Marja (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid or Marja Dini (Arabic/Persian: مرجع تقليد / مرجع ديني), literally means "Source of Emulation" or "Religious Reference". It is the label provided to Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and less-credentialed clerics. After the Qur'an, marjas are the second highest authority on religious laws in Usuli Shi'a Islam. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Quran and Sunnah is an often quoted Islamic term regarding the sources of Islam. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A Mujtahid is an Islamic scholar, competent independently to interpret divine law in practical situations using Ijtihad, or independent thought. ... Madhhab or Mazhab (Arabic مذهب pl. ... Minhaj is the Arabic word for methodology. ... In Sunni Islamic jurisprudence, Qiyas is the process of analogical reasoning from a known injunction (nass) to a new injunction. ... Urf العرف is an Arabic Islamic term referring to the custom, or knowledge, of a given society, leading to change in the fiqh فقه (Islamic jurisprudence). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ijmāʿ (إجماع) is an Arabic tern referring to the consensus of the ummah, the community of Muslims, those practicing Islam, or of the ulema, those learned in the relevant topic. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Ulugh Beg Madrasa, Samarkand, ca. ... An ijazah is a certificate used primarily by Muslims to indicate that one has been authorized by a higher authority to transmit a certain subject or text of Islamic knowledge. ... Istihlal (Arabic: ) is a term used in Islamic jurisprudence, or fiqh, to refer to the act of regarding some action as permissible, or halaal; the implication is that such a regard is an erroneous and improper distortion of Islamic law. ... Istihsan is an Arabic term for juristic preference and is one of the methods of reasoning for understanding the sources of shariah and itjihad. ... For other uses, see Risala (disambiguation). ... In Islamic context, the Ahkam (أحكام) are rulings and orders of the Quran and Sunnah. ... Halaal (حلال, halāl, halal) is an Islamic Arabic term meaning permissible. In English it is most frequently used to refer to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. ... Fard also farida (arabic فرض obligation, duty) is an Islamic term which denotes a religious duty. ... Fard also farida (فرض obligation, duty) is an Islamic Arabic term which denotes a religious duty. ... Mustahab, recomended, is a Islamic term denoting a actions between Mubah (neutral) and Wajib (actions which must be performed). ... Mubah is an Islamic Arabic term denoting an action as neither forbidden nor commended; neutral. ... Acts and substances which should be evaded by muslims. ... harām (Arabic: حرام Ḥarām, Turkish: Haram, Malay: Haram) is an Arabic word, used in Islam to refer to anything that is prohibited by the faith. ... Batil is an Arabic word meaning falsehood, and can be used to describe a nullified or invalid act or contract according to the sharia. ... A term in Islam. ... Ulema (, translit: , singular: , translit: , scholar) (Islamic clergy) refers to the educated class of Muslim scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Omdurman, Sudan. ... A Mufti (Arabic: مفتى ) is an Islamic scholar who is an interpreter or expounder of Islamic law (Sharia), capable of issuing fataawa (plural of fatwa). // Role of a Mufti in governments In theocracies like Saudi Arabia and Iran, and in some countries where the constitution is based on sharia law, such... Qadi (قاضى) is an Arabic term meaning judge. ... A Faqih is an expert in fiqh, or, Islamic jurisprudence. ... Muhaddith is an Islamic title, referring to one who profoundly knows and narrates hadiths, the chains of their narration (saneed), and the original and famous narrators. ... Mullahs in the court of a Qajar monarch, Iran. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Maulvi (also spelled: Moulvi, Mawlawi and Mawlvi Persian: مولوی) is an honorific Islamic religious title often, but not exclusively, given to Sunni Muslim religious scholars or Ulema preceding their names, similar to the titles Maulana, Mullah or Shaykh. ... For other uses, see Sheikh (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with murshid, Pir (Sufism) and Peer-E-Tariqat (Discuss) A Shaykh of Sufism is a Sufi who is authorized to teach, initiate and guide aspiring dervishes. ... Shaikh (Arabic: شيخ ), meaning elder of a tribe, lord, revered old man, or Islamic scholar. ... Ayatollah redirects here. ... A Mujaddid (Arabic: مجدد), in Islamic tradition, refers to a person who, Muslims believe, is sent by God in the first half of every century of the Islamic calendar. ... Maulana is a title of respect, technically reserved for Muslim scholars or Ulema (plural of Aalim) who are knowledgable about Islam and have studied under a scholar or at a religious institution, e. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... The Qurān [1] (Arabic: ‎, literally the recitation; also called ‎ The Noble Qurān; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and Al-Quran) is the central religious text of Islam. ... Usulis are Twelver Shia Muslims who favor fatwas over hadith when trying to determine what the Sunnah says about any specific topic. ... Shī‘a Islam, also Shi‘ite Islam, or Shi‘ism (Arabic ) is the second largest denomination of the Islamic faith. ...

