Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed-Ridha al-Husayni al-Sistani (Arabic: محمد رضا الحسيني السيستاني, born 18 August 1962), is an Iraqi Shia scholar, and the eldest son of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.[1]
Mohammed-Ridha al-Sistani | |
|---|---|
محمد رضا الحسيني السيستاني | |
| Personal | |
| Born | 18 August 1962 |
| Religion | Islam |
| Children |
|
| Parent | Ali al-Sistani (father) |
| Jurisprudence | Twelver Shia Islam |
| Relatives | Mirza Shirazi (great-great grandfather) |
Sistani primarily runs his father's office and oversees the financial and administrative work.[2][3]
Early life and education
editEarly life
editAl-Sistani was born in Najaf, Iraq, to Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, and the daughter of Sayyid Muhammad-Hassan al-Shirazi (grandson of Mirza Shirazi). He comes from a respectable lineage of scholars, traced back to the 17th century.[4]
His family claim descent from the fourth Shia Imam, Ali ibn Husayn.
Education
editHe joined the Najaf seminary in September, 1974. He conducted his jurisprudence studies under the leading jurist of his time, Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei in September, 1979. He attended the principles of jurisprudence classes of his father, Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, in March, 1991.
He began teaching manasik in September 2003.
Political stances
editThe office of his father, the Grand Ayatollah, (of which Mohammed-Ridha is the head) has openly criticised foreign meddling in Iraqi affairs, stating: "No person or group, no side with a particular view, no regional or international actor may seize the will of the Iraqi people and impose its will on them." Due to the events preceding the issuance of the statement, it has been interpreted by some as a direct warning to Iran.[5][6]
He played a major role in ending the 2022 Baghdad clashes by calling Muqtada al-Sadr by phone and conveying a message to him from his father Ali al-Sistani, which stated that Sadr was responsible for any bloodshed and urged him to call on his group to end the violence. Sadr responded by ordering his forces to end their attacks, as well as apologizing for the violence that broke out.[7]
He has said that Iraqis have the right to govern themselves and choose their own rulers without the domination or interference of foreigners.[8]
Works
editSistani has written a number of books in jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence. Some of them include:
- Wasa'il al-Injab al-Sina'iya (Fertilization Through Assisted Technological Methods)
- Wasa'il al-Man' Min al-Injab (Contraceptive Methods)
- Janabat al-Mar'a Bighayr al-Muqaraba (Women's State of Impurity Without Intercourse)
- Zaawaj al-Bikr al-Rashida Bighayr Ithn al-Wali (Marriage of a Mature Virgin Without Guardians Consent)
- Buhuth Fiqhiya (Jurisprudential research regarding meat slaughter without the use of metal, veiling, beauty and other issues.)
- Buhuth Fi Sharh Manasik al-Hajj (Research in dissecting manasik of Hajj). 10 volumes.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Ali, Saif. "Iltizam Najl Samahat al-Sayyid al-Sistani Bil Ta'limat al-Sihiyya Athnaa Iqamat Salat al-Mayyit" [Sayyid Sistani's son complies with health measures during funeral]. Shafaqna News Association. Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- ^ "A Shia 'Awakening'?". Hoover Institution. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "Sistani's son welcomes Soleimani, Muhandis funeral in Najaf: Iraqi state TV". Reuters. 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ "Thikra Wafat al-Sayyid Mirza Mahdi al-Shirazi Fi 28 Shaban" [Mirza Mahdi al-Shirazi's death anniversary on the 28th of Shaban (lunar calendar)]. An-Nabaa Information Network (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-11.
- ^ "Sistani Denies He Agreed With Iran's Soleimani To Back Iraqi PM". RFE/RL. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Arango, Tim (2015-11-01). "In Bid to Counter Iran, Ayatollah in Iraq May End Up Emulating It". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
- ^ Davison, John; Hafezi, Parisa; Bassam, Laila (2022-09-03). "How a 92-year-old cleric silently halted Iraq's slide back into war". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ "As'ilat Royters Hawl Shu'un Samahat al-Sayed al-Khasa" [Reuters questions regarding Ayatollah Sistani's personal matters]. www.sistani.org (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
External links
edit- Library of al-Sistani's books by al-Feker E-book Network (in Arabic)