Biography of Ayatollah Sayed Sadeq Shirazi-1

THE RISE

The Grand Shia Islamic Authority and Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is born on January 8, 1942 in the holy city of Karbala, in Iraq into a family of outstanding history and position in the Islamic sciences and leadership. The Grand Jurist was named Sadiq after the sixth Shia Imam, with the hopes of treading in the path of protecting moralities, justice, and the genuine culture of the Islam, presented by the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. These hopes came true years later, as the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi dedicated his entire lifetime to serving the genuine Islam, the holy Quran, and the culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household.  

• FATHER

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi, the father of the Grand Jurist was a widely respected and accredited religious authority of his time.

Born in 1887 in the holy city of Karbala, the Grand Jurist’s father had to suffer the loss of his father, Sayyid Mirza Habibullah Shirazi at the young age of 16, in the year 1903. Since then, he enjoyed the supports of his mother and his elder brother, Sayyid Abdullah. The Grand Jurist’s father studied the Arabic literature and the preliminary stages of Islamic sciences in the Islamic Seminary of holy Karbala; then, he made a long journey to the cities of Samarra and Kadhimiya, and after a short stay in holy Karbala, he left his hometown for the holy city of Najaf, where he continued his studies for the next 20 years. Finally, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi returned to holy Karbala and lived the rest of his life in this city.

The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi had the honor to study under many great names in the contemporary history of Shia Islam, such as Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, Mirza Ali Shirazi, Haji Rida Hamedani, Sayyid Kazim Tabatabaei, and Akhund Khorasani. Meanwhile, the father of the Grand Jurist along with many acclaimed Shia scholars and religious authorities such as Sayyid Muhammad Hadi Milani, Haji Sheikh Muhammad Rida Isfahani, Sayyid Zainul Abedin Kashani, and Sheikh Kazim Shirazi used to take part in the scientific courses directed by the senior Shia scholar of the time, Grand Jurist Haji Husayn Qomi.

• Islamic Leadership

In the years following 1946, after the death of two great Shia Jurists, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abul Hasan Isfahani and Grand Ayatollah Haji Husayn Qomi, more and more people referred their religious matters to the prominent Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi. This popularity among different groups of people came along with words of admiration from the many religious scholars and jurists who predicted that the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi will succeed the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Borujerdi, as the next Shia leading Marja and Jurist.

However, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi passed away on February 15, 1961, only forty five days before the sad departure of the leading Shia Marja, Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi.

• The Four Lights

The late Haji Rida Fedayi, a pious and sincere eulogist in the holy city of Karbala narrates:

On the day, when the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi passed away; the entire city of Karbala grieved the death of the late Ayatollah. It was like that even the sun mourns this loss, since there was a solar eclipse upon his death. The departure of the late Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi struck the people with a deep feeling of grief, because the people admired the Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi for his fatherly love and his honest and steadfast services to the public. On that night, I had a dream of a light ascending to the sky. When I looked more precise, I could see Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi in the midst of that light. Then, I screamed out of pain and said: “What a big loss!” Suddenly, I heard a voice that told me: “True. You have lost a shining light, but this light has left you four other lights instead, so treasure them.” The four lights that the Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi left us were his four sons, one of whom is the current religious Authority and Jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• The Four Mahdis

At the funeral ceremony of the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi, when the late Grand Ayatollah Mohsen Hakim watched the impatient and grief-stricken mourning of the pubic, he asked them to calm down and then he said:

Today, we lost one Mahdi, but remember that our beloved Mahdi has left us four other Mahdis.

• Political Activities

The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi had an active role in the following social and political movements:

• The revolution of 1920 in Iraq which was led by his uncle, late Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi
• The uprising of the late Grand Ayatollah Qomi, who traveled to Iran in order to make sure the religious activism and rituals will be legalized in Iran’s legislative bodies.
• The issue of a religious command against the communists, who wanted to trigger a war in Iraq.
• Fighting apostasy and heresy by holding ceremonies to celebrate the birthday anniversary of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, in the holy city of Karbala. Years later, these celebrations spread out to other cities in Iraq, including holy Najaf, Hillah, Baghdad, and Samarra.
• Books and Publications
• An unfinished commentary on the famous book of “Urwatul Wuthqa”
• Commentaries on the principles of Islamic jurisprudence
• A commentary on a book of jurisprudence written by Imam Rida (PBUH)
• A collection of notes on different sciences
• A collection of important prayers and supplications, “Al-Da’awatul Mujarrabat”
• ??
• A Memory of My Father

My dear father was an early riser and it was only one of his many good habits. I don’t recall even a day to have seen my father sleeping late. This was, in fact, a lesson that his mother taught him and he used to say that his mother was also an early riser. In the midst of the nights, his mother used to wake my father up to watch her do the prayers of the night. She used to give my father a handful of snacks so that her five-year-old son could stay awake and watch her mother praying.  She wanted to teach her son to be an early riser. In the meantime, she never wanted to force her son into staying awake, so she gave him some snacks as a means of encouragement.

He always woke up before the morning call for prayers. Even in his final years, when he was severely ill and couldn’t sleep at night, my father took a short nap an hour before the morning prayers and again, he woke up before the morning call for prayers. He had developed this habit to stay awake in that early time of the morning, although he was feeling ill. The signs of his habit to stay vigilant at nights were evident in his tender and considerate behaviors.

Note: this story is quoted by Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi Visiting Imam Mahdi (PBUH)

Once, a senior scholar who was a close friend of my father said:

“On each Friday night, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to go to the rooftop of his house and plead the helps and attentions of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.”

As we are informed, our late father had the honor to meet Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, for three times. The first meeting took place in the sacred cellar, where Imam Mahdi had disappeared. The second meeting was in the holy city of Najaf, near the sacred tomb of prophet Hud and prophet Saleh. The last meeting, again, took place in the sacred cellar, where the first meeting happened. We were never informed of the details of these meetings, but we were just informed that my father had met Imam Mahdi in that cellar. My father never spoke to us about any of these meetings at all.

That senior scholar narrated the story of the meeting between my father and Imam Mahdi in these words:

During his stay in the holy city of Samarra, the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to visit the sacred cellar on each Friday night. He used to read Quran and pray all alone during the night until the morning. Then, he left the cellar after reading the prayer of Nudba. During those nights, there were no other people in that cellar; so the Grand Ayatollah told me that when he visited the sacred cellar, he locked the door from inside so that nobody could disturb him, while praying.

“In one of those Friday mornings, while I had the door locked from inside, I was busy reading the prayer of Nudba. Then, I read this sentence from the prayer that said “you ascended his soul to the skies”. Suddenly, I noticed someone sitting beside me. He pointed to me and corrected me, saying “you ascended him to the skies.” I corrected myself and resumed reading the prayer, while I had totally missed the odd point of the man who sat next to me. A few moments later, suddenly I asked myself: Oh God. Who is the man sitting next to me? How did he enter the cellar? I had locked the door from inside and I was sure no one could come into the cellar.

All these thoughts thundered my brain and I started quivering. I could clearly hear my heart beating and I hardly could look back to where that person was sitting, but he was not there anymore. I looked for him into the cellar and I didn’t find him. I was made certain that he was our master, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.”

• MOTHER

The mother of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, and the wife of the late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi was the daughter of Sayyid Abd Al-Sahib, and a granddaughter of the Great Mirza Shirazi. This respectful lady passed away on June 28, 1976 on her seventies.

The Grand Jurist’s mother was known for her deep insight and virtuous conducts. She was an inspiration to her children who dedicated her life to preserve the genuine Islamic morals and observe the acts of worship in all stages of her life.

Every day, she was committed to soften her heart by shedding tears and remembering the tragic martyrdom of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him. The late Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi used to read the events of Ashura Day from the famous book of “Jala Al-Uyun” for her wife.

