Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.)

Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.), the leading jurist, the Grand Marja of the Shi'ites in the world, the great preserver of Islamic heritage, renowned jurisprudent, the great researcher, historian and genealogist.
Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayyid Shihab al-Din Hussaini al-Marashi
al-Najafi was born on 20the Safar 1315 A.H./ July 21, 1897 in the
holy city of Najaf(Iraq) in a famous religious family renowned for
its high knowledge and ardent faith. In the beginning he was
taught by his learned father Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayyid Shams
al-Din Mahmood Husaini al-Marashi al-Najafi (passed away in
1338 lunar Hijrah) who was one of the greatest Islamic
jurisprudent of that era.
He also learned Qur'anic sciences and its exegesis,
fundamentals of jurisprudence, mathematics, astronomy,
medicine, Rijal, Dirayah and theology from a large group of
well-known professors in the Hawzah (Islamic seminaries) in the
hoy city of Najaf (Iraq), which was one of the greatest Islamic
seminary in the Islamic world.
He attained the highest degree of Ijtihad in a short period and
be came renowned amongst the scholars for his in depth research
and also for lecturing religious sciences in the seminary.
Some years later Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) went to
Mashhad(Iran) to perform the ziyarah of Imam Reza(A.S.). On
his return he stayed in Tehran to persue his studies and
researches.
After a year stay in Tehran he decided to move to the holy city
of Qom to attend the lectures of Ayatullah al-Uzma Shaykh
Abdul Karim Haeri al-Yazdi, the founder of the Hawzah (Islamic
Seminary) in Qom. On his arrival in Qom he also began lecturing
in the Islamic seminary as well as attended the advanced courses
in jurisprudence lectured by Ayatullah al Uzma Haeri al-Yazdi.
He decided to stay in the holy city of Qom and very soon emerged
as a leading professor in the Hawzah.
After a short time the leading Ulama and professors of the
Islamic seminary of Qom declared him as the Grand
Marja(religious leader) of the Shi'ites in the world. Millions of the
Shi'ites in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, U.A.E, Bahrain, Pakistan,
India, Turkey, Tanzania, Kenya, Zanzibar and the eastern
provinces of Saudi Arabia followed his rulings in Islamic juris
prudence.
Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) was the leading professor in the
Hawzah of Qom for more than 67 years. His lectures every day
was attended by hundreds of Ulama and Tullab (seminary
students). He also led the daily congregational prayers in the holy
shrine of Hadrat Fatima Masoomah(A.S.) for more than half a
century.
Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) dedicated all his efforts towards
the progress and advancement of the Hawzah in the holy city of
Qom. He trained hundreds of jurisprudents and theologians who
later on became famous professors in Hawzah and the universities
in Iran and abroad.
He wrote outstanding books in almost all the Islamic sciences.
Most of them were written in Arabic and they are as follows:
* Molhaqat al Ahqaq
* Al Hashiyah Ala al-Orwat al-Wothqa
* Minhaj al-Momineen
* Taqrirat al-Qusas
* Tabaqat al-Nassabeen
* Al-Hashiyah Ala Kifayah al-Usul
* Al-Hashiyah Ala Al-Rasail
* Al Mashhahed Wal Mazarat
* Aayan al-Marashieen
* Al-Moawal Fee Amr al-Motawal
* Ulama al-Sada'at
* Masareh al-Afkar Wa al-Hashiyah Ala Taqrirat al Shaykh
al-Murtuza al-Ansari
* Al-Fawa'id al-Rijaliyah
* Kashf al-Irtiyab
* Al Mujdi Fi Hayat Saheb al-Mujdi
* Raf al-Ghashiyah An Wajh al-Hashiyah
* Al-Rad Ala Moddae'i al-Tahreef
* Taliqah Ala Omdat al-Taleb
* Mushajjarat Aal Rasool Allah al-Akram
* Rehlah Isfahan, Shiraz, Samarrah Wa Azarbaijan.
The Prominent Personalities Who Met Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi
Al-Najafi(R.A.)
1) The famous Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.
2) Rashid Raza, the Egyptian author of Tafseer al-Manar.
3) Shaykh al-Tantawi al-Jawhari, the famous Egyptian author
of Tafseer al-Jawaher.
4) The Cardinal Al-Kermily from Baghdad(Iraq).
5) Henry Corbin, the famous French philosopher and
orientalist.
6) Shaykh Muhammad Bin Zebarah, the famous historian from
Yemen.
One of the most famous and important cultural services of
Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) was the establishment of a grand library in the holy city of Qom which has international reputation
and prestige to its credit. This library is considered as the greatest
cultural heritage in the history of Iran. Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.) is also famous as "The Greatest Preserver of the
Islamic Heritage" in the world's scientific circles and centres.
After rendering selfless service in the fields of learning,
teaching and disseminating Islamic culture for nearly a century,
Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) passed away after suffering a heart attack on Wednesday, 29 August 1990. He was 96 years of age.
Soon after this heart rending event the government of the
Islamic Republic of Iran announced three days of national
mourning. The Shi'ite Muslims all over the world also mourned
the passing away of their great religious leader.
On Friday, 31 August 1990, millions of devoted Shi'ites from
throughout Iran and various countries carried the holy remains of
Ayatullah al-Uzma Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.) in the historical funeral procession which was attended by all the Grand Marja, Ulama, Tullab,
high-ranking government and military officials of Iran and
diplomatic staff of the many Islamic countries based in Tehran. As
per his last will he was laid to rest at the entrance of the Grand
Library which was established by his ceaseless and incessant
efforts. His last will states: "Bury me at the entrance of the library
so that the feet of the researchers of Islamic sciences step beside
my grave."