media and diplomacy so that these harsh crimes come to an end.

It should not be forgotten that the media has a grave responsibility towards the defenseless and oppressed nation of Bahrain.

The Muslims and the followers of the pure Household should also fulfill their human responsibilities and stand by the side of the oppressed people as the holy Prophet of Islam has stated: “If a Muslim starts the day, while he doesn’t have any concerns for the affairs of other Muslims, he is not a real Muslim.”

In the end, we pray to Almighty God to have mercy on the martyrs, send patience to their families and expedite the recovery of the wounded.

March 13, 2011

Office of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Holy Karbala, Iraq

• Statement by the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi after Disrespectful Behaviors by Saudi Authorities

The Central Office of the Grand Shia Islamic Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi made a statement and condemned the disrespectful behaviors of Wahhabi agents and the arbitrary arrests of Shia pilgrims in the mosque of the holy Prophet of Islam and the cemetery of Baqi in holy Medina, Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the Grand Jurist’s Office demanded the immediate release of the Shia pilgrims who were detained for no clear reason, and asked for the perpetrators of these disrespectful behaviors to be put on trial.

This statement is as follows:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure family and God’s curse be upon their enemies till the dooms day.

We extend our condolences to the entire Muslim community over the martyrdom of the holy Prophet of Islam, who was chosen to reflect God’s mercy on the entire universe.

Hereby, we strongly condemn the disrespectful and aggressive incidents that took place in holy Medina, near the sacred cemetery of Baqi and the mosque of the holy Prophet of Islam, where shots were fired and a number of believers were wounded. Meanwhile, we demand the immediate release of all Shia pilgrims who were illegally detained. The Saudi authorities have no rights to stop the Shia pilgrims from reading Quran or doing their religious obligations. Additionally, the Wahhabi and Takfiri agents should not be allowed to impose their austere beliefs on the Shia and the followers of other sects of Islam. It is also obvious that all people who have misbehaved the pilgrims should be put on trial and face justice, otherwise, these pressures and disrespectful behaviors will result in irretrievable repercussions.

We pray for the safety and the swift recovery of the pilgrims of the sacred sites, where God Almighty has made them holy and honorable.

“In houses which Allah has allowed to be raised up, and His Name to be remembered therein. In the morning and evening are men who exalt Him there, whom neither trade nor sale can divert from the remembrance of Allah,” Holy Quran 24; 36-37

The book Durrul Manthur, explains these verses in the following lines: “And he pointed to the house of Ali and Fatima and said: Is this (place) also included? The God’s messenger answered: Yes, and indeed, it is of their best.”

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

February 24, 2009

• Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s Office over the Massacres by Zionists

The Central Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in holy Qom strongly condemned the mass killing of innocent Lebanese by the Zionist regime. In the statement published by the Grand Jurist’s Office, it is emphasized that the Muslims can avoid all such miseries by coming back to the holy Quran and the glorious policies of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household.

Here comes this message:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The Grand Shia Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi condemns all crimes of the Zionists, especially the killings of the innocent Lebanese.

His eminence stated: Israel is founded on enmity, mass slaughter, and the displacement of innocent people; a trend that has been pursued by the support of powerful governments for sixty decades. The countless and appalling crimes of the Zionists have mainly afflicted the innocent civilians, resulting in the death of women and children and the destruction of thousands of houses. All these inhumane and ghastly crimes has made this regime, a strongly despicable entity in our world.

Furthermore, the Grand Jurist demanded the entire Muslim communities to rush to the help of the oppressed Lebanese and prevent the Zionist regime from continuing its unlawful policies.

The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi also emphasized: The only way for Muslims to overcome their problems and confront their aggressive enemies is to go back to the teachings of the holy Quran and the invaluable traditions of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household; as the holy Prophet of Islam stated: “I have left among you two weighty things, the book of God and my Household. If you stay with them, you shall never be lost.”

The Grand Jurist also mentioned: One of the reasons for the Muslims weakness is their lack of knowledge. In this regard, there should be organized and cooperative movements that promote the public culture and help the principle of “Council” become actualized in all societies. No doubt that with God’s help, these movements will help the Muslims reclaim their rights and end the oppressive Zionist regime.

In the end, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi prayed for these problems of the Muslim nations to be resolved and then, his eminence mentioned this verse of Quran: “Say: ‘My Lord cares little for you if it was not for your supplication,” Holy Quran 25; 77

• Statement by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi’s Office over the Mosque Fire in Tehran, Iran

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

“We are from God and to Him, we shall return.”

Tens of worshippers and mourners of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, lost their lives and were injured in a fire at Arak Mosque in Tehran, Iran. This painful incident has hurt the feelings of all Shia Muslims and the Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

Therefore, the Grand Jurist offers his earnest sympathy to the survivors and the families of the victims and sends condolences to Imam Mahdi, may God hasten his reappearance, the believers, the mourners of Imam Husayn, and the families of the victims. His eminence also prays to the Almighty God to place the victims of this incident in heavens, beside the master of the martyrs, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi also prays for the families of the victims to have patience and for the injured to have full and quick recovery.

The Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

Holy Qom, Iran

February 14, 2005

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CHAPTER THREE

THE BIG FAMILY OF SHIRAZI

Chronicles of the Big Family of Shirazi

In this chapter, the readers are presented with a brief introduction of many popular and well-known figures and ancestors of the Grand Shia Islamic Juris Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• Mirza Shirazi, the Great Grandfather of Eminent Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

The epic movement of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi has been a remarkable event in the history of Shia Islam. The great grandfather of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was an exceptional and great scholar, who brought the British colonizers to their knees after he issued a religious verdict and prohibited the use of Tobacco in that critical period.

The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, also known as Mirza Shirazi, was born to Mirza Mahmud, on April 25, 1815 into a pious and virtuous family living in the city of Shiraz in Iran.

Still a child, Muhammad Hasan Shirazi lost his father, and was placed at the custody of his knowledgeable uncle, Sayyid Husayn Majd Al-Ashraf. At the age of four, the young Muhammad Hasan enrolled at Maktab, a local school and at the age of six, he joined the Islamic Seminaries. Since his early years at the Seminary, the sharp mind and strong memory of Sayyid Muhammad Hasan brought about praises by everyone.

At the age of eight, Mirza Muhammad Hasan began delivering religious sermons at a mosque in his hometown, Shiraz and called people to put their faith in the Almighty God. As a teenager, he used to teach the most important book of Islamic sciences, Sharhe Luma. The unique and astonishing scientific character of the young Sayyid Muhammad Hasan was even praised by the governor of Shiraz, when he was offered a decent position at the court of the city; but Muhammad Hasan refused the offer and continued his passion for the knowledge of the genuine Islam and the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam. Therefore, Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi enrolled at the Islamic Seminary of Isfahan, which was the most famous Islamic seminary of Iran in that period.

Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Isfahani, the author of “Hidayatul Mustarshidin” was the first tutor of Sayyid Muhammad Hasan. After this great scholar passed away, Sayyid Hasan Bidabadi became the new tutor of the young student, giving him sips of the knowledge of the pure Household. The young Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, before his twenties, was acknowledged as a Shia religious jurist by his tutor.

Haji Ibrahim Kalbasi was also another teacher of Ayatollah Muhammad Hasan Shirazi.

The 29-year-old Mirza Shirazi spent his time in Isfahan enjoying the scientific company of many great scholars in this city and after receiving the permission to release fatwas from the Islamic Seminary of Isfahan, Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi left this city and traveled to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. By the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Husayn, peace be upon them, Ayatollah Shirazi kneeled at the presence of many great scholars such as Sheikh Hasan Kashif Al-Ghita, Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Najafi, the author of Jawahir, Sayyid Ibrahim Qazwini the author of Zawabit, and Sheikh Mashkur Hulawi.

After enjoying the fruitful company of these great scholars, Ayatollah Mirza Hasan Shirazi decided to leave Iraq and return to his hometown. Therefore, Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Najafi, the author of Jawahir, wrote a letter to the governor of Shiraz and asked him to treasure such a great scientific character in their city. However, when the great Mirza left the Islamic Seminary of Karbala and paid his last visit to the shrine of Imam Ali in holy Najaf, he was invited to a meeting with Sheikh Ansari, an exceptional Islamic jurist in this city. After this scientific meeting with Sheikh Ansari, the Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi sensed the awe and greatness of this scholar and decided to enjoy this ocean of Fiqh and Usul. And so, the talented Ayatollah Mirza Shirazi changed his mind and stayed in Iraq.

Since that day, Mirza Shirazi became one of the special disciples of Sheikh Ansari until death broke up between the two great scholars. The great Sheikh Ansari, with his full knowledge of the high scientific character of Mirza Shirazi, among all his students, put his trust in Mirza Shirazi and chose him to revise his precious work, the book of “Rasael”.

Mirza Shirazi left great legacies and trained many renowened and top students such as Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, also known as the second Mirza, Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri, the founder of Qom seminary, Mirza Husayn Naini, the martyr Sheikh Fazlullah Nouri, Mullah Muhammad Kazim Fesharaki, and Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Yazdi, the author of Urwatul Wuthqa.

In 1864, after the death of Sheikh Ansari, the great Mirza Shirazi was elected as the leading Marja of the entire Shia Muslims around the world. All actions of Great Mirza Shirazi were to serve his ultimate agenda of promoting and defending the culture of the pure Household and the genuine Islam. However, his tenure as the leading Marja, coincided with a very critical period in the contemporary history of Shia Islam. As the leading Marja, the great Mirza Shirazi defended the oppressed Afghan Shia Muslims, stopped the invasion of the Jews to the Muslims in Hamedan, prevented the Russians from purchasing big swaths of lands in the city of Tus, dispatched Ayatollah Sayyid Abdul Husayn Lari to fight back the agents of Britain in South of Iran and supported the freedom fighters in this region.

Finally, this great religious and political leader, the Great Mirza Shirazi departed this world in 1894, at the age of 82 and his pure body was laid to rest in the holy shrine of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in the holy city of Najaf, in Iraq.

• Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, the Uncle of the Grand Juris Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

The late Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi is a prominent figure in the history of Iraq, mostly famous as the leader of the 1920 revolution in this county. He was also considered as one of the pioneers of Fiqh experts in the sixth epoch of Shia Islam. In fact, Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi is named as the junior Mirza, in comparison to the senior Mirza, who was the late Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Hasan Shirazi. The junior or the second Mirza, during his tenure as the leader of the popular revolution of 1920, united the Iraqi tribes against the British colonizers and imposed a humiliating defeat on the British army, forcing it to retreat from the borders of Iraq with heavy financial and military losses.

Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi was born into a pious family in 1842, in the city of Shiraz in Iran. His father, Mirza Muhib Ali Shirazi was a religious and knowledgeable person. Most of the childhood of the junior Mirza was spent in his hometown but as he grew up, his father sent him to the holy city of Karbala to begin his Islamic studies in this city. Mirza Muhammad Taqi passed the preliminary stages of Islamic sciences under great teachers such as Sayyid Ali Naqi Tabatabaei, who deceased in 1833. Later on, the young Mirza Muhammad Taqi studied the science of Usul, under the great Ayatollah Fazil Ardakani.

In the following years, Mirza Taqi Shirazi, along with his friend and schoolmate, Ayatollah Fesharaki Isfahani traveled to the city of Samarra and studied under the great Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi. Not so long after that, these two scholars surpassed all other students of the great Mirza Shirazi and started teaching different religious materials. After the death of great Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi in 1894, large numbers of his students were attracted to Mirza Taqi Shirazi and enjoyed his vast knowledge in Islamic sciences and almost immediately, Ayatollah Mirza Taqi Shirazi became famous as the second Mirza.

• Islamic Leadership

After the death of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Kazim Yazdi, the leadership of the Shia Muslims was transferred to Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi. By the time, this great scholar was living in holy Samarra, but then he migrated to the holy city of Karbala on February 1919. Upon his arrival to this city, the large number of Shia Muslims embraced their new religious leader magnificently.

Although Mirza Taqi Shirazi was in his late eighties, this great scholar, with his high morale, energetically lashed out at the British colonizers in Iraq.

The British agents, soon learned that the unequivocal and direct confrontations of Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi would be a big obstacle for their plans in Iraq. Therefore, they invested all their efforts in silence this great scholar and convince him to comprise, but the second Mirza never gave up to their proposals and maintained his stance. The revolution of 1920 against the British colonizers was deeply indebted to the supports and fatwas of the great Mirza Taqi Shirazi. In the meantime, and despite the bulk of political and social conflicts, Mirza Taqi Shirazi never missed any chance to pursue his academic and scientific projects at the Islamic seminaries. He always tried not to let his political and social movements stop him from educating talented students of Islamic sciences.

• Students

Precision and deep insight were the two unique qualities of the late Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi that attracted large numbers of young talented students to his courses. These religious courses were deservedly valued by these students, as they continued to learn from their teacher, even though they had received the title of Islamic jurist themselves.

In the following, there is a list of the famous students of the late Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi:

• Ayatollah Sheikh Tehrani
• Ayatollah Sheikh Abdul Karim Haeri, the founder of Qom Seminary
• Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Jawad Balaghi Najafi
• Ayatollah Haji Husayn Tabatabaei Qomi
• Sayyid Jamal Al-Din Musawi Golpaigani
• Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Kazim Shirazi
• Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shah Abadi
• Ayatollah Shahab Al-Din Marashi Najafi
• Scientific Works

There is a great number of books and publications left from Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, some of which have been published such as:

A commentary on the book Makasib by Sheikh Ansari

A commentary on the book Fara’id Al-Usul by Sheikh Ansari

An explanation on the book Al-Arjuzah Al-Riza’iya

Rich Odes in Honor of the Pure Household

A commentary on Urwatul Wuthqa

• Character and Morals

1. Piety and Devoutness

Sheikh Agha Bozorg Tehrani, a great and pious scholar describes Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi in these words: “He was a very intelligent and well-mannered person. His holy and inviting face would remind people of the Almighty God. He had no requests from anyone; even when he was thirsty, he used to get up and get some water for himself.

He had a simple life. He had no concerns or obsessions for fine food, fancy clothes, and all other luxuries of this life; this is while that he received great sums of money from Africa, Iran, Iraq, Hijaz, and other Shia communities around the world.”

Also another scholar narrates: “Most of the times, he was wearing very simple clothes with patches on them. Once I told his son, Mirza Abdul Husayn that why his father wears such old and simple clothes, despite being the leader of the Iraqi revolution against British colonizers.

He answered: My father has inherited a farm in Shiraz. The annual income of this farm is around one hundred Tomans. My father pays for his family by this meagre money and he has no other incomes. So he has to be economical and wear such old clothes in order to afford to pay for his family with that one hundred Tomans.

1. Justice

When Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Kazim Shirazi, one of the students of the second Mirza was asked if his teacher has met the criteria for piety, the answer by this student was interesting: “Don’t ask me if my teacher was a just person, ask me if he was an infallible person!”

1. Religious Fervor

Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, the leader of the 1920 revolution of Iraq, was a widely known religious leader, mostly famous for his piety, knowledge, and religious fervor. The brave and unwavering stance of Mirza Taqi Shirazi against the British government, his strong demands for restoring the rights of the Iraqi people and the revolutionary fatwa of this scholar are sheer examples of his religious fervor. All of these unique qualities pinned the love of this great scholar into the hearts of the public and he used this popularity, to serve the people. Mirza Taqi Shirazi faced many ups and downs, until he bought the independence of Iraq at the cost of his life and the life of his children.

