List of current Maraji

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This article provides the list of Maraji (plural of Marja, the supreme legal authority or the source of emulation), followed by Twelver (also known as Imamiyyah) Shia Muslims around the world. The concept of a Marja-i Taqlid (lit. source of emulation) is central to Usuli Shi'a Islam.^[1] Marja-i Taqlids provide religious interpretations on matters of law and rituals.^[2][3] Ideally, the most just and knowledgeable specialist in the field of the Islamic law should become recognized throughout the Muslim world as the Marja-i Taqlid. In practice however this rarely happens and there are several marja taqlids among whom an individual is free to choose and emulate.^[2][3]

Those clerics who reach the apex in the hirerachy of theological rank in the centers of Shi'a learning become Marja-i Taqlids.^[2][4] Since around 1940, Marja-i Taqlids are often referred to by their followers with the honorific title of Ayatollah al-`Uzma (Grand Ayatollah).^[2] Among the functions of Marja-i Taqlids is the collection and distribution of religious taxes (zakat and khums).^[2][3]

Current[]

Note: The list contains those Ayatollahs who have published a resalah, regardless of the number of followers they have. This list is just for sake of reference and should not be accepted as proof of Marjaiyat for enlisted candidates. To choose & decide Marja for religious purposes please refer to the Shia-Islamic Codifix, Sources and People of Knowledge (i.e. Ahle-e-Khoboor). The general consensus on the standard by which a believer chooses the marja he/she wishes to follow requires (among other things) that the marja be the most knowledgeable Shi'i mujtahid in all fields. However, the assessment of the most knowledgeable scholar (alam) is subjective among experts in the field.

The names are ordered by age (from Oldest to youngest).

