Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi

Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Taqi al-Husayni al-Modarresi (Arabic: محمد تقي الحسيني المدرسي‎; Persian: محمد تقى حسينى مدرسى‎; b. 1945)[8] is an Iraqi-Iranian Shia marja' and political theorist.

This article is about an Iraqi Grand Ayatollah. For his ayatollah brother, see Hadi al-Modarresi.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid

Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi
السيد محمد تقي الحسيني المدرسي
Portrait of al-Modarresi in 2003
Personal
Born (1945-07-01) July 1, 1945[1]
Karbala, Iraq
ReligionIslam
Children
  • Salih
  • Muhammed-Ridha[2]
  • Murtadha[3]
  • Muhsin
  • Sajjad
  • Sadiq
ParentsMohammed Kadhim al-Modarresi (father)
JurisprudenceTwelver Shīʿā
Notable work(s)From the Guidance of the Quran
Islamic Mysticism
RelativesHadi al-Modarresi (brother)[4]
Ali Akbar al-Modarresi (brother)[5]
Mirza Mahdi al-Shirazi (grandfather)
Muhammad al-Shirazi (maternal uncle)[6]
Abd al-A'la al-Sabziwari (uncle-in-law)[7]
Muslim leader
Based inKarbala, Iraq
Period in office2003–present
WebsiteOfficial website

al-Modarresi is the author of over 400 books on matters of theology, historiography, jurisprudence, philosophy, logic, and social science. The Anglican Centre in Rome has stated that "Grand Ayatollah al-Modarresi is probably the second most senior Shia cleric after al-Sistani. His call for peace & human dignity is v[ery] significant."[9]

Biography

Family

al-Modarresi was born into a distinguished Shia religious family in Karbala in Iraq. His father is Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Kadhim al-Modarresi, the grandson of grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Baqir Golpayegani (also known as Jorfadiqani).[10] His mother is the daughter of grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mahdi al-Shirazi.[11] He claims descent from Zayd ibn Ali (died c. 740 AD), the great-great-grandson of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.[12]

Early life

al-Modarresi began his religious education in the religious seminaries of Karbala, at the young age of 8. He studied under some of Karbala's most senior scholars such as Shaykh Muhammad al-Karbassi, Shaykh Jafar al-Rushti, Shaykh Yusuf al-Khurasani and his uncle, Sayyid Muhammad al-Shirazi.[12] Due to the rising pressures of the Bathists anti-Shia sentiment,[13][14] al-Modarresi emigrated to Kuwait in 1971. He settled there until 1979, after which he moved to Iran after the Islamic Revolution.[15]

Activism

The Risali Movement

In 1967, under the jurisprudential guidance of Muhammad al-Shirazi, al-Modarresi established a religious activist group, known as the Risali Movement (Arabic: الحركة الرسالية‎). The word risali (follower of the message) was inspired by the Quranic verse: "[Allah praises] those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant." [33:39].

Before the Iranian revolution, the group remained a secret organisation, working on raising religious awareness, however, after the revolution, in 1979, it went public, calling for Islamism in the region, with different aliases across various countries. In Iraq, it was known as the Islamic Action Organisation. In Saudi Arabia, it was known as the Islamic Revolution of the Arabian Peninsula. In Bahrain, it was known as the Islamic Front for the Liberation of Bahrain and headed by his brother Hadi. But all these groups were identified as the risalis in the Islamic world.[16]

The movement inspired some Sunni activists to support the movement in their writings, this included Dr. Ahmed al-Abyadh of the Renaissance Organisation in Tunisia and various activists from Morocco.

Despite the risali term being used in Iraq, it really resonated with many activist groups across the Islamic world, transcending differences and any sectarianism that existed in the region.

