Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani

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Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani
Personal Information
Religious AffiliationImamiyya
BirthRabi' al-Awwal 9, 1349/August 4, 1930
Place of BirthMashhad
ResidenceNajaf
Studied inMashhad, Qom, Najaf
Scholarly Information
ProfessorsAl-Sayyid Abu l-Qasim al-Khoei, Husayn al-Hilli, Ayatollah Burujirdi
WorksMinhaj al-salihin, ...
Socio-Political Activities
Socio-Political
Activities		Performing the Funeral Prayer for the body of Ayatollah al-Khoei • contributions in changing the regime and the laws of Iraq • resolving the conflict between Muqtada Sadr and American-Iraqi forces • the call for fighting the ISIS
Official Websitewww.sistani.org


Al-Sayyid ʿAlī al-Ḥusayni al-Sīstānī (Arabic: السيد علي الحسیني السيستاني; b.1930) is a Shia authority and a teacher of advanced courses of jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence in Najaf. He studied in the Islamic seminary of Mashhad, Qom and Najaf. He attended the lectures of Ayatollah Burujirdi, Sayyid Muhammad Hujjat Kuhkamara'i, and Ayatollah al-Khoei. He became the Shia authority after the demise of Ayatollah al-Khoei in 1413/1992. He played a crucial role in the regime change in Iraq and the approval of the new Iraqi constitution after Saddam Hussein.

When ISIS attacked Iraq and moved towards central and southern parts of the country, Ayatollah al-Sistani announced that it was a collective obligation (al-wajib al-kifa'i) to defend the country. Some of his lecture notes have been published, such as "Qāʿida lā ḍarar wa lā ḍirār". There are many academic and educational centers, libraries, and centers of social services in different parts of the world, such as Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Britain, and Lebanon, which were established by his office.

Life

Al-Sayyid 'Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani was born in Mashhad on Rabi' al-Awwal 9, 1349/August 4, 1930. His father, Sayyid Muhammad Baqir, was a Shia scholar, and his mother was the daughter of al-Sayyid Rida Mihrabani Sarabi. His grandfather, al-Sayyid' Ali al-Sistani, was a student of al-Sayyid Muhammad Hasan al-Shirazi in Najaf who returned to Mashhad in 1318/1900-1.[1]

Education

Al-Sistani studied the preliminaries in Mashhad. He began his studies in the Islamic seminary in 1360/1941. He studied Arabic literature with Muhammad Taqi al-Adib al-Nishapuri, Sharh al-lum'a and al-Qawanin with Sayyid Ahmad Mudarris Yazdi, the intermediate level of jurisprudence and principle of jurisprudence with Mirza Hashim al-Qazwini, Islamic philosophy with Sayf Allah al-Aysi al-Miyanaji, Shaykh Mujtaba Qazwini, and Mirza Mahdi Isfahani. Al-Sayyid' Ali al-Sistani also attended the Kharij lessons (advanced courses) of Mirza Mahdi Ashtiyani and Mirza Hashim Qazwini on jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence.[2]

Three Years in Qom

In 1368/1948-9, al-Sistani moved to Qom and attended the advanced classes of Ayatollah Burujirdi in jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence. He also attended the advanced courses of Sayyid Muhammad Hujjat Kuhkamara'i.[3]

In this period, he corresponded with al-Sayyid' Ali al-Bihbahani, a follower of Muhaqqiq Tihrani's school of jurisprudence, concerning qibla. Finally, al-Sayyid' Ali al-Bihbahani wrote a letter to al-Sayyid' Ali al-Sistani (who was 21 years old then) on Rajab 7, 1370/April 14, 1951, and called him "a major scholar and an elite and meticulous jurist", postponing the rest of their discussion to when they met in person.

Immigration to Najaf

In 1371/1951-2, al-Sistani went to Najaf and resided in Bukhara'i Seminary School. He attended the advanced courses of Ayatollah al-Khoei and Shaykh Husayn al-Hilli on advanced jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence. In addition to his participation in these two lectures for a long time, al-Sistani also attended the lectures of Sayyid Muhsin Hakim and Sayyid Mahmud al-Husayni al-Shahrudi.[4]

Ijtihad and Marja'iyya

In 1380/1960-1 when he was 31 years old, al-Sayyid' Ali al-Sistani received permissions for ijtihad from two of his teachers, Ayatollah al-Khoei and Shaykh Husayn al-Hilli. He is the only person who received Permission to ijtihad from Shaykh Husayn al-Hilli.[5] In a note (dated 1380/1960-1), Agha Buzurg Tihrani confirmed al-Sayyid 'Ali al-Sistani's competence in rijal (biographical evaluation) and hadiths.[6]

