Muhammad Saduqi

Muhammad Saduqi

Personal Information
Full Name	Muhammad Saduqi
Birth	1327/1909
Place of Birth	Yazd
Studied in	Yazd, Isfahan, Qom
Death	Ramadan 10, 1402/July 2, 1982
Scholarly Information
Professors	'Abd al-Karim Ha'iri Yazdi, Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Khwansari, Sayyid Muhammad Hujjat Kuhkamara'i, Imam Khomeini
Students	Mortaza Motahhari
Socio-Political Activities
Socio-Political Activities	Supporting Imam Khomeini and Islamic Revolution of Iran

Muḥammad Ṣadūqī (Persian:محمد صدوقی) (b. 1327/1909 - d. 1402/1982) was a religious scholar and a political activist who was a companion of Imam Khomeini before the Islamic Revolution of Iran. He was Imam Khomeini's representative in Yazd province in Iran and he became the Imam al-Jumu'a after the Islamic Revolution. Saduqi was the representative of Yazd province in the Assembly of Experts for Constitution. Saduqi was martyred after Friday prayer by Mujahidin-i Khalq Organization. He is regarded as a martyr of mihrab (the prayer niche) in Persian literature. Imam Khomeini issued a statement after this incident to point out the significance of such figure who was called his friend for over three decades. Muhammad 'Ali Saduqi, his son, after some time became Imam al-Jumu'a of Yazd.

Biography and Education

Muhammad Saduqi was born in Yazd in 1327/1909. Mirza Abu Talib, his father, was a clergyman in Yazd. Muhammad Saduqi lost his father at the age of 7 and lost his mother at the age of 9. Afterwards, his cousin, Mirza Muhammad Kirmanshahi took care of him. He studied in Yazd and Isfahan and then moved to Qom in order to continue his education. He studied Islamic sciences and theology in Qom for 21 years, learning from religious scholars including 'Abd al-Karim al-Ha'iri al-Yazdi, al-Sayyid Sadr al-Din al-Sadr, Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Khwansari, Sayyid Muhammad Hujjat Kuhkamari'i, and Imam Khomeini.

When al-Shaykh Abd al-Karim al-Ha'iri al-Yazdi, the founder and the manager of seminary of Qom, passed away Muhammad Saduqi was appointed in charge of some affairs of the seminary including taking care of students and schools.

After the demise of Shaykh Ghulam Rida Faqih Khurasani, people of Yazd requested Muhammad Saduqi to return to his city. Also, Imam Khomeini along with a number of grand religious leaders recommended him to return Yazd, as a result, he accepted to come back to Yazd and took care of religious affairs of the city. Saduqi had a special relation with Imam Khomeini, as he stated himself, during the time when he stayed in Qom he regularly visited Imam Khomeini.

Political Activities

Saduqi supported Fada'iyan-i Islam Organization. When their members were prosecuted and pursued, he helped and hid Sayyid Abd al-Husayn Wahidi, the second influential man of the organization, in his house. Shah's men searched his house two times, but they were unable to find him.

After the invasion to Faydiyya seminary in Qom on March 22, 1963, Saduqi wrote a letter and collected the signatures of other religious scholars in which he condemned Shah's regime and their aggressive actions, and he promised to take every possible action to defend and protect religious rituals and places.

After the uprising of people in Qom and Tabriz in 1357/1978, Saduqi issued a statement on the incidents and announced the Nowruz (when people celebrate the start of the solar year) of that year as public mourning.

In the last months of 1357 Sh/1978 Shah's regime proposed traders and business people to choose a representative in order to negotiate with them, however, Saduqi issued a statement and announced their action as a wicked trick to deceive revolutionary people and diverge them.

Muhammad Saduqi issued a number of other statements as well:

• A statement on holding a public commemoration on 15th of Khordad, (June 5, 1978)
• A statement on prohibiting celebration ceremonies on 15th of Sha'ban of 1357 Sh/1987,
• A statement on the Rex Cinema fire in Abadan,
• A statement on condemning the government of Sharif Imami,
• A statement on the 17th of Shahrivar (September 8, 1978)

Saduqi visited Imam Khomeini in France when he was in exile. He also attended the strike of clergymen in the University of Tehran, which took place in order to protest against Bakhtiyar's order to close Mehrabad Airport. Eventually, they had to open the Airport.

Post-Revolution Activities

Ayatollah Saduqi visiting the battlefield during Iran-Iraq War.

After the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Saduqi was appointed as the representative of Imam Khomeini in Yazd and he was chosen as the imam al-jumu'a of the city. His actions were mostly directed to securing society and supporting unity among people. Saduqi was also chosen as the representative of Yazd in The Assemble of Experts.

When Iran-Iraq war started he provided situations for people to join the army and defend their country. He himself attended the battlefield to observe the situation and encourage Iranian soldiers. Ayatullah Khamene'i said: "Saduqi wanted to attend the battlefield, I recommended him to go to the western battlefields, as its weather was better than the southern battlefields. However, later I saw that he came to the southern battlefields and he was present in a military operation."

Martyrdom

Muhammad Saduqi was martyred by Mujahidin-i Khalq Organization after the Friday prayers in 1402/1982. Imam Khomeini issued a statement:

"I have lost a dear friend who committed himself to Islam. He was a grand faqih who sacrificed himself for Iran. People of Yazd lost their knowledgeable representative."