Many books were issued to propagate the Risali Movement, some of the ones al-Modarresi wrote included:

  • Fi Suluk al-Risali (The Ways of a Risali)
  • Kayfa Nunami al-Fi'at al-Risaliya (How We Develop Risali Factions)
  • al-Masjid Muntalaq al-Thawra al-Risaliya (The Mosque Is The Starting Point of The Risali Revolution)
  • Khalaya al-Muqawama al-Risaliya (The Cells of the Risali Resistance)
  • Tajarob Risaliya (Risali Trials)
  • 'An al-I'lam Wa al-Thaqafa al-Risaliya (About Risali Culture and Media)
  • al-Sha'b al-Iraqi Wa Mas'uliyatahu al-Risaliya (The Iraqi Nation and its Risali Responsibilities )
  • al-Mar'a Bayna Maham al Hayat Wa Mas'uliyat al-Risala (A Woman Between Her Life Tasks and Risali Responsibilities)
  • Fatima al-Zahra Ra'idat al-Thawra al-Risaliya (Fatima Zahra: The Leader of The Risali Movement)

The movement had an anthem written by al-Modarresi's brother, Abbas, that was recited in their gatherings, and then recorded and published as a sound track[17]:

لمستضعفي الأرض قلنا نعمْ
لا للــطـــــواغيت لا للـــصــنــــمْ
هــبّـوا لــنـرفـــع هــــذا الــعــلــمْ
ثــم الكـــفـــاح بــــالسـلاح والقلمْ
أنــت يـا شــعــبــي منــذ الــقــدم
كــــان شــــعــــــــارك ثــــــورة ودمْ
آن الأوان لــــــنــــــرفــــــع الألــــــم
نــــوفــــي بــعــهد الله والقـسـم


تـــعـــالوا تـــعـــالوا لـــقـــبر الشهيد
 تـــعـــاهـــد بـــالوفا مـــن جـــديـــدْ
 نـــعـــاهـــد أن نـــرفـــض الظالمين
 ونـــشـــجـــب بـــالـــدم قـهـر الحديدْ
 نـــحـــرر.. أوطاننا
ليـــحكم.. قـــرآنــنا‎

To the sufferers of this earth we say: Yes!
No to tyrants! No to idols!
Hasten, let us raise this flag,
Then struggle with our weapon and pen.
My nation, you have always;
Held the symbol of revolution and blood
It is time we raise the pain
And make good of God's cause and oath.


Come, come to the grave of the martyr,
To renew your allegiance once again.
We swear to reject oppression,
And fill our metal with blood.
Liberating.. Our nations
So that to rule.. Our Quran

Return to Iraq and role

Arrest by Coalition forces

With the overthrow of Saddam Hussein by American-led forces in 2003, al-Modarresi along with other Iran-based clerics returned to Iraq. On his return to Iraq on 22 April 2003, al-Modarresi was arrested along with his entourage by US military personnel. He was released after being brought to an undisclosed location.[18]

Iraqi politics

The Islamic Action Organization became an Iraqi Shia Islamist political party with al-Modaressi as its leader. The party contested the Iraq 2005 general election as was part of the National Iraqi Alliance of Shia Islamist parties including SCIRI, the Islamic Dawa Party and the Iraqi National Congress. In 2006, the Islamic Action Organization had one minister in government, State Minister for Civil Society Affairs, Adil al-Asadi.[19]

In an interview with PBS in 2004 al-Modarresi affirmed his commitment to a democratically elected government for the new Iraq, stating that he had derived this from "the true interpretation of Islam.. which says, "Religion shall not be imposed ... Reason emerges from the unknown." He also stated that he had traveled to Europe and America, and that he believed "democracy would solve many of the problems" in the Middle East.[20]

Call against ISIS

al-Modarresi was the first Shia religious leader (with Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani following shortly after) to issue a call to popular resistance against ISIS, after its swift capture of large swathes of land in Iraq in June 2014. In his statement, al-Modarresi warned against the destruction of churches and temples belonging to all religions.[21][22]