• Political Life

The leadership of 1920 revolution of Iraq was the climax of the political life of Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi.

In 1914, the Great Britain declared war on the Ottoman Empire and soon after, it decided to occupy the city of Basra in Iraq. At the rear of the occupation of Basra, the helpless people of this city and other Iraqis rushed to their religious scholars and asked for help. The Iraqi religious scholars, who were closely monitoring the international conflicts, gave a positive response to the people of Basra and issued verdicts and obliged the public to form resistance and fight against the British invaders. Following this verdict, the religious scholars ushered the army of the brave Iraqi tribes and soldiers to the battlefields.

Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, who was living in holy Karbala, raised the spirits of the people to fight the British colonizers. This great scholar pioneered the resistance against Britain to restore the trampled rights of the Iraqis and in this way, he issued his historic verdict that united all Iraqi people to rank against the British invaders. In the wake of this verdict, a public revolution, which was later famous as the 1920 revolution, succeeded to force out the British army from Iraq.

Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, in the first half of 1919 called for a religious scholar, Sheikh Mahdi to keep company and use his counselling in religious and political affairs. Meanwhile, Mirza Taqi Shirazi asked for other great people, such as Ayatollah Kashani, Sayyid Muhammad Ali Shahrestani, Mirza Ahmed Khorasani, and his son Mirza Muhammad Rida to help him in leading the revolution and the public affairs of the Iraqi Muslims. In fact, these five people were aides of this great scholar in critical and serious moments of leadership.

• The Islamic Community

Subsequent to the elections in Iraq, there were scattered protests in cities like Baghdad and Karbala against the Great Britain. In holy Karbala, Mirza Muhammad Rida, the son of Mirza Taqi Shirazi founded an establishment called “The Islamic Community.” The purpose of this establishment was to combat the guardianship of Britain and set Iraq free from the foreign powers. The Islamic Community also intended to put a Muslim leader at the helm of the country after its independence. Therefore, Mirza Taqi Shirazi used his influence over the public and issued a verdict to strengthen this establishment.

This verdict stated: “No Muslim individual has the right to elect a non-Muslim individual for president so that they ruler over the Muslims.”

Shortly after the foundation of the Islamic Community, Britain decided to arrest and exile the active members of this establishment. In August 1919, several members of this community were arrested and sent to Baghdad, and then, they were exiled to India.

Following these arrests and exiles, Mirza Taqi Shirazi strongly criticized these measures in his letter to the chief commander of the British occupants in Iraq. The Islamic leader, Mirza Taqi Shirazi demanded the immediate release of the detainees. However, the answer to this letter was disappointing, but the threats of Mirza Taqi forced the British hands to release the detainees and let the people on exile come back to their country.

• The Famous Verdict

Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi published his famous verdict which allowed the Iraqi people to use force and military action and defend the country against the invaders. This verdict was later famous as the defensive verdict.

“It is an obligation for Iraqis to defend themselves with all their power and it is prohibited to surrender to the British forces, and if the British refused to accept their requests, then they are permitted to defend themselves.”

• The Sad Sunset

The leader of the popular revolution of Iraq, the great Islamic scholar and jurist, Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi passed away after a lifetime of nonstop scientific and political activism and many remarkable political, social, and revolutionary achievements. However, his sudden death, as the leader of the popular revolution was a big blow to the revolution’s future and movement. Ayatollah Sayyid Hibat Al-Din Shahristani, a close companion of the late Mirza Taqi Shirazi describes the death of this scholar in the following lines:

“In one of the days when the late Mirza Taqi Shirazi said the prayers at the shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, he saw the large number of dead bodies of martyrs from the battlefields. This touching scene left a sad and grievous air on the heart of the late Mirza Taqi Shirazi, the leader of the popular revolution. It was since then, that the late Mirza Taqi Shirazi fell ill and he could no more leave his house to say the prayers in public. The health of the great scholar aggravated badly and soon, the leader of the revolution left this world to meet his maker.”

However, Ayatollah Sayyid Murtida Tabatabaei has a different account of the death of Mirza Taqi Shirazi.

It was the British who poisoned the late Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi and killed him. This vicious plan was carried out by one of the agents of the British forces, who for long pretended to be a devout and pious person, acting under the cover of a simple salesperson. The death of the late Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi was a big blow to the Shia Muslims in Iran and Iraq, and Shia Muslims in these countries held widespread ceremonies in memory of this great scholar. After the departure of this great scholar, the leaders of religious movement chose Ayatollah Sheikh Fathollah Isfahabi, famous as Sheikh Al-Shariah to take the helm of popular revolution.

• The Family of Knowledge and Leadership

The contemporary history of Shia Islam remembers the family of Shirazi scholars with their numerous sacrifices and great scientific accomplishments. There are many famous names among the Shirazi family such as the late Sayyid Mirza Abdul Hadi Shirazi, who achieved the summits of Islamic science and perfected the moralities. This great Shia scholar, along with other Islamic jurists in Iraq left no other options for the second Pahlavi, the Iranian Shah, to stop the confiscation of public properties, such as the companies, the factories and financial institutions and return them to their real owners.

The great Shia scholars and the brave men of the Shirazi family in Iran and Iraq were mostly descendants of Abul Hasan Mirza Muhammad Ali Shirazi, who was the father of Qa’ani, the famous poet and a second forefather of the great Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi.