• Upbringing Children

As an exemplary lady and self-giving mother, the Grand Jurist’s mother was deeply keen and solemn to bring up her children to serve the sublime culture of the Prophet of Islam and his pure Household in the future. The history’s judgment can obviously show us that she was successful as each of her children became known as great scholars and protectors of the genuine Islamic teachings.  

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi clarified on her mother’s upbringing methods in these words:

“My dear mother, may she rest in peace, woke me up every night, before the sunrise and taught me how to humbly make my prayers to the Lord. As a young boy, I was at times so sleepy that I couldn’t walk, but she always was kind and caring to me and taught me to get used to staying vigilant at nights.”

She had six sons with the names of Muhammad, Ali, Hasan, Husayn, Sadiq, Mujtaba, and seven daughters. Sadly, two of her sons, Ali and Husayn, and one of her daughters died at a young age.

• THE LINEAGE OF THE SHIRAZI FAMILY

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, has said:

“Indeed, the friends of God are those people who look at this world and see its inside, while the rest of people are amused by its appealing appearance. They look forward to the afterlife while the rest of people are pleased with this petty life. Quran is made known by them, and they are known by Quran; the book of God is upheld by them and they are strengthened by the book of God. They don’t see more that they hope for and they don’t fear except for what they must.”

All these qualities and characteristics can best describe the noble and great family of the Shirazi. They are the family who have preserved the light of true knowledge, piety, morals, virtue, resolution, tenacity and service to the genuine Islam and the holy Quran in our disturbed time.

A noble family with strong and deep roots …

“a blessed tree which has firm roots and branches rising up into the sky”

Chapter 14, Verse 24, Holy Quran

The Islamic Authority and Jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi is a descendant of Imam Ali, the son of Imam Husayn, the son of Imam Ali, the Commander of the Faithful. He is brought up in a family, known for their strong commitment and dedication in leading the Shia Muslims and their expertise in the Islamic Jurisdiction in the last century and a half. Here, we mention some of the great names of the Shirazi family.

• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, may he rest in peace. Also known as the Great Reformer, he led the revolution of Tobacco Protest in Iran. He was the great grandfather of the Grand Jurist. Death, 1895.
• Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi, may he rest in peace. He led the revolution of 1920 in Iraq. He was the paternal uncle of the Grand Jurist. Death, 1919.
• Grand Ayatollah Haji Sayyid Ali Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was a prominent Shia religious authority in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq. Death, 1936.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ismael Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. Death, 1887.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Abdul Hadi Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. Death, July 14, 1962.
• Ayatollah Mirza Abdullah Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He is the uncle of the Grand Jurist.
• Ayatollah Mirza Jafar Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He is the uncle of the Grand Jurist.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, may he rest in peace. He was a great religious authority and the Grand Jurist’s father. Death, February 15, 1961.
• Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayni Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the elder brother of the Grand Jurist and the author of “Encyclopedia of Jurisprudence” that comprises 160 volumes. Death, December 18, 2001.
• The martyr, Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the brother of the Grand Jurist, and the founder of the first Shia Islamic Seminary next to the shrine of Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her. On May 2, 1980, Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi was assassinate by the Baath regime in Beirut.
• Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Husayni Shirazi, may God elevate his rank. He was the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and he passed away in the holy city of Qom, on June 1^st, 2008, at the age of fifty. He was one of the best students of his uncle, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

***

The Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was born and raised in a family, renowned for their long-time stance in protecting the Islamic values against its enemies.

*******************

The Rise of another Scholar from the Family of Shirazi

• THE BEGINNING OF ISLAMIC STUDIES

Like the rest of his family members, the Grand Islamic Authority Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi began studying the basics of Islamic sciences and jurisdiction at his childhood, under the supervision of his late father, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi Shirazi. As a young boy, the Grand Jurist learned about the genuine Islam and the culture of the Prophet and his pure Household and established his strong resolution to step in the path of serving the faith, in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq.

Since his childhood, the Grand Jurist was well observant to establish a deep perception and authentic understanding of the Islamic morals and virtues. He maintained his focus on memorizing the holy Quran and learning the sublime culture of the Prophet and his Household and in this way, he remained faithful to the famous hadith by the holy Prophet of Islam who invited the people to stick with the book of God and his pure Household.

• PUTTING ON THE RELIGIOUS ROBE

In 1950 and at the age of ten, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi officially engaged in the Islamic and religious studies and put on the religious robe at this very young age. The beginning of these religious studies next to the sacred shrines of Imam Husayn and his loyal brother, Abbas, was a big privilege to many young and determined students of Islamic sciences who made it their cause, to respond to the centuries-long call of their leader, Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, on the Ashura Day and transmit the message of this holy leader to the entire humanity in every epoch of the history.

The sacred shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, has had a deep influence on the spiritual devotion and the scientific dedication of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, both as a young student of Islamic sciences in the holy city of Karbala and as a reliable and popular religious authority and Jurist in our times.

• A MEMORY OF THE FIRST DAYS

At the time when I used to read the basics of Islamic sciences, I remember an old person, a religious scholar, who came to my father and talked to him for a long time. In fact, he was an old friend of my father’s. They were classmates and they studied together. Finally, when he said good bye to my father, he came to me and said: Keep studying so that you become a great and learned man like your father. I have spent years with your father and we studied together. Your father always made his time for studying and doing research. He never left any subject unless he had mastered it. But I didn’t do much in studying. I always waited for the weekends to go out with my friends and have fun. I always requested your father to come with us, but he was always busy studying and reading. He never joined us on the weekends and kept reading, writing and discussing different subjects. I once got angry at him and told him what he is going to make out of all these studying.

But now, you can see your father has become a famous religious authority and jurist who funds the students, and I am only one of the many students who is funded by your father!

• AN ADVICE FOR STUDYING

My father used to tell us repeatedly that we should never let anything stop us from studying. He always used to tell us to give top priority to our studies, even if we had to quit doing recommended acts of worship. He also told us that we shouldn’t stop studying for the sake of some party or get-together. That is why, we never let anything to be an obstacle in our course of studying.

• PERSISTENT PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE

The Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi started studying the basics of Islamic sciences under direct supervision of his late father, Grand Ayatollah Mahdi Shirazi. In addition, he enjoyed the loving company of his elder brother, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, who was a founder of the School of Imam Sadiq, and several other Quranic Institutions in the holy city of Karbala. During this period, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi had the chance to learn a lot from his prolific brother, the king of authors, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.

In short, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi completed the preliminary and basic stages of Islamic sciences at the Islamic Seminaries. Then, he had the chance to sit at the feet of many great scholars and jurists of his time and began his studies in the Advanced Courses of Jurisprudence. His sharp mind and quick pace of learning made the Grand Jurist a popular and much-admired face among his teachers and the scholars. In fact, the rise of many great and prominent scholars and jurists, who each left many great legacies to protect Islam, signified that intelligence and sharpness runs in this family.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was a humble and keen student, whose earnest resolution for learning made him attend the courses of advanced jurisprudence under the top Islamic scholars of his time. After proving his profound reflection and weighty expertise in the Islamic sciences, the Grand Jurist was granted the level of Islamic leadership, Ijtihad. Since then, the Grand Jurist has been known as a qualified Islamic jurist, a skilled expert in deducing the hadiths, and an adept authority in giving interpretations of the holy Quran.

• SIMULTANEOUS LEARNING AND TEACHING

In his youth, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was recognized as an accomplished and capable character in the Islamic sciences. Soon, other Islamic scholars in the holy city of Karbala requested the young Ayatollah to start teaching the large number of avid students in this holy city. Following these requests, the Grand Jurist began teaching advanced courses of Islamic sciences by the shrine of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

The Grand Jurist had dedicated all his time to studying and learning the extensive realm of Islamic sciences and he never missed a chance or opportunity to respond to the unprecedented issues in the Islamic law and jurisprudence.