At the request of his teacher, Ayatollah al-Khoei, Ayatollah al-Sistani became the leader of congregational prayers in the al-Khadra' Mosque in Najaf since Jumada II 5, 1409/January 13, 1989. Before this, Ayatollah al-Khoei was the leader of congregational prayers there; he quit it because of illness. Ayatollah al-Sistani was the leader of the Mosque until the last Friday of Dhu l-Hijja, 1414/June 1994 when the Mosque was shut down by the Iraqi government (in the period of Saddam).[7]

After Ayatollah al-Khoei's demise on Safar 8, 1413/August 8, 1992, Ayatollah al-Sistani took over the marja'iyya (Shia authority). After the deaths of Sayyid' Abd al-A'la Sabziwari and Sayyid Muhammad Rida Gulpayigani in 1414/1993 as well as Muhammad' Ali Araki and Sayyid Muhammad Ruhani, his marja'iyya became more wide-ranging.[8]

Work

Some works by Ayatollah al-Sistani have been published, and some of his work still remains unpublished.

"' English works:'"

  • A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West (Arabic:الفقه للمغتربین):
Main article: Al-fiqh li l-mughtaribin

This book is translated as A Code of Practice For Muslims in the West and is divided into two parts. Part one deals with acts of worship and consists of seven chapters: Migration to non-Muslim Countries; Following a Jurist (Taqlid); Ritual Purity and Impurity (tahara); Prayer (Salat); Fasting (Sawm); the Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj); and Death Related Issues. Part Two on Laws on the Mundane Aspects of Life such as Eating and Drinking; Dress and Clothing; Dealing with Laws in Non-Muslim Countries; Marriage, etc. [9]

  • Islamic Laws:

This book is Ayatollah al-Sistani's fatwas on ritual acts of worship. [10]

  • Al-Fatawa al-Muyassira (Arabic: الفتاوى الميسّـرة)":

The book is translated as Jurisprudence Made Easy. It is also Ayatollah al-Sistani's Fatwas, but the book aims to disentangle the complexity of the juridical text, making it readily accessible to those who need to be acquainted with and act upon it among the laity.[11]

  • Current Legal Issues:

A selection of the answers to questions covering contemporary Muslims' current issues. They revolve around general themes, such as prayer, Hajj (pilgrimage), food, commodities, women's issues, reproduction, medical issues, ethical matters, modern science and technology, entertainment and leisure, work, transactions, religious dues and other topics.[12]

  • Manasik al-Hajj (Arabic: مناسك الحج):

The book is translated as "Hajj Rituals" and is about rulings and rituals of Hajj.[13]

"'Other published works:'"

Here are also some of his published work, which is mostly his lecture notes written by his students:

Minhaj al-salihin
  • Minhaj al-salihin (منهاج الصالحین): the book contains fatwas by Ayatollah al-Sistani in 3 volumes. It was published in Qom in 1415/1994. Minhaj al-salihin is in fact a book by Al-Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim, modified and expanded by Ayatollah al-Khoei according to his fatwas, and was later modified and expanded by Ayatollah al-Sistani. The preface of the book written by Ayatollah al-Sistani is dated Dhu l-Hijja 20, 1413/June 11, 1993.
  • "Qa'ida la darar wa la dirar" (قاعدة لا ضرر و لا ضرار): notes from Ayatollah al-Sistani's lectures on jurisprudence written by al-Sayyid Muhammad Rida al-Sistani and published in 1414/1993-4.
  • "Ikhtilaf al-hadith" (اختلاف الحدیث): notes from Ayatollah al-Sistani's lectures in 1396/1976 written by his student, Sayyid Hashim Hashimi, and unofficially published in 195 pages. The notes show that Ayatollah al-Sistani's approach to resolving apparent contradictions in hadiths is to pinpoint the origins of such discrepancies in hadiths rather than al-ta'adul wa l-tarajih (balancing and preferring).
  • Al-'Urwa al-Wuthqa (العروة الوثقی): al-Sistani's commentaries on al-Yazdi's well-known book, al-'Urwa al-Wuthqa. The second print of the book is published in Beirut in 1431/2010. The book has two volumes.
  • "Al-Rafid fi l-usul" (الرافد فی الاصول): notes from Ayatollah al-Sistani's lectures on principles of jurisprudence written by Sayyid Munir Sayyid' Adnan al-Qatifi in one volume in Arabic. The book is concerned with the value of principles of jurisprudence for the Imamiyya, approaches to principles of jurisprudence, and similar issues.