COVID-19

al-Modarresi made an official statement regarding the COVID-19 strain, saying that the people of Iraq should self-isolate, and utilise the month of Rajab, by performing the recommended prayers and supplications at home. He also stated that Muslim community needs to increase its faith in God, so that He may protect us from all evil. al-Modarresi also called for the Iraqi government to take up all measures to face this new viral strain, which threatens the lives of many today. He added, the Iraqi people are always willing to stand by its government and provide aid, as is seen in the Arbaeen pilgrimage.[23]

International stage

Bahrain 2002

al-Modaressi traveled to Bahrain in 2002 on an official visit, at the invitation of the Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs, Abdullah bin Khalid Al Khalifa.[24]

Vatican 2014

In December 2014, al-Modarresi was invited by the Pope to attend a summit of world religious leaders at the Vatican.[25][26] This made him the first Grand Ayatollah to have met the Pope.[27] In his speech, al-Modarresi asked world religious leaders to "engage in a symbiosis of civilizations and religions". He condemned terrorism, nuclear proliferation, modern day slavery and said:

"At its core, divine religion is one, but failure to understand religion has divided human beings and created barriers between us.. We must exert extra effort to tear down those barriers and join religions under the umbrella of a common term.. We have a calling to love one another.. to protect the environment, to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and to end slavery in all its forms.".[28][29]

Australia 2016

In 2016 he went to Australia, where he met community leaders as well as the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. The two discussed Iraq, the war on terrorism, as well as how Muslims can be better integrated into the Australian community.[30]

Established institutions
  • al-Qaim Seminary (Arabic: حوزة القائم‎) - established by al-Modarresi in 1980, in Mamazand, Tehran. The seminary was split into two buildings. The first building was previously a women's society building in the time of the Shah. It then became a seminary for the ladies, and accommodation for married students. The second building was one of Princess Farah's palaces. The building had three floors, which later, was split into departments for teaching and research as well as more accommodation. There is also a large theatre hall outside the buildings, with tiered seating, used for lectures, plays, and functions for religious events. Near the theatre hall there is a large kitchen, where food is made and prepared. The seminary's library stands to the right of its entrance. As for the land surrounding the seminary, it is filled with vegetation, as well as space for the students to roam around and perform in different sports.[31] In its peak, the seminary contained students from 18 different countries.[32] The main lessons taught included: - Jurisprudence: al-Masa'il al-Islamiyya by Muhammad al-Shirazi, Fiqh Imam al-Sadiq by Muhammad-Jawad Mughniyah, al-Lum'a al-Dimashqiyya by Shahid al-Awwal, al-Makasib by Shaykh al-Ansari, Mustamsak al-Urwa by Muhsin al-Hakim. - Foundations: Mabadi' al-Usul by al-Fadhli, Usul al-Fiqh by Shaykh al-Muthafar, al-Rasa'il by Shaykh al-Ansari, al-Kifaya by Akhund Khorasani. - Logic: Mantiq by al-Modarresi, al-Khilasa by al-Fadhli, Mantiq by Shaykh al-Muthafar. - Arabic Grammar: Al-Ajurrumiyya by Muhammad al-Adjurum, al-Minhaj by Imam al-Nawawi, al-Qawa'id by Imad Ali Juma, Qatr al-Nida by Ibn Hisham Al-Ansari, Jami' al-Durus al-Arabiyya by Mustafa al-Ghalayini, Sharh Ibn Aqeel by Abdullah al-Aqili, Mughni al-Labib by Ibn Hisham Al-Ansari. After the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Iranian intelligence, headed by Mohammad Reyshahri, began to get involved in the seminary and its syllabus. It began with introducing a mandatory Farsi class of 2.5 hours a day. This then was followed by the introduction of a few other lessons like al-A'immah al-Ithna Ashar by Adil al-Adib. In 1990, the seminary was stormed by 10 armed Iranian soldiers, and they began to arrest whoever was in front of them. However, when they noticed that all of those inside were either in black or white turbans, and since it was close to Dhuhr, they were preparing for prayer, the soldiers were surprised. So they told one of the senior teachers; "We're confused, we were told to break into this seminary because it was infested with Munafeqi Khalq (derogatory name for Mujahedin Khalq), not religious people like yourselves." The soldiers then left that evening. A few days later, the seminary was stormed again, under the command of Shaykh Safarian this time. He ordered everyone to leave the seminary immediately. Nimr al-Nimr (who was known by his code name–Sheikh Jihad–at the time) protested Safarian's command, and said that they will not move until al-Modarresi is phoned and informed of what was happening. When the news reached al-Modarresi, he ordered that nobody leave, unless an official order is issued by Khamenei's office. It got rather heated between Nimr and Safarian, until the official order from Khamenei's office came in. However it was in Farsi, to which Nimr protested again, and requested it be in Arabic. After much frustration, the Arabic order came in, ordering the vacant possession of the seminary, and that was the last of the seminary.[33]