In respect to acquiring the teachings of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household, the Grand Jurist always makes this recommendation to all young students of Islamic sciences:

“Studying and learning the teachings of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household was my best ever decision and I believe it is the best choice one can ever make in this world; therefore, I recommend all the young people, especially the young Islamic students to make this decision and do their best in this long route. I also ask you to encourage all young friends to pick up this route and dedicate their lives in learning the teachings of the AhlulBayt.”

• TEACHERS

Despite being recognized as a distinguished teacher of Islamic sciences in the holy city of Karbala, the Grand Jurist always took part in the courses held by the well-known and prominent Islamic Jurists and scholars and benefited from their deep perception of Islamic Jurisprudence. In fact, the interminable thirst of the Grand Jurist for the Islamic sciences could never be quenched except by kneeling at the feet of the great Islamic Jurists and scholars of his hometown.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi studied under many great and outstanding figures of Islamic sciences, who all influenced the Grand Jurist in many juridical, moral, and doctrinal matters. Here, we bring you the names of some of these scholars:

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Mahdi Husayni Shirazi

The late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Husayni Shirazi

Martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Husayni Shirazi

The late Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Rida Isfahani

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Shahrudi

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Sidqi Mazandarani

Late Ayatollah Sheikh Jafar Rashti

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi describes his teachers and instructors as following:

“The most important quality of my teachers and many other great Islamic scholars, which made them stand out in the history was that they feared their Lord and had a durable state of piety. The real state of piety is a reality and understanding that causes the people to put God above all of their ambitions, such as power, supremacy, wealth, health, comfort, and luxury. This is not something beyond reach, as these scholars acquired this state of piety.”

• ACHIEVING THE SATISFACTION OF IMAM MAHDI (PBUH)

For his entire lifetime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was determined to step in no other paths, except for the path of the genuine Islam set by the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. With every step he took, the Grand Jurist tried to earn the satisfaction of his leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon. In this regard, the Grand Jurist says:

All my concern was not to be derailed from the path of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household, the path of Imam Ali, peace be upon him.

The Grand Jurist has also mentioned that:

All the believers, especially the youth and the Islamic students should make efforts and endeavor hard to achieve the satisfaction of their leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.

The satisfaction of Imam Mahdi, is a token of the God’s satisfaction; as the God’s satisfaction is a result of the satisfaction of Imam Mahdi, may the Lord hasten his advent. This means that there is a coherent and straight forward connection between the satisfaction of God and Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him.

This straight forward connection can also be deduced from the cause and effect relationship between God’s satisfaction and that of the chosen leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon.

**************

The Joint Cultural Activities of

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and His Late Brother in Iraq

• Alongside His Brother

The Grand jurist and religious authority, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was always by the side of his late brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and accompanied him in all of his sociopolitical plans and cultural activities. After the sad departure of his brother, the Grand Jurist took the helm of all these events and institutions, and continued the unfinished work of his brother.

Here is a brief summary of the social, cultural and political activities by the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi which was taken up again by his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• Religious, Cultural and Social Institutions in Iraq
• Schools for Memorizing Holy Quran

More than three thousand boys and girls enrolled and studied in six Quranic Schools, which held up to thirty three different cultural and religious programs. The management of these schools were in the safe hands of more than two hundred Islamic scholars and teachers of Islamic Seminaries.

• The Institution of Darul Quran

Darul Quran Institution, with more than seventy branches across Iraq, especially in the cities of Najaf, Baghdad, Mosul, Amarah, and Rumaitha is dedicated to publishing and selling religious books. Although the Grand Jurist expected the number of the branches of this institution to rise to one thousand, but the critical political situation in Iraq stopped the number of these branches to grow.

• Public Libraries

More than forty public libraries have been founded directly by the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi in many cities and villages. The public library of Quran Karim, which is located behind the Islamic Seminary of Ibn Fahd Hilli in holy Karbala, is one of these libraries.

• Islamic Publications and Journals

Print media, appearing the form of newspapers, journals and magazines have had an undeniable role in the public awareness of any society. In fact, many social movements have begun to exist by the power of the magazines and journals that illuminate on the ideological and doctrinal issues.

With full knowledge of the power of the media, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with some other progressive Islamic scholars and intellectuals in the Islamic Seminaries utilized the huge potential of the print media to promote the Islamic values. Here is a list of the Islamic journals established by the supports of the Grand Jurist.

1. Codes and Ethics in Arabic
2. Call of Islam in Arabic
3. Quran’s Guidance in Arabic
4. Voice of the Preachers in Arabic
5. Shia Media in Arabic
6. Islamic References in English
7. Voice of the AhlulBayt in Arabic
8. Memories of Infallibles in Arabic
9. Voice of Islam in Arabic
10. Response to Islamic Queries in Arabic
11. References of the Culture of Islam and many other Islamic magazines and journals.

• Construction and Renovation of Mosques

The renovation projects of the deserted mosques was one of the social programs started by the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. More than fifty mosques in different neighborhoods of Karbala city in Iraq were renovated and expanded in these projects. In addition, there were communities and societies founded to manage the affairs of these mosques.

• Construction and Renovation of Islamic Schools

More than thirty religious schools, including: Husayniyah School, Razawiyah School, Ibn Fahd Hilli School, and Sharif Al-Ulema School were renovated in projects that were directed by the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. In addition, there were many other schools, such as the school for Memorizing Quran and Islamic Morals, schools for handicrafts, the school of “Book and Household”, training lecturers and speakers, and the elementary school of Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, which were constructed in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. It is worth mentioning that two more schools were constructed in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

• Quran Hakim Clinic

This clinic was founded to provide treatments to the patients, who were incapable of fully paying for thorough medical treatments. This clinic which was located in the Imam Ali square, in front of the Central Library, received only modest sum of money for providing full treatments by experienced and seasoned doctors and personnel.

• Marriage Grant

The deprived and the poor groups of young people who faced financial problems for starting a family were offered and provided with grants and other financial plans. These plans were part of the social security plans to combat social instability and sexual corruption.

• Promotion of Islamic Memorials

In an innovative and ground-breaking move, the schools of Quran memorization trained groups of scouts who held various programs on different religious occasions throughout the year. These scouts changed the face of Karbala city both during the happy celebrations and the days of the AhlulBayt martyrdom with their numerous programs.

• The Islamic Club

This facility was established to provide the youth with a healthy atmosphere for entertainment and sports. In this regard, the Islamic Club was equipped with a full set of sporting goods and gym equipment, along with Islamic and scientific journals for the youth to have both physical and mental trainings. The Islamic Club was directed by a chosen board of the youth.

• Sending Missionaries Abroad

To address the crucial subject of missionary tasks, there was a special committee appointed to administer the public funds and resources. This committee sent Islamic missionaries abroad on different religious occasions and took care of the expenses of these missionary tasks. African and European countries were two main destinations of these missionaries.

• Religious Community of the Youth

With instructions and the guidance of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, a number of educated young men and women started the religious community of the youth. This community set up funding for three major purposes.

1. The establishment of religious gatherings for the youth
2. Publication and distribution of valuable religious books among the people
3. Transmission of the AhlulBayt’s message and culture to other Muslim societies

• Mobile Preaching Group 1

The mobile preaching group was engaged in many cultural activities and events. This group was successful in sending religious preachers to remote areas on a regular basis. This religious group also printed significant religious books and massive copies of prayer books on important occasions such as Arbaeen and Ashura.

• Mobile Preaching Group 2

This preaching group followed the same procedures and programs, however, in a much greater scale. This mobile preaching group spread its activities to all of Iraq and sent its specialists to all cities and villages with automobiles branded as “Mobile Preaching Group 2”.

• Religious Guidance Institution

In some countries, the private sector including the big companies and the famous universities establish and run radio stations for their own purposes. Now, the question is “would it be right to have radio stations, supervised by the religious Jurists and experts to broadcast programs that improve public awareness about religious matter?” The answer is absolutely positive.