A few of the great names in the Shirazi family are introduced in the following lines:

• Mirza Habibullah (1807-1855), he was the son of Mirza Muhammad Ali Shirazi famous as Qa’ani, the famous poet and an uncle of the great Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi.
• Mirza Muhib Ali (?-1873), he was the son of Abul Hasan Mirza Muhammad Ali Shirazi Haeri.
• Mirza Muhammad Ali (?-1901), he was the son of Mirza Muhib Ali Ale Shirazi, and the elder brother of Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi. He was one of the Shia scholars and jurists in holy Najaf, Iraq.

Not so long after the passing of these great names, the history once again repeated itself and introduced another sparkling star from the Shirazi family to the Muslim world.

• Late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the Elder Brother of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

The great scholar, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was born in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq in 1928. At the age of nine, the young Muhammad Shirazi accompanied his father, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi to the holy city of Karbala.

Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi studied the preliminary levels of Islamic sciences under many great teachers such as his father, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Hadi Milani, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Rida Isfahani, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Zainul Abedin, and Ayatollah Sheikh Jafar Dashti.

Following the persecutions of the Baath regime in Iraq, the forty-four-year old Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was forced to leave this country and travel to Kuwait. Later on, this great scholar made his final journey and traveled to holy Qom, Iran in 1978.

Many great and renowned Shia Islamic scholars such as Allamah Amini and Sheikh Ahga Bozorg Tehrani, the author of the book “Azariyah” have acknowledged the deep insight and the comprehensive understanding of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi in Islamic sciences. In this regard, the late Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Behbahani and many other well-known Islamic jurists qualified the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi as Mujtahid and praised his inclusive and wide-ranging knowledge of Islamic sciences. The following is a list of the well-known Islamic scholars who introduced the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi fit for the qualifications of Ijtihad:

Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Fatimi Abhari, Ayatollah Sayyid Abdullah Shabistari, Ayatollah Sheikh Akhtar Abbas Najafi, Ayatollah Sheikh Roushan Ali Najafi, Ayatollah Sheikh Husayn Barghi, the Islamic scholars of the seminary of Zaynabiyah in Damascus, Ayatollah Sheikh Jafar Rashti, Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Kalbasi, Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Hijri, Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Ali Khaliq Shirazi, Ayatollah Sayyid Mahmoud Mousawi Isfahani, Ayatollah Sheikh Mahmoud Danesh, Ayatollah Sheikh Ibrahim Mishkini, Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Ardakani, Ayatollah Mirza Ali Ghurawi Alyari, Ayatollah Sayyid Razi Al-Din Shirazi, Ayatollah Sheikh Hasan Saeed, Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Ra’eesi Gorgani, Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Alavi Khorasani, Ayatollah Nasrullah Shabestari, Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Husayn Lankarani, Ayatollah Sheikh Hashim Salehi, Ayatollah Sheikh Mahdi Haeri Tehrani, Ayatollah Sheikh Yahya Nouri, Ayatollah Sayyid Kazim Mudarresi, Ayatollah Sayyid Ahmed Faali, Ayatollah Sheikh Mahdi Faqih Imani, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Ali Alemi Balkhabi, ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Ansari, Ayatollah Sheikh Abul Qasim Rouhani, Ayatollah Sayyid Hamid Al-Hasan, Ayatollah Sheikh Ahmed Payani, Allamah Sheikh Bagheri, Allamah Taqaddusi, Allamah Akhundi, Allamah Sayyid Saeed Waezi, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Tehrani, Allamah Sheikh Abdul Husayn Akhund, Allamah Sheikh Mahmoud Ansari, Allamah Sayyid Muhammad Sabzewari and so on and so forth.

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was the embodiment of knowledge and piety; this fact was well understood and addressed by the late Grand Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi after the both scholars had a meeting. The late Grand Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi, with his tearful eyes, told the people in that meeting: “I feel pity that our today’s world won’t fathom the greatness of Mr. Shirazi, because his intellectual and scientific status has surpassed our time. The world will only know his true character two hundred years from now.”

The good morals and inviting tone of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi had even impressed his opponents who used to say: No one should meet him, because his mild morals and appealing words make anyone attracted to him.

The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi began his career as an Islamic writer after he had the honor to meet the twelfth leader, Imam Mahdi in the mosques of Sahlah and Kufa where he was given the order to serve the culture of the AhlulBayt by his pen. Over the years, the Grand Ayatollah became acknowledged as the king of authors, a title given to him by the Arab Writers Union in 2002 after nearly 1200 publications in his name.

The gravity and the depth of the scientific character of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi can be deduced from his encyclopedic work on Islamic Jurisdiction, which comes in 150 volumes, addressing more than fifty thousand topics in Islamic legal questions.

The late Grand Jurist’s book, “Jews Playing the World” was a big step towards uncovering the yet-hidden plots and aspects of Zionism. This book angered the Israeli policy makers and convinced them to become more serious about the assassination of this great scholar. This book has been republished for many times in many different countries in almost 50 different languages.

• Some Publications of the Late Grand Jurist

The encyclopedic work on Islamic jurisdiction: This title is a thorough study on nearly more than 50,000 juridical issues in 150 volumes. The series is a vocal sign of the competency and mastership of Islamic jurisprudence by the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi.