Affiliated Institutes

There are many academic and cultural institutes and centers affiliated with Ayatollah al-Sistani in different parts of the world, such as Qom, London, Beirut and Istanbul. Here are some of these centers:

  • Imam' Ali (a) Institute in Qom: it was founded in 1994[14] to translate and publish Islamic books and the doctrines of Shia Imams (a). It has published books in 25 languages. The institute has branches in London and Beirut that were, respectively, established in 1416/1995 and 1417/1996.[15]
  • The Cultural Institute of Al al-Bayt (a) in Istanbul: it was founded in Turkey in 2001 to revive the culture of Ahl al-Bayt (a) and introduce people to their school and Islamic values. The institute holds courses of the Quran and Islamic beliefs, religious ceremonies, and religious seminars, it translates and publishes religious books and journals, and it founded the first library of Ahl al-Bayt (a) in Turkey.[16] Its branch in Germany was established in 2005.[17]
  • The Center for Research in Islamic Beliefs in Qom: it consists of a library, a faculty for replying to objections to Islamic beliefs and supporting people who have converted to Shiism, a department of documents, center for conferences, and the internet.[18]
  • Al-Mustafa Center for Islamic Researches in Qom: It was established to provide storage of Shia and Sunni sources regarding Islamic beliefs. It has collected 3000 volumes of books as sources for an Encyclopedia of Islamic Beliefs.[19]
  • The Center for the Revival of the Islamic Heritage in Qom seeks to collect manuscripts from Islamic sources.[20]
  • The Astronomical Research Center in Qom. It was founded in 1418/1997 in Qom. It provides courses in astronomy, the solar system, Islamic astronomy, and astronomical physics. The center has established a college of astronomy as well as a library of astronomy, it has translated astronomical papers, it has constructed an observatory, it has published work by early Muslim scholars concerning astronomy, and it publishes an astronomical calendar.[21]
  • Imam al-Sadiq (a) Cultural Complex in Beirut was founded in 2006. It has an office for answering people's questions about sharia rulings, a library, and a conference hall. The center also aims to provide social and cultural services.[22]

Ayatollah al-Sistani's office has founded specialized libraries in Qom, such as the Library of Quranic Exegesis and Sciences, the Library of Hadith Sciences, the Library of jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence, the Library of Philosophy and Theology, the Library of Literature, and the Library of the History of Islam and Iran.

  • The Library of Quranic Exegesis and Sciences in Qom: it was opened in 1418/1997-8 with over 15000 books in Persian and Arabic.[30]
  • The Library of Hadith Sciences in Qom: it was established in 1418/1997-8. It contains books regarding Shia hadiths, rijal (biographical evaluation), diraya (comprehension of hadith), lexicology, dictionaries, hadith sources in English, French, and German, as well as hadith journals.[31]
  • The Library of Fiqh and Usul in Qom. It was opened in 1420/1999-2000[32] with 15000 books and 1580 specialized journals. It contains books concerning jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, rijal, and the law.[33]
  • The Library of Philosophy and Theology in Qom: it contains books concerning philosophy, theology, logic, history, wisdom, mysticism, philosophical schools, and different religions.[34]
  • The Library of Literature in Qom: it was founded in 1418/1997-8, and it contains over 45000 books in Persian and Arabic.[35]
  • The Library of the History of Islam and Iran in Qom. It was opened in 1995 with 4000 books. In 2011, it contained 115000 books. The library has also published 16 books so far.[36]

Ayatollah al-Sistani's office has also established centers for social services in different areas:

  • The cultural-residential complex, called "Madinat al-'Ilm" in Najaf. The center provides residences for the students of the Islamic seminary of Najaf. It consists of residential units, kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, health and business centers, and cultural services, such as libraries.[37] Ayatollah al-Sistani's cultural-residential complex in Qom was founded in 1416/1995-6 to provide residence for the students of the Islamic seminary.[38] Ayatollah al-Sistani's office also contributed to the residential complex of Mahdiyya in Qom, which provides residential units for the students of the Islamic seminary.[39] It also provided such units in the residential complex of Thamin al-Hujaj (a) in Mashhad[40] and the residential complex of Imam al-Hadi (a) in Qom.[41]
  • The Islamic Seminaries of al-Balaghi[42] and Najm al-A'imma[43] in Najaf, the Quranic school of Karbala,[44] as well as the school of Ruqayya (a) for orphans in Karbala[45] are constructed and administered by Ayatollah al-Sistani's office.
  • The Charity Clinic of Imam al-Sadiq (a) in Qom,[46] the Charity Clinic of Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba (a) in Ilam, the Specialty Clinic of Imam Husayn (a) in Karbala,[47] Jawad al-A'imma (a) Specialty and Super Specialty Center of Ophthalmology in Qom,[48] as well as al-'Ayn Institute of Social Welfare—which provides support and care for orphans—[49]are also sponsored by Ayatollah al-Sistani's office.

