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 74–75) Jalandhar, India
Muhammad al-Fayadh 1930 (age 86–87) Ghazni, Afghanistan
Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim 1 February 1934 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.
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