Title

Currently, marjas are accorded the title Grand Ayatollah (Arabic/Persian: آية‌الله العظمی Ayatollah al-Uzma), however when referring to one, the use of Ayatollah is acceptable. Previously, the titles of Allamah^[1] and Imam^[2] have also been used. Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... An Allamah (Persian: علامه), also spelled Allameh and Allama, is an honorary title carried by only the very highest scholars (marjas) of Islamic thought, jurisprudence, and philosophy. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Authority of marjas

This marja'yiat of an Ayatollah happens when the followers of one of the Ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. The book is called Resalah and contains their fatwa on different topics, according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life. Where a difference in opinion exists between the marjas, each of them provide their own opinion and the Muqallid will follow his/her own marja's opinion on that subject. ^[3] Ayatollah redirects here. ... A Resalah is the name of the books writen by Shia Marja that contains their fatwa on different topics. ... A fatwa (Arabic: ‎; plural fatāwa), is a legal pronouncement in Islam made by a mufti, a scholar capable of issuing judgments on Sharia (Islamic law). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Several senior Grand Ayatollahs constitute the Hawza, a religious institution in Najaf, Iraq and a separate one in Qom, Iran. These are preeminent seminary centers for the training of Shi'a clergymen. However, there are other smaller hawzas in other cities around the world. Hawza is an academy or school of traditional Islamic studies. ... Najaf (Arabic: ‎; BGN: An Najaf) is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. ... Qom (Persian: قم, also known as Qum or Kom) is a city in Iran and the Qom (River) flows through the town. ... see also Holy Orders The following terms have traditional meanings for the Anglican Church, and possibly beyond: A churchman is in principle a member of a church congregation, in practice someone in holy orders. ...

Conflict between marjas

Some say that having different marjas may cause certain problems in Shi'a Islam. They say some marjas might have a liberal view on a subject such as music, while others may be restrictive and have conservative fatwas on music. This situation has raised certain difficulties in running a velayat-faqih system in Iran, where the fatwas of the Supreme Leader is usually given precedence to others. (See: The situation in Iran) Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ebrahim Jannati (Persian: محمد ابراهيم جناتی) (born 1933 in Shahrood, Iran) is an Iranian Shia Marja. ... Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Fazel Lankarani (born 1931 in Qom, Iran) is the son of the late Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani and was a student of Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi. ... For other uses, see Vilayat-e Faqih. ... Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. ... For other uses, see Vilayat-e Faqih. ...

However, others say that although it might seem that difference of opinion among marjas would be a source of contention, it is important to note that almost all marjas agree on about 99 percent of the rulings. There are very few rulings on which marjas differ, and even then they are quite similar to each other. For example, one marja might declare something to be wajib (obligatory), whereas another might consider it mustahab (recommended). However, it is never the case when one marja considers something wajib, whereas another considers it haram. Fard also farida (arabic فرض obligation, duty) is an Islamic term which denotes a religious duty. ... Mustahab, recomended, is a Islamic term denoting a actions between Mubah (neutral) and Wajib (actions which must be performed). ... This article covers the word as used in Islamic urban planning. ...

See also

• List of Marjas
• Resalah
• Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom
• Hawza
• Taqlid

Conservative marjas[1] Naser Makarem Shirazi and Hossein Noori Hamedani This is a list of Marja Taqleeds (Grand Ayatollahs), which are followed by Usuli Shia Muslims around the world. ... A Resalah is the name of the books writen by Shia Marja that contains their fatwa on different topics. ... Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom (جامعه مدرسين حوزه علميه قم ), was founded 1961 by the leading Shia clerics of Qom to organize religious teachings in the seminaries, and expand the religious teachings in Iran. ... Hawza is an academy or school of traditional Islamic studies. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References

Allameh Tabatabaei, one of contemporarys greatest Islamic Philosophers, chatting with Ayatollah al-Shirazi. ... Mohammad Baqer Majlesi, (علامه مجلسی) (1616 - 1689) known as Allameh Majlesi, was a famous Iranian Shia cleric of the Safavid era. ... Jamal ad-Din Hasan ibn Yusuf ibn Ali ibn Muthahhar al-Hilli (Arabic: جمال الدين الحسن بن يوسف الحلي) (December 15, 1250 - December 18, 1325) was a Shiite theologian. ... Ayatollah Khomeini founded the first modern Islamic republic Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini (آیت‌الله روح‌الله خمینی in Persian) (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was an Iranian Shia cleric and the political...

External links

• Slate Magazine's "So you want to be an Ayatollah", explaining how Shiite clerics earn the title