No	Image	Name	Birth Year CE[5]	Birth Year AH[5]	Birth Place	Education	Residence	Website	Notes
1		Lotfollah Saafi Golpaygani - لطف الله صافی گلپایگانی	(1919-02-18) 18 February 1919 (age 102)	1337	Iran	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
2		Hossein Vahid Khorasani - حسين وحيد خراساني	(1921-01-01) 1 January 1921 (age 100)	1339	Iran	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
3		- الشمس الدين مجتهدى نجفى	(1923-04-17) 17 April 1923 (age 98)	1341	Iran	Iraq Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
4		Hossein Noori Hamedani - حسين نوري همداني	1925 (age 95–96)	1343	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
5		Sayyid Mohammad Sadeq Hosayni Rouhani - السيد محمد صادق حسيني روحاني	(1926-07-16) 16 July 1926 (age 95)	1344	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
6		Naser Makarem Shirazi - ناصر مكارم شيرازي	(1927-02-25) 25 February 1927 (age 94)	1345	Iran	Iran Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
7		Sayyid Mousa Shubayri Zanjani - السيد موسى شبيري زنجانی	(1928-03-02) 2 March 1928 (age 93)	1346	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
8		Abbas Mahfouzi - عباس محفوظی	1928 (age 92–93)	1346	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
9		Mohammad Rahmati Sirjani - محمد رحمتی سیرجانی	1928 (age 92–93)	1346	Iran	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
10		Ja‘far Sobhani - جعفر سبحاني	(1929-04-08) 8 April 1929 (age 92)	1347	Iran	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
11		Sayyid Ali Husayni al-Sistani - السيد علي الحسيني السيستاني	(1930-08-04) 4 August 1930 (age 91)	1348	Iran	Iran Iraq	Iraq	Official Website[6]	-
12		Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayadh - محمد إسحاق فياض	1930 (age 90–91)	1348	Afghanistan	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
13		- محمد تقى مجلسى اصفهانى	1930 (age 90–91)	1348	Iran	Iran Iraq	Iran	Official Website	[7]
14		Muhammad Hussain Najafi - محمد حسين النجفي	(1932-04-10) 10 April 1932 (age 89)	1350	British India	Pakistan Iraq	Pakistan	Official website	-
15		Abdollah Javadi-Amoli - عبدالله جوادى آملى	(1933-05-05) 5 May 1933 (age 88)	1351	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
16		Hossein Mazaheri - حسين مظاهري	(1933-11-16) 16 November 1933 (age 87)	1352	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
17		Mohammad Ebrahim Jannaati - محمد ابراهيم جناتی	1933 (age 87–88)	1351	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
19		Sayyid Ali Mohammad Dastgheib Shirazi - السيد علی محمد دستغیب شيرازي	(1935-03-14) 14 March 1935 (age 86)	1353	Iran	Iran Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
20		- ميرزا يدالله دوزدوزاني	1935 (age 85–86)	1354	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
21		Shamsodin Vaezi - شمس الدين الواعظي	1936 (age 84–85)	1355	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
22		Isa Ahmed Qassim - عيسى احمد قاسم	(1937-01-01) 1 January 1937 (age 84)	1355	Bahrain	Iran Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
23		Mohammad Ali Gerami Qomi - محمدعلى گرامى قمي	1938 (age 82–83)	1357	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
24		Sayyid Kazim Hussaini al-Haeri - السيد كاظم حسيني حائري	1938 (age 82–83)	1356	Iraq	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
25		- محمد مهدي الخالصي	1938 (age 82–83)	1357	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	[Official Website]	-
26		Sayyid Ali Hoseyni Khamenei - السيد علي حسيني خامنه اي	(1939-04-19) 19 April 1939 (age 82)	1358	Iran	Iran Iraq Lebanon	Iran	Official Website	-
27		Ali Asghar Rahimi Azad - علی اصغر رحیمی آزاد	1939 (age 81–82)	1358	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
28		Sayyid Mohammad Alavi Ali Hosseini Gorgani - السيد محمد على علوى حسينى گرگانى	1940 (age 80–81)	1359	Iraq	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
29		Sheikh Yasubedin Rastegar Jooybari - الشيخ يعسوب الدين رستگار جويبارى	1940 (age 80–81)	1359	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
30		Mohammad Mohammad Taher Aleshobair Khaqani - محمد محمد طاهــــر آل شبيـر الخاقانـــــي	1940 (age 80–81)	1359	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
31		- الشيخ الخليل قدسى مهر تبريزى	1940 (age 80–81)	1359	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official website	[8]
32		Asadollah Bayyat Zanjani - اسدالله بیات زنجانی	(1941-12-23) 23 December 1941 (age 79)	1360	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
33		- دوستى زنجانى	1941 (age 79–80)	1360	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	[citation needed]
34		Sayyid Sadiq Hussaini Shirazi - السيد صادق حسيني شيرازي	(1941-08-20) 20 August 1941 (age 80)	1361	Iraq	Iraq	Iran	Official Website	-
35		Bashir Hussain Najafi - بشير حسين النجفي	1942 (age 78–79)	1361	British India	Pakistan Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
36		- السيد راغب آل كمونة الحسيني	1942 (age 78–79)	1360	Iraq	Iran Iraq	Iraq	Biography	-
37		- الشيخ نوري حاتم الساعدي	1944 (age 76–77)	1362	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	-	-
38		Sayyid Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi - السيد محمد تقي المدرسي	(1945-07-01) 1 July 1945 (age 76)	1364	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
39		Sayyid Ali Asghar Dastgheib - سید علی‌اصغر دستغیب	(1945-11-25) 25 November 1945 (age 75)	1364	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
40		Sayyid Ahmad Hassani Baghdadi - السيد احمد الحسني البغدادي	1945 (age 75–76)	1364	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
41		Sayyid Allaedin Ghoraifi - السيد علاء الدين الغريفي	1945 (age 75–76)	1364	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
42		Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Zanjani - السید محمد حسینی زنجانی	1947 (age 73–74)	1366	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
43		Saleh Taei - صالح الطائي	1948 (age 72–73)	1367	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
44		- علي الصالح	1948 (age 72–73)	1367	Kuwait	Iran	Kuwait		-
45		Mohammad Reza Nekoonam - محمد رضا نکونام	(1949-01-09) 9 January 1949 (age 72)	1368	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
46		- السيد محمد جواد علوى بروجردى	(1951-04-16) 16 April 1951 (age 70)	1370	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
47		- محمد أمين المامقاني	(1951-06-10) 10 June 1951 (age 70)	1371	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Biography Official Website	-
48		Khalil Mobasher Kashani - خلیل مبشر کاشانی	1951 (age 69–70)	1370	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
49		- الشيخ جواد الخالصى	1951 (age 69–70)	1370	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	[Official Website]	-
50		Sayyid Hussein Esmaeel al-Sadr - السيد حسين إسماعيل الصدر	1952 (age 68–69)	1371	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
51		Fazel Maleki - فاضل المالكي	(1954-04-08) 8 April 1954 (age 67)	1372	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
52		Sayyid Ali Hassani Baghdadi - السيد علي الحسني البغدادي	1955 (age 65–66)	1374	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
53		- السيد محمد يثربى	1955 (age 65–66)	1374	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	[9]
54		Sayyid Kamal Haydari - سيد كمال الحيدري	(1956-01-01) 1 January 1956 (age 65)	1375	Iraq	Iran Iraq	Iran	Official Website	[10]
55		Sayyid Mohammad Hadi Ghazanfari Khansari - السيد محمد هادي غضنفري خوانساري	1957 (age 63–64)	1376	Iran	Iran	Iran	Biography	-
56		- السيد محسن حجت كابلى	1957 (age 63–64)	1376	Afghanistan	Iran	Afghanistan	Official Website	[11]
57		- السيد محمد أمين خراسانى	(1958-02-09) 9 February 1958 (age 63)	1376	Iran	Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
58		Mohammad Yaqoobi - محمد اليعقوبي	(1960-09-09) 9 September 1960 (age 61)	1379	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
59		Sayyid Reza Hosseini Nassab - السيد رضا حسيني نسب	1960 (age 60–61)	1380	Iran	Iran	Canada	Official Website	[12][13]
60		Qasem Taei - قاسم الطائي	1960 (age 60–61)	1379	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-
61		- محمد باقر موحدى نجفى	1961 (age 59–60)	1381	Iraq	Iraq Iran	Iran	Official Website	-
62		- الشيخ محمد السند	1962 (age 58–59)	1382	Bahrain	Iran	Iraq	Official Website	-
63		Sayyid Mahmoud Hassani Sorkhi - السيد محمود الحسني الصرخي	(1964-12-01) 1 December 1964 (age 56)	1383	Iraq	Iraq	Iraq	Official Website	-

Deceased[]

See: List of deceased Maraji

See also[]

• Marja
• Ijtihad
• Ayatollah
• List of Ayatollahs

References[]

External links[]

• Prominent Ulamaa, prior to 100 years
• Comprehensive List of Ulamaa / Jurists & their books ' An Extract from A Shiite Encyclopedia - Hasan Amini
• Ulamaa Biographies (Jafariyanews.com)
• Introduction to Scholars 5th / 11th century (al-islam.org)
• Scholars Info (Playandlearn.org)