List of marjas

This article provides the list of marja taqlid (supreme legal authorities) since 1900, both current and deceased, followed by Usuli Twelver Shi'a Muslims around the world. The concept of Marja taqlid (lit. source of emulation) is central to the Usuli school of Twelver Shi'a Islam [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/islam-ithna-ashari2.htm] . Marja taqlids provide religious interpretations on matters of law and rituals. Ideally, the most just and knowledgeable specialist in the field of the Islamic law should become recognized throughout the Twelver world as the marja taqlid. In practice however this rarely happens and there are several marja taqlid's among whom an individual is free to choose and emulate. Michael W. Suleiman,"Arabs in America: Building a New Future", p.55, Temple University Press] Lara Deeb, "An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon", Princeton University Press, pp.69-70 ] Among those living far away from the centers of Twelver learning, there are however Twelvers who have never heard of the concept of Marja Taqlid, or are apart of Twelver schools such as the Akhbari who reject it.

Those clerics who reach the apex in the hirerachy of theological rank in the centers of Twelver learning become Marja taqlids. [Linda S. Walbridge, "The Most Learned of the Shiʻa: The Institution of the Marjaʻ Taqlid", Oxford University Press, p.217] Since around 1940, Marja taqlids are often referred to by their followers with the honorific title of "ayatollah al-`uzma" (Grand Ayatollah). Among the functionality of Marja taqlids is the collection and distribution of religious taxes ("zakat" and "khums").

Current

"Note: The list contains those Ayatollahs who have published a Resalah, regardless the number of followers they have."The names are ordered alphabetically, as there exists no other standard to prefer one marja over another."See also: List of Ayatollahs

Deceased

"Note: The names are ordered by date of death (descending) as an arbitrary standard.

ee also

*Marja
*Ijtihad
*Ayatollah
*List of Ayatollahs

References