References
  1. "al-Sira al-Thatiyyah" [Biography]. al-Modarresi Official Website (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  2. "Najl al-Marja al-Modarresi: Nahtaj Lil Misaq Lil Taliba al-Muhajaba Wa An Yakoon al-Khirijoon Mubdi'un" [Son of Modarresi Marja: We need to draw paths for veiled students so they can become innovators]. www.kitabat.info (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-12. Mentions Muhammad-Ridha al-Modarresi
  3. "Najl al-Marja al-Modarresi Yushadid 'Ala Dharorat Tatweer Kawadir Wizarat al-Adl Wa I'timad Aliyat Haditha Wa Mutatawira" [Son of Modarresi Marja emphasises on importance of developing the ministry of justice's methods using latest technology]. www.kitabat.info (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-12. Mentions Murtadha al-Modarresi
  4. al-Muhtadi, Abd al-Atheem (2009). Qusas Wa Khawatir - Min Akhlaqiyat 'Ulama' al-Din [Stories and Memories - From the Manners of the Scholars]. Beirut, Lebanon: Mu'asasat al-Balagh. p. 581.
  5. al-Muhtadi, Abd al-Atheem (2009). Qusas Wa Khawatir - Min Akhlaqiyat 'Ulama' al-Din [Stories and Memories - From the Manners of the Scholars]. Beirut, Lebanon: Mu'asasat al-Balagh. p. 581.
  6. Louër, Laurence (2011). Transnational Shia Politics: Religious and Political Networks in the Gulf. Hurst. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-84904-214-7.
  7. al-Muhtadi, Abd al-Atheem (2009). Qusas Wa Khawatir - Min Akhlaqiyat 'Ulama' al-Din [Stories and Memories - From the Manners of the Scholars]. Beirut, Lebanon: Mu'asasat al-Balagh. p. 345.
  8. "al-Sira al-Thatiyyah" [Biography]. al-Modarresi Official Website (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-12.
  9. Anglican Centre Rome [@AnglicanCentre] (2014-12-02). "Grand Ayatollah al-Modarresi is probably 2nd most senior Shia cleric after al-Sistani. His call for peace & human dignity is v significant." (Tweet). Retrieved 2020-09-23 – via Twitter.
  10. al-Tehrani, Agha Buzurg (2009). Tabaqat A'lam al-Shia; al-Kiram al-Barara Fi al-Qarn al-Thalith Ashar [Levels of the Notables of the Shia (13th Century)]. 10. Cairo, Egpyt: Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-Arabi. p. 165.
  11. Louër, Laurence (2011). Transnational Shia Politics: Religious and Political Networks in the Gulf. Hurst. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-84904-214-7.
  12. Ṭuʻmah, Salmān Hādī (1998). Asha'er Karbala Wa 'Usariha [Tribes and Families of Karbala] (in Arabic). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Mahaja al-Baydha'. pp. 197–8.
  13. "Saddam Hussein's legacy of sectarian division in Iraq". Public Radio International. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  14. "Iraq's Oppressed Majority". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
  15. al-Jibouri, Kamil Salman (2003). Mu'jam al-'Udaba' Min 'Asr al-Jahili Hata Sanat 2002 [Glossary of Scholars: From the Jahiliyyah to 2002 AD] (in Arabic). 5. Beirut, Lebanon: Daar al-Kitab al-'Ilmiya. pp. 180–1.
  16. al-Lobad, Adil (2009). al-Inqilab, Bay' al-Qiyam 'Alal Thaat [Coups, Selling Morals For Ego] (in Arabic). Laila for Publishing & Distributing. p. 150.
