This article provides the list of
''Maraji'' (plural of ''Marja'', the supreme legal authority or the source of emulation), followed by
Twelver
Twelver Shīʿīsm ( ar, ٱثْنَا عَشَرِيَّة; '), also known as Imāmīyyah ( ar, إِمَامِيَّة), is the largest branch of Shīʿa Islam, comprising about 85 percent of all Shīʿa Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers t ...
(also known as ''Imamiyyah'')
Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, mos ...
Muslims around the world. The concept of a ''Marja-i Taqlid'' (lit. source of emulation) is central to
Usuli
Usulis ( ar, اصولیون, fa, اصولیان) are the majority Twelver Shi'a Muslim group. They differ from their now much smaller rival Akhbari group in favoring the use of ''ijtihad'' (i.e., reasoning) in the creation of new rules of ''fiq ...
Shi'a Islam. ''Marja-i 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 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.
[Lara Deeb, ''An Enchanted Modern: Gender and Public Piety in Shi'i Lebanon'', Princeton University Press, pp.69-70][Michael W. Suleiman,''Arabs in America: Building a New Future'', p.55, Temple University Press]
Those clerics who reach the apex in the hirerachy of theological rank in the centers of
Shi'a
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...
learning become ''Marja-i 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-i Taqlids'' are often referred to by their followers with the honorific title of ''Ayatollah al-`Uzma'' (Grand Ayatollah - "ayatollah" meaning "sign of God").
Among the functions of ''Marja-i Taqlids'' is the collection and distribution of religious taxes (''zakat'' and ''khums'').
Current
The names are ordered by age (from Oldest to youngest).
Deceased
:''See:
List of deceased Maraji''
See also
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Marja
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Ijtihad
''Ijtihad'' ( ; ar, اجتهاد ', ; lit. physical or mental ''effort'') is an Islamic legal term referring to independent reasoning by an expert in Islamic law, or the thorough exertion of a jurist's mental faculty in finding a solution to a l ...
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Ayatollah
Ayatollah ( ; fa, آیتالله, āyatollāh) is an honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy in Iran and Iraq that came into widespread usage in the 20th century.
Etymology
The title is originally derived from Arabic word ...
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List of Ayatollahs
This is a partial list of Ayatollahs, a title given to high ranked Twelver Usuli Shi'a Muslim clerics. Its ranking is higher than Hujjat al-Islam, and the next higher clerical rank is Grand Ayatollah also known as Marja'. This list contains on ...
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List of Hujjatul Islams
References
{{reflist, 1
External links
Prominent Ulamaa, prior to 100 yearsComprehensive List of Ulamaa / Jurists & their books ' An Extract from A Shiite Encyclopedia - Hasan AminiIntroduction to Scholars 5th / 11th century (al-islam.org)Scholars Info (Playandlearn.org) ar:قائمة مراجع الشيعة
ur:شیعہ مراجع کی فہرست
Marja
Shia Islam by country
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Ayatollahs