Ayatollah: Difference between revisions

Ayatullah (the sign of Allah) is a general title used for top ranking Shi‘a scholars from early fourteenth/twentieth century onward.

The title was firstly given to Hasan b. Yusuf b. Ali b. Mutahhar, known as: [[al-’allama al-Hilli]]. After the establishment of Seminary in Qom by [[Shaykh ‘abd al-Karim Ha’iri]], some great Fuqaha who gathered there, became known as Ayatullah.

==In Early Periods of Islamic History==

Some titles like: [[Thiqat al-Islam]], [[Hujjat al-Islam]], [[Muhaqqiq]], [[‘allama]] and Ayatullah were first used particularly for certain individuals as respectful expressions. Later those individuals became known by their titles and afterwards, those titles became prevalent in general use and for other scholars.

In fourth century the title Thiqat al-Islam for [[al-Kulayni]], in fifth century the title Hujjat al-Islam for [[al-Ghazali]], in seventh century the title Muhaqqiq for [[Ja’far b. Hasan al-Hilli]] and in eighth century the titles: ‘allama and Ayatullah for Hasan b. Yusuf al-Hilli were used. All of these titles remained exclusive for the abovementioned scholars for several centuries.

===First Scholar Known by Ayatullah===

For the first time, the title Ayatullah was given to Hasan b. Yusuf b. Mutahhar al-Hilli, though he is famous by his other title al-‘allama al-Hilli.

[[Ibn Hajar ‘asqalani]] (d.852/) regards ‘allama al-Hilli as Ayat fi al-Dhaka, (a sign [of [[Allah]]] because of his smartness) perhaps because of this and because of his profound knowledge and unique piety, the title Ayatullah was given to him.

[[Sharaf al-Din Shawlistani]], [[Shaykh Baha’ al-Din al-‘amili]] and [[Mulla Muhammad Baqir Majlisi]], in various certificates for their students, mentioned al-‘allama al-Hilli with the title: Ayatullah fi al-‘alamin (the sign of Allah in the worlds)

When counting his teachers of narrations, [[Mulla Muhammad Baqir Majlisi]] uses the same title for [[Shams al-Din Muhammad b. Makki]].

==In fourteenth/twentieth century==

Until the 14th/20th century the title Ayatullah had not been used for any other scholar. In early fourteenth century and for the first time, [[Mirza Husayn Nuri]] (1254/1836-1320/1903) used this title for [[Sayyid Muhammad Mahdi Bahrul’ulum]]. After few decades, [[Shaykh ‘abbas Qummi]] used Ayatullah for [[Shaykh Murtida Ansari]], [[Shaykh Husayn Najaf]] and [[Sayyid Muhammad Hasan Shirazi]]. Gradually [[Mashruta]] historians used the title for [[Akhund Mulla Kazim Khurasani]], [[Haj Mirza Husayn Mirza Khalil]], [[Khaykh ‘abd Allah Mazandarani]] and others. Before that, all Maraji’ were referred to, in official correspondences and speeches, as: Hujjat al-Islam.

===Ayatullah al-‘uzma (Grand Ayatullah)===

In 1340/1922 and when Shaykh ‘abd al-Karim Ha’iri established the (Hawza) [[Seminary of Qom]] and it turned to the center of Islamic and Shi‘a studies; some great scholars who gathered there were called Ayatullah and gradually more prominent scholars who were at the position of a [[Marja’]] were referred to as Ayatullah al-Uzama (grand Ayatullah).