Big Four (Najaf)

The Big Four in Najaf: (from left) al-Fayadh, al-Sistani, al-Hakim and al-Najafi

The Big Four refers to the four contemporary leading Grand Ayatollahs of Twelver Shia Islam based in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq.[1][2][3]

Background

Most Twelver Shia Muslims follow the Islamic rulings of a Grand Ayatollah. Under Saddam Hussein, the clerics were oppressed. At present, the most prominent among them is Ali al-Sistani; who also serves as the head of the Najaf Seminary.[4]

List

Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam
Grand Ayatollah Date of birth Place of birth
Ali al-Sistani 4 August 1930 Mashhad, Iran
(The other three arranged in alphabetical order)
Bashir al-Najafi 1942 (age 7374) Jalandhar, India
Muhammad al-Fayadh 1930 (age 8586) Ghazni, Afghanistan
Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim 1 February 1936 Najaf, Iraq

References

  1. Escobar, Pepe (3 February 2007). "A massacre and a new civil war". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  2. Mouzahem, Haytham (7 March 2014). "Iraqi Shiite clerics maintain humility, influence". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  3. "Sources close to the reference: the next prime minister will be a surprise to all". iraqidinarchat.net. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
  4. Finn, Ed (4 February 2004). "Why we'd better listen to Iraq's influential cleric.". Slate (magazine). Retrieved 30 June 2014.

External links

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