Political and Social Contributions

  • "' Saying the Funeral Prayer for the body of Ayatollah al-Khoei'": after Ayatollah al-Khoei 's death, al-Sayyid' Ali al-Sistani, who was the most prominent student of his, said the funeral prayer. According to the traditions of Shia seminaries, the person who says funeral prayers for a deceased Shia authority is his successor.[50] However, Ayatollah al-Sistani's marja'iyya (authority for Shi'as) began in silence because of the complex conditions of Shi'as and the Islamic seminary of Najaf in the period of Saddam as well as Sayyid' Abd al-A'la Sabziwari being alive until August 16, 1993.[51]
However, Ja'far Natanzi, a student of Ayatollah al-Khoei, believed that Ayatollah al-Sistani's funeral prayers for Ayatollah al-Khoei do not imply that he was al-Khoei's successor in Shia authority because nobody had stayed in Najaf then. He also talked about Ayatollah al-Khoei's funeral and Ayatollah al-Sistani's funeral prayer for him, saying that "it was a silent funeral. Al-Khoei's body was brought, Ayatollah al-Sistani said the funeral prayer and then left. He did not exhibit any signs of marja'iyya then. He is wise; after him, Sayyid' Abd al-A'la was the Shia authority".[52]
  • "' Contributions in changing the regime and the laws of Iraq'": after the attack on Iraq by US forces and the overthrow of Saddam's government, Ayatollah al-Sistani never asked people to resist the overthrow of Saddam, although he never allowed American officials, such as Jay Garner and Paul Bremer, to go to his house. He played a key role in encouraging people to participate in different elections to establish a new system and new laws for Iraq.[53]
  • "' Resolving the conflict between Muqtada Sadr and American-Iraqi forces'": the shutdown of the newspaper, al-Hawza, in 2004, in which Muqtada Sadr 's Islamic, anti-American viewpoints were propagated,[54] led to military conflicts between Jaysh al-Mahdi militias and American forces in Iraq.[55] The crisis led to the entrance of American tanks in Karbala and conflicts between American forces and proponents of Muqtada Sadr in Karbala, Najaf, and Kufa. Tens of people were killed in this event.[56] Several conflicts between Jaysh al-Mahdi, on the one hand, and American and Iraqi forces, on the other hand, occurred and continued until May 2004, leading to the siege of Najaf, damages to the Shrine of Imam Ali (a), and the killing of tens of residents of Shia-based cities of Iraq. Jaysh al-Mahdi forces made a stronghold in the shrine of Imam Ali (a).[57] The crisis was finally resolved by Ayatollah al-Sistani's peace proposal on August 27, 2004. In this event, the administration of the Shrine of Imam Ali (a) and the Mosque of Kufa were assigned to the Shia authority.
Pope Francis meets Ayatollah al-Sistani in Najaf on 6 March 2021.
  • "' The call for fighting the ISIS'": after the fall of Mosul in Iraq and the advance of ISIS towards central and southern parts of Iraq, Ayatollah al-Sistani announced it a collective obligation (al-wajib al-kifa'i) to defend the country, the nation, and the sanctities. He asked the citizens who could carry guns and fight the terrorists to join the Iraqi security forces.[58] Ayatollah al-Sistani's request was announced by 'Abd al-Mahdi Karbala'i, Karbala's Leader of Friday Prayers and Ayatollah al-Sistani's representative, and although it was not a fatwa, it functioned as a fatwa and led many people to join the fight against ISIS.[59]
  • "' Pope Francis meets Ayatollah al-Sistani'": Pope Francis and Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani met on March 6 2021 in al-Sistani's modest house in Najaf.[60] Ayatollah al-Sistani, in this meeting, talked about the injustice, oppression, poverty, religious and intellectual persecution, suppression of basic freedoms and the absence of social justice, especially the wars, acts of violence, economic blockade, displacement and so on, especially the Palestinian people in the occupied territories.[61]