It was always one of the main goals of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi to establish a radio station and speed the pace of his wide preaching activities in Iraq and across the world. However, authoritarian regimes and dictators were a big obstacle for this goal to be achieved. Therefore, the late Grand Jurist made preparations and installed loudspeakers in busy parts of the city of Karbala and performed many cultural and religious programs in this city. These loudspeakers broadcasted religious, scientific, and Islamic lectures by distinguished and famous characters.

• Center for Islamic Preaching

The Center for Islamic Preaching performed many activities including installing placards, giving out religious pamphlets to people, and making statements on religious occasions such as Arbaeen, Ashura and Arafah day. This religious Center organized many outstanding religious gatherings with large numbers of people attending them.

The Center for Islamic Preaching was overwhelmingly successful in its efforts to encourage people and mark the religious celebrations in the entire city of Karbala. During the birthday anniversaries of the holy Imams, this Center used to install placards and stands with important quotes from the noble Infallibles.

• Visitations to Sacred Shrines

A community was established to organize pilgrimage trips and visitations to the sacred shrines in different cities of Iraq, such as holy Najaf, holy Kadhimiya, and Samarra. During the month of Ramadan, this community made arrangements and held tour visits to the sacred shrine in the holy city of Samarra every day. The pilgrims in these trips were given free services such as food and transportation.

• Statements and Announcements

On different religious occasions, the loudspeakers installed in different parts of Karbala city made necessary announcements and statements to the public from the Central Library. In the absence of TV and other mediums, the people were informed of the latest programs and plans for the city and special religious ceremonials.

• The House of Islamic Services

This foundation followed three major goals:

1. Starting ties and Collaboration with the pool of newspapers, journals, and authors that published articles about the culture of Shia Islam and the Prophet of Islam and his pure Progeny.
2. Publishing critiques and objections to the journals and magazines that insulted the Islamic principles and values. In cases, these criticisms led to reconsiderations by these journals.
3. Making connections and laying out the ground for cooperation with other Islamic Communities across the world.

• Establishment of Islamic Guidance Community in entire Iraq
• Establishment of almost 200 religious communities in different mosques

With the discretions and guidelines of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, the religious communities had organized a weekly get-together in mosques to coordinate their religious and cultural programs. These programs included sessions for Quran interpretations, courses of Islamic Law and Ethics, and publishing articles and pamphlets on different social and religious matters. The Islamic communities of Rasul Azam, Al-Quran Al-Hakim, the Islamic Awakening, the Islamic Awareness, and Imam Sadiq were some of the religious communities that engaged into these cultural and religious activities.

• Job Center

To assist and guide the massive workforce towards decent paying jobs and occupations, there was a Job Center established in the holy city of Karbala by orders of the late Grand Jurist.

• Under direct supervision of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, there were annual glorious celebrations held on the birthday anniversary of Imam Mahdi, peace be upon him and may the Lord hasten his advent, in his birthplace, the holy city of Samarra.
• Each year, on the birthday anniversary of Imam Hasan Askari, peace be upon him, a large pack of Shias were organized to visit the shrine of this holy Imam in the city of Samarra. Free food and services were also part of this religious program.
• After nonstop efforts of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, and his two brothers, the martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, and the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi for transmitting the message of Ashura and Imam Husayn’s uprising, the state-run radio station of Baghdad was left with no other option but to respect the Shia feelings and honor the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, by streaming a speech by Sheikh Abd Al-Zahra Ka’abi, may he rest in peace.
• The foundation of religious preachers for fighting off the sacrilegious activities.
• The foundation of Council of Islamic Scholars, which was meant for addressing the latest problems and developments in the Muslim world.
• The establishment of Quran Hakim Publication.
• The formation of “Political Establishment” for influencing the Muslims’ social fate.
• The foundation of religious organizations that served pilgrims from other countries.
• Forming Islamic theater groups
• Establishment of Community of “Servants of Mosques”
• The foundation of Technical workshops
• Collaborations on the establishment of AhlulBayt printing company.
• The establishment of community of authors for the publication of religious and ethical books
• Setting up religious gatherings.
• Setting up groups for managing ceremonials on religious occasions
• The foundation of Cultural Centers
• Organizing cultural and religious programs for students on their summer vacations
• Publication of religious books, in which the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with his students at Imam Hasan community managed to print and publish up to a hundred thousand volumes of books.
• The foundation of a large Islamic Center in Samarra, in the exact place where Imam Hadi, peace be upon him, was prisoned. This Islamic Center was built in this place in honor of Imam Hadi, peace be upon him.
• Fundraising and encouraging people to build Islamic Centers in Iraq. Due to these activities, more than twenty Islamic Centers were founded in those days.
• Encouraging and organizing the enthusiasts for beginning communities to present Quranic educational courses. Due to these efforts, hundreds of Quranic educational courses were formed.
• Encouraging the talented youth to continue their educations in Islamic Seminaries. Due to the continuous lectures and inspirations by the late Grand Jurist, hundreds of teenagers enrolled at the Islamic Seminaries.
• Encouraging the educated young talents to fill in the place of great Islamic scholars and put on the Islamic robe to serve Islam, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure progeny.
• Encouraging many scholars and authors to speed and expand their activities. Due to these words of encouragement and the assistance by the late Grand Jurist, many great religious authors and speakers were trained.
• Encouraging the people to establish interest free loan funds.
• Encouragements for organizing groups and fractions to provide services to the pilgrims of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him, on Ashura Day.
• The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi made three speeches every week to coordinate activities by his Office members.

*************

THE FIGHT AGAINST DICTATORS IN IRAQ

Without the slightest doubts, all governments ruling over Iraq in recent decades have been formed and presided over by dictators and authoritarian presidents who dishonored the religious sanctities of the Iraqis and undermined the rights of the people.

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi always stood against all of those puppet and suppressive governments and exposed their hidden intentions to eliminate religious symbols. (In the meantime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi was always at the side of his brother and gave his outright support to this great Islamic figure.) Some of the ways and methods used by the late Grand Jurist to expose these regimes are listed in the following:

• THE MONARCHY
• The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi held firm and strong stances on all religious matters; these stances were announced and published by the wide network of PR offices established by the Grand Jurist. These announcements were included in the three books of “the Pure Tree”, the Reflection of Martyr Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi on Jihad, and the book of “the civilization of mankind”. The regime of Nuri Said, however, prevented some journals such as the magazine of “Ethics and Conducts” to include these announcements and reports. These announcement were mostly objecting the regime’s destructive policies, especially the Treaty signed between Iraq and Britain.
• In the final years of the monarchy, Abdul-Wahab Mirjan, who claimed to be a Shia person succeeded Nuri Said as the new prime minister of Iraq.

The late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi sent a delegation to the new prime minister in order to negotiate the “Lawsuit of the Sacred Sites”. This lawsuit was proposed under the tenure of Sayyid Muhammad Sadr as the head of the two legislature bodies of Iraq but after his resignation, this lawsuit never passed.

The delegation held a meeting with the prime minister and negotiated the lawsuit of sacred sites and talked about the implementation of other Islamic laws in the country.

After this bold move, the prime minister issued a secret order to the security officials to arrest the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Sayyid Hasan Shirazi. However, the 14 July Revolution left all their plans unfinished. During this revolution, Nuri Said, Bihjat Atiyyah and other keynote figures of the regime were arrested and then executed.

• ABDUL KARIM QASIM

Following a coup, which was orchestrated by the Old Colonizer, the Britain, Abdul Karim Qasim defeated the monarchy in Iraq and ushered the way for the communists to tighten their grip on the power. Since the very first steps, the late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi openly criticized their beliefs and their social and political plans. The Grand Jurist also denounced their violent and ferocious governing styles which had spread the shadows of terror across Iraq.

In those disturbed times, the late Grand Jurist wrote and published the two books of “Hawar Hawl Tatbiq Al-Islam” (A Word on the Implementation of Islam), and “Mubahithat Ma’a Ashuyui’yn” (Debates with Communists). He also published several books about the beliefs of Shia Islam, including the books of “Social Beliefs” and “In the Shade of Islam”, in order to spread public awareness against the poisonous propaganda of the communists. Meanwhile, the Grand Jurist held round table discussions and talked straightly to the people who were under the influence of the communists’ propaganda.

