On Monday 2 nd Shawwal 1422, 17 th December 2001 we lost the most eminent Marje' of recent history, thelike of which Shi 'a will not see for many generations to come, namely Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Imam al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Hussaini al-Shirazi Ridhwaan Allah Alayh. Hewas one of those divine scholars who upheld the truthful knowledge,and correct vision who were renowned for their noble and gracious manners and righteous deeds, excelled in writing and composition, and spread the knowledge and the teachings of Ahl-ul-Bayt Alayhim-us-salam. The late Imam has left behind for the Islamic library a magnificent heritage of more than one thousandbooks. He also trained hundreds of scholars, researchers, writers, and speakers, not to mention the thousands of believers. He also established hundreds of religious, educational and charity institutions and organisations around the world.
His loss is an irreplaceable loss not only to the Shi'a, or even the entire Muslim Ummah, but also to all of humanity, in more than one way.
We pray to Allah Almighty to bless him, and accommodate him with hispure ancestors Muhammad and his noble and impeccable progeny. We also pray to Allah Almighty to protect for us and for the Muslim Ummah, the brother of the late Imam, his eminence Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi who succeeded his late brother as the Marje'. We pray and ask Allah Almighty to help and support him to make up for the great loss we have encountered and to help him to carry the banner of the institution ofthe Shi'a Marje', and to help him execute faultlessly the duties of the office of the Marje', for he is prime successor for a good predecessor. Truly Allah is all-hearing and readilyanswers.
A brief look at the life of
Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi
*. Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was born in the holy city of Karbala on 20.12.1360 H. He started his studies at a young age and continued his advanced studies at the hands of the scholars and Maraje' in the Hawzahs until he attained a distinguished degree in Ijtihaad.
*. He developed the reputation for expertise and excellence in Fiqh and Ijtihaad such that he became renowned in the elite circles of topscholar and Ulema in the holy city of Qum, and before that in the holycities of Karbala and Najaf, for his distinction and brilliance in various fields such as Usul, hadith, logic, righteousness, piety, etc.
*. He grew up in family deeply rooted in knowledge and Islamic sciences, Fiqh and Ijtihaad, descendant of noble and honourable ancestry, a family witha history jihad and self-sacrifice . . .the family of al-Mujaddid al-Kabir Mirza Hassan al-Shirazi leader of the Constitutional Revolution in Iran - also known as the 'Tobacco Movement' – which fought off the take over of Iran by the British Empire, thereby creating another 'India' in Iran through economic deals with the then ruler of Iran. He grew in an environment of righteousness and piety, and embarked on his studies and research with all his means and abilities, seeking the knowledge of Islamic sciences until he attained a distinguished station in these fields.
*. He vowed to totally dedicate himself to seeking knowledge, and adhere in all aspects of life to piety and good deed, serving the cause of Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam and defending their holy teachings. His excellence in Fiqh, Usul and other Islamic science gave him particular prominence amongst the eminent scholars of today.
*. In his pursuit of seeking knowledge and excellence in the Islamic sciences, he made a point of visiting and meeting with the top Ulema and Maraje ' to engage in various debates concerning scholarly activities as well as addressing the affairs of the Muslims and the Shi 'a during the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi alayhis-salam. In return the Ulemaand Maraje ' visited him in his modest house; raising various issues of concern and praising him for his dedication to the cause of Islam and for his distinction in the Islamic sciences.
*. Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi has written a number of specialist books in the fields of Fiqh and Usul for the Fuqaha ' and the Mujtahids, some of which are “Elucidation of Usul ” – 10 volumes, “Commentaries on ‘Urwatul-Wothqa” – 20 volumes, as well various commentaries on “al-Rawdhah”, “al-Lum'ah”, “al-Shara'e”, “al-Tabsirah”, “al-Seyouti”, “al-Samadiyah”, etc.
*. He has decorated the Hawzah – the university for Islamic Sciences – with his advanced level lecture programs, known as Dars al-Kharij,for the past twenty years and throughout this period many of the Ulema and even some of the Mujtahids attend his lectures regularly.
The Noble Family
Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is the descendent of Imam Hussein alayis-salam, the grandson of Rasulollah, Prophet Muhammad, Salallah alayhi wa 'alihi .
He grew up in a family renowned for its religious leadership over the past century and a half. Some famous members of his family are:
1. The supreme Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Muhammad Hassan Shirazi, known as al-Mujaddid al-Shirazi, leader of the ‘Tobacco Movement ' in
1.
1.
Iran
which resisted the take over of the country by the then colonial power the British Empire. [Died 1312 H – murdered by poisoning by British agents.]
2.
The supreme Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, leader of the 1920 Revolution in
Iraq
, which expelled the British Army from the country. [Died 1338 H – murdered by poisoning by British agents.]
3.
The Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Ali Shirazi, the cousin of al-Mujaddid al-Shirazi, who was one most prominent Maraje ' i n the holy city of Najaf. He was one of the favoured students of the renowned Sheikh al-Ansari. [Died 1355 H]
4.
The Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Isma'il Shirazi. [Died 1305 H]
5.
The Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Abdel-Hadi Shirazi. [Died 1382]
6.
The supreme Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma Sayyid Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, the most eminent Maraje ' in the holy city of Karbala, the father of Sayyid Sadiq. [Died 1380 H]
7.
The supreme Marje ' Ayatollah al-Udhma al-Imam Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the brother of Sayyid Sadiq, who is mentioned briefly at the beginning of this document.
8.
The martyr Ayatollah al-Imam Sayyid Hassan Shirazi, elder brother of Sayyid Sadiq, who established the Zaynabeyyah Hawzah in the vicinity of the shrine of Zaynab alayhas-salam. Sayyid Hassan developed a close relationship with the Alawi sect inthe
Lebanon
and
Syria
and guided them their original roots, which were the teachings ofAhl-ul-Bayt, since they were originally followers of Ahl-ul-Bayt alayhum-as-salam. Sayyid Hassanestablished many institutions in various countries such as
Iraq
,
Syria
,
Lebanon
, and many African countries. He conducted several research programs and wrote more than eighty books. Agents of the Iraqi regime assassinated him on Beirutin 1400 H.
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