Al-Usul: It is a collective and precise survey on the science of Usul in eight volumes. The collection is now one of the textbooks at the Islamic seminaries.

Isal Al-Talib Ila Al-Makasib in 16 volumes, Al-Wusul Ila Kafayatul Usul in five volumes, Al-Wasael Ila Al-Rasael in 16 volumes, the commentary of Sharh-e Mansume by Sabzewari, and finally Al-Qawaed Al-Sadid Fi Al-Tajrid Wa Al-Balagha.

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi also published several books about law, sociology, politics, and economics for academic communities and university students. Other books by the late Grand Jurist such as “Islamic politics”, “If Islam were to be established”, “War, peace and nonviolence”, “The Islamic system of government”, and “Freedoms in Islam” were all widely welcomed by the intellectual sector of the society. Meanwhile, the Grand Jurist illuminated on the basics of Shia Islamic beliefs for the public by several books about the Islamic governing styles of Imam Ali, the Islamic awakening, hijab, and the features of a just government. Other books of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi included different titles for the children such as stories of the God’s messengers, and the Islamic beliefs in a simple language.

• Timeless Legacies

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi contributed to the foundation of tens of mosques, Islamic centers, schools, libraries, publication centers, interest-free loan funds, and clinics. Moreover, the Shia Muslims and the followers of the Grand Jurist also set up many religious and cultural institutions in different countries such as Egypt, Sudan, England, Canada, the US, India, Pakistan, Australia, the Arab Gulf countries, Iran and Iraq.

The late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi had a leading role in the foundation of Islamic seminaries in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Kuwait where tens of Islamic schools were sponsored and supported by his eminence. Hundreds of Islamic students and teachers in Iran, Syria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan received scholarships and monthly grants from the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi. The Islamic School of Lady Zaynab, which was founded by the Grand Jurist’s brother, the martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi also enjoyed the full supports of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.

The new and ground-breaking thoughts of the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, along with his strong roots in the genuine Shia Islamic beliefs are clearly visible in his arguments and discussions, since his eminence always relied on the well-founded sayings of the pure Household and the holy verses of the Quran. The numerous publications and books of the Grand Jurist are also a good way to approach the deep and insightful thoughts of the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi.

The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was always vocal in times of need, especially when his eminence felt the urge for the creation of new methods and approaches that could define the genuine Islamic identity in comparison to the modern ideological schools of thought; therefore, the Grand Jurist abandoned the outdated and obsolete discussions and defined new set of frameworks for religious discussions and scientific debates in the Islamic academic circles.

The optimistic and inspiring spirit of the late Grand Jurist was also an important and influential aspect of this great character in the world of Islam. Now, this positive spirit can still be felt through the books and publications of the late Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi since his eminence always condemned pessimism and negativity and encouraged the Muslims to move towards their bright future.

Besides producing massive scientific and technical materials for researchers, intellectuals, and the scholars, the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi spared no efforts to introduce the deep and the most complicated Islamic beliefs to the public through easy-to-understand and simple books. With a glimpse over the publications of the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, it can be seen that his eminence addressed the most challenging Islamic concepts for a variety of audiences, including the great Islamic scholars and the public groups of people.

• Moral Life

Above and beyond his great scientific status, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was mostly famous for his moral way of life and ethical manners in all stages of his career.

Piety, devotion, humility, forgiveness, tolerance, patience, persistence, altruism, selflessness and many other qualities of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi as well as his appealing public manners and accountability in public affairs, his generous soul with needy people, his respectful manners with the pubic and his opposition, his consultative spirit and stern devotion in the face of hardships, his unique sense of leadership and perseverance in the face of pressures, and lastly his confidence in the Almighty God and the holy AhlulBayt were all important qualities of the late Grand Jurist which made him outshine his time and place.

Finally, this exceptional character and unique Shia Islamic scholar departed this life in 2001 and was laid to rest in the sacred shrine of Lady Ma’sumah, peace be upon her, in holy Qom, Iran.

• Ayatollah Martyr Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, the Brother of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

The martyred Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi was born in 1927, in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. The childhood of Sayyid Hasan Shirazi was enriched with the love of the pure Household, under the influence of the sacred shrine of Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in holy Najaf. Soon, this pure love led the young Sayyid Hasan Shirazi to continue the path of his scholarly forefathers at the Islamic Seminaries. Years passed and Sayyid Hasan Shirazi fed his interminable thirst for the knowledge of pure Household and finally achieved the level of Ijtihad. The martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi served the religion of Islam with his life in many different countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt.

• Activities and Services

The numerous religious journals and publications of Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi was an influential vehicle that revolutionized the Arabic literature and promoted the culture of Shia Muslims in Iraq. In these years, the unyielding spirit of the young Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi and his strong and critical articles made him a strong barrier to the propaganda machines of the anti-Islamic movements.

In Syria, Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi was successful to establish the Islamic Seminary of Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her, which helped him to widen the scope of his religious and cultural activities among the Alawite Muslims. The foundation of the cultural and scientific assembly of the “League of Scholars” and the School of Imam Mahdi in Lebanon were also among the great legacies of the martyr Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi.