Aside from all of these cultural and religious activities, the Grand Jurist was determined to uncover the true and irreligious face of Abdul Karim Qasim, to the masses of people. The Grand Jurist never missed any chance to voice his serious concerns over the dominion of the communists over Iraq and the Muslims.

• NATIONALISM IN IRAQ BY ABDUL-SALAM ARIF AND HIS BROTHER ABDUL RAHMAN

In this period of the Iraq’s political history, the Baath Party acceded to power and General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr was elected prime minister. His first move was the formation of the National Guard, which was meant to intimidate the public and the dissidents. Unfortunately, the Baath Party followed the communists and Abdul Karim Qasim in their footsteps and committed many unspeakable crimes.

Therefore, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, along with many other notable Islamic figures and scholars staged a resistance against the Baath Party.

With the hopes of opening a route for dialogue and as a demonstration of good will, the Grand Jurist sent a delegation, comprising of famous Islamic scholars, to Abdul Salam Arif. This delegation was given the mission to negotiate these two requests:

• The revocation of all anti-Islamic laws in all ministries and official departments, including the laws which were passed during the Monarchy or the Republic.
• Making schedules for implementing the Islamic Laws in Iraq

Abdul Salam promised he will take time to see into these requests and implement the Islamic laws in the country. However, the time proved that his promises were only lies. Since then, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi started a full-force resistance against the ethnic government of Abdul Salam. In this period, all authors, speakers, the journals and papers affiliated to the Grand Jurist formed the ranks of resistance against the Baath Party and continued their works until the reign of Abdul Rahman Arif.

• THE NEW ERA OF BAATH PARTY

After the July 17 Revolution, the new era of Baath Party began in Iraq. At this critical period, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, as well as other great scholars and jurists from the cities of Najaf, Karbala, and Kadhimiya united to fight the new era of suppression by the Baath Party. In this era, the Baath Party which enjoyed from the full support of the Britain, started to arrest the large number of its dissidents and opposition with the fabricated charges of espionage and acting against the national security. Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi along with many other notable characters were immediately imprisoned; Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohsen Hakim also faced many restrictions and threats by the regime while his son, Sayyid Mahdi Hakim was sentenced to death in absentia. He was charged with espionage. The late Grand Ayatollah Shirazi resisted against the atrocious crimes of the Baath Party and continued his fight against this ferocious regime. Following his firm stances, the journals and the charity organizations affiliated to the Grand Jurist were closed and suspended. Thousands of religious and media activists, who were born in Iraq were stripped of their nationality and were deported from the country. Consequently, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was forced to leave the country and immigrate to Kuwait. In the meantime, the Baath Party sentenced the late Grand Jurist to death in absentia.

The mounting pressures on the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi led to an upsurge of anger and umbrage among the Muslims in India, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and many other Islamic countries. The news of the pressures by the Baath Party and the immigration of these two great figures of the Muslim world was widely covered by many newspapers.

Al-Hayat newspaper, number 8033 wrote:

“The exile and immigration of religious scholars continue in Iraq”

The Al-Hayat political reporter continues:

“The Baath regime intensifies its fights against the Islamic sanctities and the Islamic Seminaries of holy Najaf, holy Karbala, and holy Kadhimiya after it forced scores of notable Islamic scholars out of the country. These waves of deportations started with the exile of prominent Shia religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. Imam Shirazi and a number of other notable scholars have chosen Kuwait as their destination.”

*************

IMMIGRATION FROM IRAQ TO KUWAIT

It was a difficult decision for the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi to leave Iraq in secret. The suppressive Baath regime had surrounded the house of the late Grand Jurist and was determined to arrest and execute his eminence. On October 9, 1971, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi along with his brother left the country and traveled to Syria, where they paid a visit to the sacred shrine of Lady Zaynab, peace be upon her, in Damascus. Then, they moved to Beirut and after they received invitations from the Shia Muslims in Kuwait, they traveled to this country and were warmly welcomed by the large number of Shia Muslims at the country’s airport.

Shortly after the Kuwaiti Shia Muslims were informed of the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in their country, they rushed to visit the Grand Jurist in large groups. The late Haji Sheikh Abbas Ali Islami, the head of “The Community of Islamic Learnings” describes the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi in these words:

“The great spirit, the dignity and the confidence of the Shia Muslims in Kuwait is a heritage of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi. The presence of this great scholar in Kuwait was a big blessing to all people, and they should be grateful to God for giving them the chance to enjoy the presence of this distinguished Islamic figure.”

• INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS IN KUWAIT

After the settlement of the Shirazi Family in Kuwait, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi began numerous projects to prepare the grounds for more religious activities in this country.

• The foundation of an Islamic Seminary

In less than a year after their immigration to Kuwait, the Shirazi Family founded an Islamic Seminary in this country and invited many enthusiasts from all Islamic countries to enroll at this School.

This Islamic Seminary which was named “The School of Rasul Azam”, started its activities with 60 rooms that housed 150 students. This Islamic Seminary played an important role in the growth of the public interest in the Islamic activities and ideals in Kuwait and other Islamic countries. Soon, the School of Rasul Azam turned into a light that pierced through the darkness of corrupt and suppressive regimes of the region.

• The foundation of Rasul Azam Husayniyah

The Husayniyah of Rasul Azam was an Islamic Center founded by the late Grand Jurist in order to help promote and spread the rituals and the message of Ashura and Imam Husayn’s uprising.

• Interpretation of holy Quran

During the eight years of their stay in Kuwait, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi held courses of Quran interpretations for the public groups of people. These courses were handled in way so that the ordinary people could also join these discussions and develop a deeper insight from the holy Quran. In addition, these courses addressed the importance of rescuing the Muslim nations from the claws of colonialism.

• Spread of AhlulBayt Culture in Kuwait

The presence of such great and learned figures from the Shirazi Family in Kuwait was very rewarding in that critical period of time. In that period, the colonizers had waged a serious and forceful fight against all Islamic and moral values in Kuwait, and the youth were greatly influenced by these anti-Islamic propaganda.

However, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi stood up in the face of the colonizers and protected the Islamic identity and culture of Kuwait.

The masses of people were attracted to the far-reaching and profound ideas of these two great scholars from the Shirazi Family. Subsequently, the large number of students who were trained by these two great scholars spread the light of guidance to all corners of Kuwait and helped the vulnerable and curious souls of the youth to find relief and salvation in the rich and insightful values of the genuine Islam. In short, Kuwait turned into a strong base for the Islamic scholars and religious activists, who coordinated the numerous Islamic activities and projects, especially during the month of Ramadan in the neighboring countries.

Furthermore, the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, along with his brother Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi founded series of Islamic Institutions in Kuwait. Here is a list of these Islamic Institutions.

1. The foundation of Rasul Azam library, with more than thirty thousand books.
2. The foundation of a large hall for religious gatherings and ceremonies.
3. The foundation of an institution which had the task of renovating Islamic Centers and Mosques.