Notes

  1. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  2. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  3. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  4. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  5. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  6. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  7. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  8. ↑ A biography of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid 'Ali Husayni Sistani.
  9. ↑ http://www.sistani.org/english/book/46/2018/
  10. ↑ http://www.sistani.org/english/book/48/
  11. ↑ http://www.sistani.org/english/book/49/
  12. ↑ http://www.sistani.org/english/book/45/1955/
  13. ↑ http://www.sistani.org/english/book/47/
  14. ↑ An introduction to Imam 'Ali Institute, Qom.
  15. ↑ Imam 'Ali Institute, Qom.
  16. ↑ Al-al-Bayt cultural institute in Istanbul.
  17. ↑ Al-al-Bayt cultural institute in Berlin.
  18. ↑ The Center for Research in Islamic Beliefs in Qom.
  19. ↑ Al-Mustafa Center for Islamic Researches in Qom.
  20. ↑ The Islamic Heritage Revival Center in Qom.
  21. ↑ The Center of Astronomical Researches in Qom.
  22. ↑ Imam al-Sadiq (a) Cultural Complex in Beirut.
  23. ↑ www.al-shia.org
  24. ↑ Website of Al-Shia.
  25. ↑ See: Website of Al-Shia.
  26. ↑ Ahl al-Bayt Information Center Network - Najaf Branch.
  27. ↑ Ahl al-Bayt Information Center Network - Karbala Branch.
  28. ↑ Ahl al-Bayt Information Center Network - Kadhimayn Branch.
  29. ↑ Institutions and organizations affiliated with Ayatollah Sistani.
  30. ↑ The specialized library of Quranic Exegesis and Studies in Qom.
  31. ↑ The Specialized Library of Hadith Studies in Qom.
  32. ↑ The most comprehensive library of Islamic jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence under the supervision of Ayatollah Sistani.
  33. ↑ The Specialized Library of Islamic Jurisprudence and Principles of Jurisprudence in Qom.
  34. ↑ The Specialized Library of Philosophy and Theology in Qom.
  35. ↑ The Specialized Library of Literature in Qom.
  36. ↑ The Specialized Library of Islamic and Iranian History in Qom.
  37. ↑ Madinat al-'ilm Cultural and Residential Complex, Najaf.
  38. ↑ Grand Ayatollah Sistani Cultural and Residential Complex in Qom.
  39. ↑ Mahdiyya Residential Complex in Qom.
  40. ↑ The Thāmin al-hujaj (a) Residential Complex in Mashhad.
  41. ↑ Imam Hadi (a) Residential Complex in Qom.
  42. ↑ Allamah Balaghi School in Najaf.
  43. ↑ Najm al-A'imma Seminary School in Najaf.
  44. ↑ Quranic School in Karbala.
  45. ↑ Hadrat-i Ruqayya (a) Orphanage School in Karbala.
  46. ↑ Imam Sadiq (a) Charitable Clinic in Qom.
  47. ↑ Imam Husayn (a) Specialized Clinic, Karbala.
  48. ↑ Jawad al-A'imma (a) Specialized and Super specialized Ophthalmology center in Qom.
  49. ↑ al-'Ayn Institute of Social Welfare.
  50. ↑ A Jurist for the Ages.
  51. ↑ Shiites feel honored because of Ayatollah Sistani.
  52. ↑ Shiites feel honored because of Ayatollah Sistani.
  53. ↑ A Jurist for the Ages.
  54. ↑ Who are the scientific and jihadi stars of Iraq?
  55. ↑ Muqtada al-Sadr's farewell to politic; A look at His Life.
  56. ↑ A bloody conflict in Najaf and the entry of US Army tanks into Karbala.
  57. ↑ Who are the scientific and jihadi stars of Iraq?; The beginning and end of Jaysh al-Mahdi, the military wing of the Sadrist Movement.
  58. ↑ The role of Grand Ayatollah Sistani's fatwa on jihad in preventing the disintegration of Iraq.
  59. ↑ The role of Grand Ayatollah Sistani's fatwa on jihad in preventing the disintegration of Iraq.; Grand Ayatollah Sistani issued a fatwa on jihad.
  60. ↑ Pope Francis meets with Ayatollah Sistani in Najaf.
  61. ↑ A statement issued by the office of the Supreme Religious Authority of World's Shia Muslims, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, regarding his meeting with the Grand Pontiff, the Pope, the official website of the office of Ayatollah al-Sistani. Retrieved March 7, 2021.

References

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