Awhile later and following an invitation by a number of Lebanese business people in Ivory Coast, the Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi set off on a journey to this African country and in his short stay, he began the construction of an Islamic Center.

Back in Syria, Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi was vocal in opposing the Baath party. This great tireless scholar focused his activities to raise the public awareness and in this way, he underwent many hardships and difficulties. Finally, on his way to the funeral service of martyr Muhammad Baqir Sadr, Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi was attacked by Baath agents and was martyred on a Friday, May 2, 1980. His pure body was taken to the holy city of Qom, and after the Grand Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi performed the prayers on his body, he was laid to rest in the shrine of Lady Ma’sumah, peace be upon her.

• Publications

Besides his active political and social activities, the martyr Ayatollah Hasan Shirazi was a prolific and productive author. His master work is an encyclopedic work titled as “The Word.” (These books are available in Arabic.)

• The Word of God
• The Word of Islam
• The Word of Islamic Messenger
• The Word of Imam Ali, volume 1 & 2
• The Word of Fatima Zahra
• The Word of Imam Hasan
• The Word of Imam Hasan
• The Word of Imam Husayn
• The Word of Imam Zainul Abedin
• The Word of Imam Baqir, volume 1 & 2
• The Word of Imam Sadiq, volume 1-4
• The Word of Imam Kazim
• The Word of Imam Rida
• The Word of Imam Jawad
• The Word of Imam Hadi
• The Word of Imam Askari
• The Word of Imam Mahdi
• The Word of Lady Zaynab
• The Word of Companions, volume 1 & 2
• The Word of Messengers and the Wise
• The Predicate of Imam Kazim
• Rituals and Legacies of Imam Husayn
• Peak of Eloquence, the Harbor of the Man’s Spirit
• The Life of Imam Hasan Mujtaba, volume 1 & 2
• Birth of Quran and the Revolution of Islam
• Economy, volume 1 & 2
• Good Morals
• Literary Work
• The State of Ramadan
• Religious Justify
• The Lord of Universe
• The Messenger of Life
• Ballads about Islam and Wilayat
• Discussion and Words
• Various Rulings
• Bitter Conflict
• Tyrants of Iraq
• On the Concept of Wilayat
• The Birth of Islamic Awakening
• With Regards to Contemplation
• The Sources of Words
• Iraq, Under the Rule of Baath Party
• Tyrants
• Division
• Ashura
• Islam, the First Protagonist
• The Undying Hero of Islam
• Islam’s Stance
• Achievements of the Messenger
• The Roots of East
• The Message of Rocket
• He said: Do it.
• I Have
• Preliminaries
• The Story of Beginning
• You are Victorious
• Me and You
• My Ambitions
• Islam, the Hope of Nations
• There is No Peace Except in Islam
• No to the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques
• Notes on Advanced Juridical Courses
• Gleams of Kaaba
• The Eruption of Volcanoes
• The Quiver o Panic
• Where are the Humans?
• We and the Pirates
• Supplications
• Memories from Quran, volume 1-3
• The Thesis to Save Palestine
• Book of Poems by Martyr Shirazi
• Late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi, the Nephew and Notable Student of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

In 1959, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was born in holy Karbala, Iraq into the family of Shirazi scholars, who are mostly renowned for their knowledge and devotion. Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, who was the author of 150-volume-study of Islamic Fiqh and a descendant of the Great Mirza Shirazi.

He began his Islamic studies as a child at the school of “Protectors of Quran” in his hometown, holy Karbala. Then, the ten-year-old Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi wore the Islamic robe of the clerics and officially enrolled at the Islamic Seminary of holy Karbala. In his time in this Islamic Seminary, the young Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi studied the preliminary levels of Islamic sciences under famous teachers in holy Karbala; however, this period came to an end after the Baath regime persecuted the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. Following this event, Sayyid Muhammad Rida left the country with his father and immigrated to Syria and then, to Kuwait.

This immigration couldn’t stop the young Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi from pursuing his studies in the field of Islamic sciences. After his settlement in Kuwait, he resumed his seminary studies and benefited from many remarkable teachers such as his father and his uncle, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi. Before the beginning of his twenties, Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi had already completed the stages of Rasa’el and Makasib during his residence in Kuwait. Furthermore, the young Ayatollah accompanied his father in his final journey to Iran and the holy city of Qom. This city, due to its competitive and enriched scholarly atmosphere, was an inspiration to the young and talented Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi. In short, the young Ayatollah Shirazi passed the advanced seminary materials and benefited from the advanced jurisprudence courses of his father and uncle, and many other exceptional Islamic jurists.

The late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was not merely regarded as an educated and knowledgeable scholar, but he was also praised as a competent and compassionate teacher who had become the reference of many avid students of Islamic sciences. During his residence in Kuwait, Ayatollah Rida Shirazi had continuous presence among the believers and made many precious lectures on different scientific and religious topics, and so, he continued this pattern by teaching high levels of religious sciences in his residence in holy Qom. In 1986, and after the publication of his masterpiece, “Attaratub”, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was granted the qualifications for Ijtihad. Since then, Ayatollah Rida Shirazi engaged himself in teaching Fiqh, Usul, the interpretation of Quran, the science of Rijal, and many other subjects; but after a while, he was forced to return to Kuwait where he spent a few years away from his father.