• The publication of Islamic Journals

Some of the Islamic journals and magazines published by the Shirazi family are listed as following:

1. “Al-Iman” journal which translates into Faith Magazine.
2. “Al-Islam wa Al-Hayat” which translates into the Magazine of Islam and life
3. “Fitat Al-Taqadumiya” which translates into Pioneer Girls Magazine
4. “Al-Hidaya” which translates into Guidance
5. “Al-Jihad” Magazine

• The foundation of two hundred small libraries
• Encouraging the people to form religious gatherings on a weekly basis. Formerly, the religious gatherings were only held on the months of Muharram and Ramadan, but after these encouragements, the Kuwaitis held gatherings on a regular basis.
• The foundation of two big libraries due to the encouragements of the Grand Jurist.
• The foundation of a center to facilitate marriage
• The publication of sixty books, including the book of “Al-Muraji’at” translates as The Right Path. This book was written by the late Sayyid Sharaful Din and it published in thousands of copies and was distributed in Kuwait, Egypt, and during the Hajj rituals.
• Holding Ashura gatherings at the Universities.
• After persistent efforts by the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, the rituals of Ashura day were given media coverage.
• The foundation of Al-Jahra’ Mosque and Husayniya
• The foundation of Rasul Azam library in neighboring countries.
• The Grand Jurist had weekly speeches to the public on Friday mornings. In addition, the Grand Jurist also talked to the Islamic scholars and experts at the School of Rasul Azam on Thursdays.
• The construction of a Public Baths and a Morgue.
• The Grand Jurist used to send prayer leaders to mosques and Islamic Centers.
• The foundation of publication centers for publishing Islamic books.
• The establishment of “the assembly of authors” whose members were mostly young and educated writers.
• Establishing interest-free loan funds. This fund also provided financial supports for the religious celebrations and ceremonials in Kuwait.
• The Grand Jurist established religious courses during the school holidays. These courses were held in different stages for the elementary students, for junior school students, for high school students, and for college students and their teachers. The participants at these courses studied the Islamic principles and sciences by new methods. The graduates of these courses could write many substantial articles and books on different religious matters.
• The foundation of a publication center that published more than fifty Islamic books in one year.
• The Grand Jurist contacted many non-Shia and non-Islamic institutions and communities in different countries in order to invite them to the rightful culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his progeny.
• RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES

The School of Rasul Azam in Kuwait played an important role in making the new generations familiar with the principles of Islamic morals and beliefs. In fact, this school gave rise to many famous speakers, writers, and religious activists who widened the scope of Shia Islamic activism in many other Islamic countries too.

During his stay in Kuwait, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi expanded the beams of Shia culture in many other countries neighboring Kuwait. This is while that these oil-rich countries were suffering from the overwhelming and irresistible dominion of colonialist powers and the communists. The colonizers were decisive to annihilate all Islamic values and tenets, in order to pave the way for their undisputable rule over these oil-rich countries. The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi was one of the few leaders who could preach the Islamic concepts and principles in these countries. The tireless efforts of the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his brother, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi were an important part of the Islamic awakening in many Islamic countries. After eight years of nonstop works and efforts in Kuwait, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi traveled to Iran to continue his religious activism and his everlasting fight against corruption and oppression in a broader scope and arena. 

******************

IMMIGRATION TO IRAN

In 1979, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi made a pivotal decision and chose Iran as their next destination to continue their nonstop scientific, cultural and political activities.

Upon the arrival of these two great Islamic figures to Iran, the throngs of scholars, intellectuals, and the masses of people welcomed the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi and his honorable brother. The big turnout of people and the attendance of distinguished scholars who received the two notable Islamic characters so warmly, was noticed by the newspapers published in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

The presence of these two great characters was a blessing to the people and the Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi continued to serve his elder brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi as a loyal aide and an honest advisor.

• The Intellectual Movement

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi continued the intellectual movement he had started in Iraq by his numerous publications and books. Many of these books were translated and published in different languages such as English, Persian, and Urdu, in many Islamic and non-Islamic countries.

With a tireless resolution, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi continued to put down his innovative and ground-breaking ideas in different realms of the Islamic sciences during his stay in the holy city of Qom, since 1979 to 2001. In these years, the Grand Jurist wrote 60 volumes out of the 160 of volumes of his major collective studies in Islamic Jurisprudence, called “Al-Fiqh”.

In spite of his great collective study with regards to Islamic jurisprudence, the late Grand Jurist authored many other great works such as the collection of “Al-Wasail Ela Rasail” (The means of the missions) in twenty volumes, and the books of “The path to the Islamic Awakening”, “The frameworks for a new world with freedom, welfare, and peace” and finally the book of “Make Change to Wake Muslims”. In addition, the Grand Jurist illuminated on the history of the fourteen infallible figures in 14 separate books. In those years, the Grand Jurist made thousands of valuable lectures on Islamic sciences and morals, especially during his weekly speeches on each Thursday at Imam Zainul Abedin Mosque in holy Qom. His eminence also taught the highest levels of Islamic Jurisprudence, Al-Fiqh and Usul, to hundreds of ardent and enthusiastic students since 1979.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi also began his religious and cultural activities by writing books, teaching the highest levels of Islamic Jurisprudence to the passionate students, and holding gatherings to speak about the genuine Islamic morals. In the following years, the Grand Jurist was known as a symbol of Islamic morals and a skilled expert in the Islamic sciences. At the moment, many students of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi are among the top Islamic preachers and speakers in the Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

In short, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi became known as a pious and insightful company for many great Islamic jurists and scholars. The large number of Islamic students along with the notable Islamic scholars and jurists eagerly sought the companionship of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi and enjoyed his vast knowledge of Islamic sciences.

Like his elder brother, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi spares no moment and effort in his scientific activities. In the years, when the Baath regime was brutally attacking the holy city of Qom, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi along with his brother traveled to the holy city of Mashhad, and continued their studies of the Islamic sciences at the Islamic Seminary of Imam Rida, beside the sacred shrine of Imam Rida, peace be upon him, in this city. This transition was widely welcomed by the Islamic students in holy Mashhad, as they could join the courses of advanced Islamic jurisprudence by these two great Islamic scholars.

• Community Centers

One of the greatest concerns of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was to establish centers that can be effective in the realm of cultural and religious activism in different countries. This great concern pushed the Grand Jurist and his brother Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi to support and found a large number of cultural and religious centers, which are operative in many different countries.

Here is a glimpse of these Religious and Cultural Centers:

• Schools
• The school of Rasul Azam in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Mahdi in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Hadi in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Baqir in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of martyr Sayyid Hasan Shirazi in holy Qom, Iran
• The female school of Al-Zahra in holy Qom, Iran
• The school of Imam Rida in holy Mashhad, Iran
• Libraries
• The library of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib in holy Qom, Iran
• The library of Ale Rasul in Isfahan, Iran
• Iman Publication Center in holy Qom, Iran
• Darul Mahdi Publication Center in holy Qom, Iran
• The institution of Islamic Thought in holy Qom, Iran
• The library of Darul Husayn in Yazd, Iran
• The female library of Al-Zahra in holy Qom, Iran
• Mosques
• The mosque of Imam Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Zainul Abedin in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Rida in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Imam Hasan in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Sayyida Masoumah in holy Qom, Iran
• The mosque of Al-Zahra in holy Mashhad, Iran
• Interest-free loan funds
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Tabriz, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Rahnan town, Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in holy Mashhad, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Yazd, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Varamin, Iran
• The loan fund of Sayyid Shuhada in Adrian town, Isfahan, Iran
• The loan fund of Imam Jawad in holy Qom, Iran
• The loan fund in Kahak, holy Qom, Iran
• The loan fund of Husayn ibn Ali in holy Mashhad, Iran
• The Husayniyahs (Islamic Centers)
• The Islamic Center of Isfahan
• The Islamic Center of Fatimiyun in Dihnu, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Rahnan, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qamar Bani Hashim in Adrian town, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Yazd, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Shahre Rei, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Ahwaz, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Shiraz, Iran
• The Islamic Center of holy Mashhad, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Meibod, Yazd, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qazwin, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Tehran, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Mahallat, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in Kashan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Darul Husayn in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Sayyid Shuhada in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Zaynabiyyah in holy Qom, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Qarchak and Varamin, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Dowlat Abad, Isfahan, Iran
• The Islamic Center of Malek Shahr, Isfahan, Iran
• Clinic of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• Marriage Foundation of Sayyid Shuhada in Tehran, Iran
• The Beginning of the Intellectual Movement of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, alongside his brother continued to serve the path of the Prophet’s Household by producing valuable books, establishing numerous Islamic foundations, and organizing huge movements for introducing the real Islam across the world. The two brothers had set their goal to approach the Islamic utopia and globalize the culture of the Prophet’s Household and the Shia Islam. In this long path, they preserved their hopes and dedicated their lives for achieving these lofty goals.

The Central Office of the Shirazi scholars was always a shelter to all the Muslims, and even the non-Muslims. The presence of the leaders of other faiths and religions was a significant mark that demonstrated the high respects and popularity of the Shirazi scholars beyond the spheres of Islam. In fact, the two Shirazi scholars were the suns of the Islamic jurisprudence whose warmth had even overwhelmed the non-Muslim scholars.

• The end of a star

“Verily we are from God and to Him, we shall return.”

On December 18, 2001, the Shia Muslims suffered an irreparable loss. The statue of piety and wisdom, the Grand Islamic Authority and Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi departed this world and joined his masters, the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household. On this very day, the world of Islam lost a great Islamic scholar, whose huge contributions to the culture of Shia Islam remained matchless in the last century. Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, in his youth time, had once the honor of meeting the twelfth infallible leader, Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, in the mosque of Sahlah in Kufa city. In that meeting, Imam Mahdi set the road for this great Islamic scholar and prolific author, and commanded him to write. This was a light that showed the long path ahead of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the author of more than 1200 invaluable books that laid out the stance of Quran and the Prophet’s Household in all important matters of our modern world.

The late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was the author of the extensive study into the Islamic jurisprudence called “Al-Fiqh” that comprises 160 volumes and addresses up to fifty thousand topics, which have been unnoticed before.

Due to the countless and invaluable books and publications of the late Grand Jurist, the International Association of Arab Writers granted the title of the “King of Authors” to the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi.

However, the Grand Jurist was not merely admired as a prolific and productive author, but he was a respectful character among the public for his humane and ethical stances on different social topics. The popularity of the Grand Jurist grew so much that even his adversaries warned each other not to meet the Grand Jurist in person, as his mild manners and deep words would soften their hearts and make them attracted to him.

With the special attentions of Imam Mahdi, may he reappear soon, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi became known as a leading figure and Jurist in Islamic jurisprudence and surpassed all his contemporaries. After a meeting with the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi, the late Grand Ayatollah Mar’ashi Najafi expressed his feelings for the Grand Jurist in these words: “Tears role down my face only because I know that our generation won’t recognize the great position of this man (Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi). Maybe two centuries later, his real character will be appreciated.” These words speak of a reality, which was repeatedly pointed to by many other great figures of Shia and Sunni Islam.

After the sad departure of the Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, it became a matter of great concern that who should succeed and fill in the empty place of the late Grand Jurist as the next leading Marja and Jurist of the Shia Muslims? This question whirled around the minds of millions of Shia Muslims, who knew the precarious and hazardous situation of Shia Islam in those disturbed times. Someone had to pick up this burden and continue the path treaded by the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, someone the public could look up to and become inspired by his deep knowledge and earnest preservations.

After the death of Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtida Ansari on 1864, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, also known as the Great Mirza started a path, which was later treaded by many great Islamic scholars from the Shirazi family. On 1894, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Muhammad Taqi Shirazi succeeded the Great Mirza and led the Shia Muslims against the invaders. The respectful son of the Great Mirza, Sayyid Mirza Ali Shirazi was the next Islamic scholar who stepped up to this position on 1919, and on 1936, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi was given the burden of the Muslims’ leadership. This path was later continued by one of the greatest scholars of the time, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. But after the passing of this great character, no one, except for the great Islamic scholar and jurist, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi could ever pick up the steam and continue to lead the Shia Muslims in this disturbed era.

The news of the passing of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi, the king of authors ripped through the entire world and put the Muslim populace into shock. Consequently, floods of people came together in the holy city of Qom and participated in the glorious funeral service of this exceptional Islamic scholar and jurist. Finally, the pure body of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi was put to rest in the holy shrine of Lady Ma’soumah, peace be upon her, after the Grand Jurist’s brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi performed the dead prayers on his body. Today, the resting place of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Shirazi is an inspiration to the countless believers and Islamic scholars around the world to step in his feet.

**************

THE RISE OF A SUN FROM HOLY KARBALA

• The Rise of the New Islamic Jurist and Scholar, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi

With his far-reaching and broad knowledge of the existing state of affairs, the late Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi could know that he has to introduce a potent and accomplished heir to continue the movements he had started. He needed to make sure that his replacement will be someone who surpasses all others in the realm of Islamic sciences and spirituality, someone who will continue to lead the Muslim world with an unshakable faith and undeniable popularity; therefore, in a historic letter, he introduced his brother, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi as his successor and invited all Shia Muslims to help and follow him in the lengthy and hard path ahead. Since then, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi has been praised as a loyal follower of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Pure Household, and a stern reviver of the Islamic rituals of Imam Husayn, peace be upon him.

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise belongs to the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his pure Household.

And so, I acknowledge that the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, may his services be continued, has mastered the Islamic sciences with a thorough understanding and that he has acquired piety and justice to its brims. I believe he has earned all the qualifications of an Islamic Jurist, someone who can release fatwas and be referred to by the believers.

Therefore, I declare it is permissible for all the believers to refer to his eminence in all of their religious matters, on the condition of the permission by the just Islamic jurists. And I ask him to preserve piety, which is the path to salvation. I also ask my believing brothers to follow his eminence in all related affairs.

God, the Almighty, is the one who determines success and power, and He is the only helper.

Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi

• The Great Legacy

In this regard, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Rida Shirazi, the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi said: “I ask the Almighty Lord to help all of us, our scholars, our speakers, and our women and men to preserve the legacy of my father, the Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi and obey his eminence.”

• The Memory of Sun

Ayatollah Sayyid Murtida Shirazi, the second son of the late Grand Jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi also said:

“The Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi is alive, because he has left us a great legacy; a legacy that outweighs everything else. My late father left us a great scholar and a statue of piety, someone who is a relief to our souls and hearts. My father is still alive, because he left us a unique and peerless leader and scholar, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

He is a renowned scholar and a great man who spent half the century to help his brother. After the martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayyid Hasan Shirazi, he always stood up for his brother and became his loyal supporter.

Yes, my father is still alive, because there is a man from his blood, whose deep knowledge and unshakable piety is attested by all Islamic scholars; he is the fountain of knowledge and we should enjoy and value his presence among us.

The Islamic seminaries admit his great scientific character and his invaluable books prove his vast and profound knowledge of the Islamic sciences. The name of my late father will live on, because he has left us such a great legacy, the scholar Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.”

• The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi, Personality Traits

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, a competent, compassionate and concerned leader

In a noble hadith, it is stated: “One who doesn’t have concerns for the Muslims’ problems and doesn’t try to solve them, is not a Muslim.”

This hadith is a scale by which we can tell apart the real Muslims from the rest. In other words, this hadith tells us that one’s knowledge and understanding of Islam is only measured by their dutifulness and observance of their responsibilities, which are inscribed to them by Islam. Although this hadith serves as a scale that measures the reality of every individual’s faith, yet it is by far a more valuable tool that can be helpful to the influential and public figures, especially the scholars and the religious authorities in a society.

Likewise, we can see that the holy Prophet of Islam always had concerns about the bad conditions of the Muslims either when he was in holy Mecca or in holy Medina. His holiness had so deep concerns that he couldn’t have a moment of comfort. During his residence in holy Mecca, Lady Khadija, who couldn’t see what the holy Prophet went through, told him: “Oh, the messenger of God. I am worried about you. You are working day and night, and it is wearing you down. You must take some rest.” The holy Prophet answered her in these words: “Khadija, the time for sleeping is over; there is no time for rest or respite.” This is while that in holy Medina, the holy Prophet had even more concerns as he always had to defend the Muslims in the frontlines against the enemies.