The ethical manners and the extensive knowledge of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was a weighty and significant element in the intellectual and social progress of the public groups of people, especially the youth, in the regional countries. In 2001, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida returned to Iran and was warmly welcomed by his father, uncle, relatives and friends. He spent the rest of his life in the holy city of Qom, near the shrine of Lady Ma’sumah, peace be upon her. Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi dedicated his whole life to studying and teaching the different branches of the Islamic sciences such as Fiqh (Islamic jurisdiction), Rijal (authenticity of hadiths and narrators), Tafsir (interpretation of Quran), and ethics. At last, in June 2008, the life of another tireless Shia Islamic scholar from the family of Shirazi, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi came to an end and the news of his death left the Islamic Seminaries and the Shia Muslims in shock and grief.

• Publications and Notes

There are plenty of books and publications from the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi. Here is a list of the titles of these books: (All these books are available in Arabic.)

• Attaratub
• How to Understand Quran?
• Contemplation in Quran, 3 volumes
• Discussions on Usul, 4 volumes
• Glimpses from Debates on Morals and Beliefs
• Series on Imam Mahdi
• Series on the Messenger and his Family, 16 volumes
• Comments on basics of Minhaj Al-Salehin, 3 volumes
• The Great Messenger, the Frontier of Civilized Humanity
• Letters on Ijtihad, Caution, and Imitation
• Rijali Discussions
• Letters on Sight Rulings
• Letters on the Principle of Leniency
• Letters on the Third Testimony
• Rituals of Imam Husayn
• Denunciation of God’s Enemies
• The Sermon of Friday
• Lectures and Debates

The moving lectures of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi touched upon the hearts of the people from all age groups; and so, he didn’t miss any chances to introduce and spread the culture of the Prophet’s Household to the public. He had his own innovative methods to discuss the different religious subjects. He addressed all subjects with a serene and serious manner, broke them down into digestible bits of information, and then cemented his claims with strong and reliable verses of the Quran and the narrations of the pure Household. Sometimes, the late Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi employed stories or historical events to simplify these subjects to his audiences.

With the emergence of TV satellite channels and following the foundation of several Shia TV networks, the name of the late Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi, as a top Islamic thinker, became known even in a wider scope of our world’s geography. His lectures, particularly the weekly courses of Islamic ethics which were aired on the Shia TV channels of Al-Anwar and Al-Zahra, became an attraction to a large number of people from all age groups, and even from other faiths and sects of Islam.

These weekly lectures by the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi addressed many topics such as:

• The life and traditions of the holy Prophet of Islam
• The life and traditions of the pure Household
• Discussion about Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon
• How to Start a Family; addressing topics regarding marriage and family
• Discussions on Hajj Pilgrimage
• Discussions on the Afterlife; explaining stages after death

Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi weighed big emphasis on all affairs relating to Iraq and the sacred shrines in this country. On different occasions, he made many fiery lectures to condemn the destruction of the sacred shrines, the last of which was the shrine of Imam Hasan Askari in Samarra. In that lecture, the late Ayatollah uncovered the distorted and baseless ideologies of the assailants and demanded the Iraqi authorities to begin reconstruction projects of this sacred shrine. Meanwhile, he always encouraged the Shia Muslims to renovate the cemetery of Baqi and used all means for that purpose.

Furthermore, video recordings of classes held by the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was made available to the seminary students and the avid learners of the Islamic sciences.

Personal Traits

The late Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi was a living personification of moral virtues and ethical principles and his spiritual and unique personality traits always impressed the people who had the chance to meet him in person. The following is a brief view on the moral virtues of the late Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi.

• Humility and Servitude to the Lord

In the views of the late Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi, humility and servitude to Almighty God were the basic foundations of faith. This belief had made the Ayatollah to become an embodiment of humility, piety, devotion and self-observance. He had no obsession towards the worldly luxuries and had invested his entire life in the servitude of the Almighty God and the pure Household of the holy Prophet of Islam.

• High Morals

Friend or foe, everyone had no way but to admit the high morals of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi. He had special respects for everyone, never interrupted people, and always tried to take loads off the shoulders of his believing fellows. Also, he never let his great position as an eminent Islamic scholar stop him from doing his personal chores. Therefore, he didn’t ask anyone to do his tasks and when someone helped him, he showed his utmost gratitude.

• Patience and Endurance

Just like his father, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was a patient and enduing person, who never let the problems and hardships take the better of him. Even in the most despairing moments of his life, his inviting and attractive smile was a resemblance of tranquility and serenity to all people around him. Not only the Ayatollah never became angry for the insulting words of the ignorant, but also he always responded such behaviors with a mild and respectful manner.

• Punctual and Meticulous

In scientific discussions, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was greatly observant and meticulous. Whenever confronted with a complex scientific question, he examined all influential factors and did a wide research on the topic in order to discover the true answer for the question.

In cases, these researches and examinations took weeks long, but the Ayatollah Muhammad Rida Shirazi never withdrew from a question. There were times that the Ayatollah gave the answer to some questions after weeks or even months, when even the person who asked the question had forgotten about his question.

Another distinguishing feature of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi was his punctuality. He always was present in the class, before his own students and he never canceled a session with prior notice. This punctual and orderly behavior inspired many students to establish a more serious determination for their future Islamic studies.