In the same way, Imam Ali, peace be upon him, was deeply concerned over the bad conditions of the Muslims, in all stages of his life in holy Mecca, holy Medina or Kufa. He let go of all luxuries and comforts, and didn’t spend a moment unless he was working out a way to improve the conditions of the new born Muslim nation. The loyal companions of Imam Ali expressed their concerns for his holiness and said: “You should give yourself a time for resting.” But Imam Ali told them: “If I sleep at nights, I would have lost the chance to worship my Lord; and if I sleep in daylight, I would have failed the Muslim nation.”

In this subject, the Islamic scholars and religious authorities, including the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi adhered to the path of the holy Prophet of Islam and his pure Household and grew an all-time concern for the Muslim nation. The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, during his residence in holy Karbala, Kuwait, and in holy Qom, always tried to serve and keep alive the intellectual movements created by his late brother, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Shirazi. Furthermore, the Grand Jurist pioneered many influential movements by his valuable and priceless publications and like his father, the Grand Ayatollah Mirza Mahdi Shirazi, continued his nonstop works for promoting the conditions of not only the Muslim populace but also the entire humanity. The Grand Jurist strongly believes that knowledge becomes valuable only if it is accompanied by piety; therefore, his eminence set an example in this regard and became known as a symbol of knowledge and piety in our contemporary times.

The highest courses of Islamic sciences by the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi show the immense level of the Grand Jurist’s knowledge, and his high manners are a token of his surpassing state of piety and devotion. The Grand Jurist always bears with him a big concern for the Muslim populace and works day and night to improve the lives of the Muslims.

Many of the Islamic Jurists and contemporary scholars, when asked about the Shirazi scholars, highlight that this great and old family has a long history of unparalleled sacrifices for the Muslim world, signifying their big concern for the Muslim nation.

The long-time scientific works of the Grand Jurist such as his interpretation of the precious book of “Al-Urwatul Wuthqa”, resolved many complex and the yet-unanswered questions. In addition, the Grand Jurist’s ingenious introduction to his book of Islamic laws, which illuminated on the most challenging principles of the Islamic beliefs in the most simple and brief wordings helped the large number of Shia Muslims to get familiar with the depth of the genuine Islamic beliefs. In the meantime, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi kept working on a big social plan, on the international level in order to promote the lives of the oppressed Muslim nation in the entire world.

In this regard, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi tried the old and new methods to introduce the true reflection on the holy Quran, the genuine culture of the holy Prophet of Islam and his Household to the entire world. The numerous publications of the Grand Jurist about the culture of the Household of the Islamic Prophet and the countless web pages and TV networks, along with the various cultural and religious institutions and the Islamic and the human rights associations, they all try to present a deeper and more authentic approach to the real Islam and the peaceful culture of the Islamic Prophet and his Household. At the moment, many Shia human rights organization such as Shia Rights Watch have emerged to carry the heavy responsibility of defending the oppressed nation of Shia Muslims and have voiced out the unheard story of their sufferings at the international podiums. All these great achievements are indebted to the far-reaching thoughts and plans of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Shirazi.

• The Daily Schedule of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi has dedicated his whole time to serving the Almighty God and helping out the people. A portion of the daily schedule of the Grand Jurist is dedicated to teaching the highest levels of Islamic jurisprudence to the large number of avid students; his eminence has also specified a certain time of his every day to his personal studies and researchers on different Quranic topics and the hadiths. In the meantime, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi has devoted a part of his daily schedule to doing acts of worship and helping out the people. In this part of his schedule, the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi receives all groups of people and holds face to face meetings with them in order to keep in touch with the everyday problems and challenges of the people. Furthermore, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is watchful to all of the political and social developments occurring in the world of Islam. In order to develop a realistic and thorough understanding of the nature of events that happen in the Islamic countries, the Grand Jurist spends a part of his time to study and meet social and political experts in his private meetings. In most of these meetings, the representatives of the Grand Jurist, the social and political experts and the distinguished religious activists present reports of their activities and then listen to the precious guidelines of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi. The crammed daily schedule of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi doesn’t leave his eminence more the three or four hours of sleep in every day. Finally, the Grand Jurist has specified the rest of his schedule to answering the written questions sent to him from around the world.

**********

Moral and Ethical Codes of Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi

• A Statue of Moral Traits

The public admires the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi as a perfect scholar, a caring religious leader and a statue of moralities. In this chapter, we try to clarify on the deep and inclusive character of this Islamic Jurist and scholar.

The sweet company of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is a sign of his high morals, which make everyone sweep away any feeling of exhaustion and weariness. Anyone who experiences the companionship of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi can unfold their overjoyed spiritual feelings and emotions. In all of his meetings, the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi gives out many precious advices and instructions, all derived from the Quranic teachings and the hadiths by the holy infallibles. In addition, the Grand Jurist reveals many invaluable moral lessons to his visitors by sweet and short stories that opens new horizons to the people.

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi continues the path of his forefathers, the holy infallibles, and represents their high morals and ethical codes. The humble manners, the courtesy and the mild morals of the Grand jurist inspires all his visitors and guests and vibrates the fragrant of genuine Islamic morals in our disturbed epoch. His eminence always invites the people to preserve piety, devotion and virtue and encourages everyone, especially the youth, to acquire the genuine Islamic sciences and teachings. The Grand Ayatollah Shirazi always insists on perseverance and hard work as two important elements that can help all groups of people to serve the path of God, and the society. Likewise, the Grand Jurist emphasizes on the social services in all his remarks and helps the religious activists and the passionate youth to engage in such activities.

• The Shelter of the Public

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi is known as a public figure, who opens his arms to all groups of the society, regardless of their affiliations and their ethnicities. Therefore, the masses of the people consider the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi as the healer of their problems and hardships, and a compassionate father. 

At the presence of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, color, language, and race are all out of question and this is why that all groups of the public, from all around the world, and from all different classes of the society and different scientific, social or financial backgrounds seek the company of his eminence. The Central Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi always welcomes large numbers of the people, with different nationalities, from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Tajikistan, and many other European, American and African countries.

The Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi always reminds the staff of his Central Office not to let down or fail any visitor, as the Grand Islamic Jurists and leaders have always been a shelter to the Shia Muslims all along the history. In fact, the Office of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi is a refuge and a sanctuary to all of those people who find themselves at the doors of this Office.

The two qualities of generosity and humility have given the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi a strong impression on any person who meets with his eminence. The sense of humility by such a great figure in the entire world of Islam along with such a generous attitude are two exceptional gifts which are never found except in the men of God and the Lord’s chosen people.

• A Pure Heart and a Big Soul

The mild and good morals of the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi easily finds its way into the hearts of all people who visit his eminence on different occasions. The warm smile on the face of the Grand Jurist is a soothing sight and his perceptive directives and guidelines are a sign of his insightful and visionary character. In a nutshell, spirituality, morals, and the perfection of human values are well represented in the character of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi.

As a matter of fact, the Grand Jurist has stepped in the path of his noble ancestors, Imam Ali and his pure descendants, may God’s peace and blessing be upon them all.

• Tunisian Convert Astonished of Grand Jurist’s Great Spirits

In his first meeting with the Grand Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi, a famous Tunisian Shia convert admitted to his astonishment when he faced the great spirits and the high morals of the Grand Jurist. This Tunisian Shia convert expressed his feelings in these sentences:

“The warmth of your smile makes me think of the holy Prophet of Islam and Imam Ali, whose enemies couldn’t find any faults with him, so they started criticizing him for having a sense of humor. They wanted to criticize him, but unintentionally, they unfolded another great quality of his holiness.”

Courtesy, passion, and forgiveness are the most significant moral characteristics of the Grand Ayatollah Shirazi, which are important characteristics of any successful and popular leader and role model. All these qualities and characteristics have made the Grand Jurist to stand out all other contemporary Islamic jurists and scholars, and have given his eminence a powerful influence over all friends and adversaries.

• The Company of Grand Ayatollah Shirazi