  17. al-Lobad, Adil (2009). al-Inqilab, Bay' al-Qiyam 'Alal Thaat [Coups, Selling Morals For Ego] (in Arabic). Laila for Publishing & Distributing. p. 142.
  18. Islamic Task Organization Profile Global Security
  19. "Iraq Report: May 26, 2006". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  20. "Interviews - Mohammad Taqi Al-Modarresi | Beyond Baghdad - PBS". Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  21. "Statement of Ayatollah al-Modarresi, emphasizing the necessity of responding to the takfiri gangs and defending Iraq's holy sites". Shaykh Daniel Al-Jaʿfarī. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  22. "al-Marja al-Modaressi Yu'akid Wujub al-Tasadi Lil Isabat al-Takfiriya wal-Difa' 'An Muqadasat al-Iraq" [al-Modarresi emphasises the necessity of responding to the takfiri gangs and defending Iraq's holy sites]. al-Modarresi Official Website (in Arabic). 2014-06-13. Retrieved 2020-03-14. The original printed statement is dated 13 Shaban 1435 (12 June 2014) - a day before Ayatollah Sistani's announcement in the Husayn holy shrine.
  23. "Bayan Maktab al-Marja al-Modarresi Hawl Fiyros Corona al-Mustajid" [al-Modarresi Office's statement regarding new strain of Coronavirus]. al-Modaressi Official Website (in Arabic). 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  24. "Ayatullah al-Modarresi Fi Dhiyafat Wazir al-Adl wal-Shu'un al-Islamiyya" [Ayatollah Modarresi hosted by the minister of justice and Islamic affairs]. www.almodarresi.com. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  25. A United Faith Against Slavery (PDF). Vatican CIty: The Minderoo Foundation. 2014.
  26. "Pope Francis unveils first ever papal visit to United Arab Emirates". The Tablet. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  27. "When the Pope Met the Grand Ayatollah, History Was Made". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  28. "Pope Francis And Other Religious Leaders Sign Declaration Against Modern Slavery". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  29. "Mohammad al-Modarresi". www.endslavery.va. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  30. "Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest on his anti-slavery work, the Grand Ayatollah and the price of iron ore". ABC Radio National. 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2020-03-14.
  31. al-Karbassi, Dr Shaykh Muhammad-Sadiq (2014-11-01). Mu'jam al-Maqalat al-Husayniya [Encyclopedia of Husayni Magazines] (in Arabic). 4. London, UK: Hussaini Charitable Trust. p. 12. ISBN 978-1-78403-007-0.
  32. al-Lobad, Adil (2009). al-Inqilab, Bay' al-Qiyam 'Alal Thaat [Coups, Selling Morals For Ego] (in Arabic). Laila for Publishing & Distributing. pp. 318–19.
  33. al-Lobad, Adil (2009). al-Inqilab, Bay' al-Qiyam 'Alal Thaat [Coups, Selling Morals For Ego] (in Arabic). Laila for Publishing & Distributing. pp. 339–40.
  34. "About Us". Al-Jaafaria Shia Islamic Centre. Retrieved 2020-03-15. "Haj Abu Abdallah Alkazemi" is Faeq al-Kazemi, al-Modarresi's Kuwaiti brother in law, who founded the centre on at the behest of al-Modarresi
  35. al-Salehi, Abd al-Husayn (2004). al-Hawzat al-Ilmiyyah Fi al-Aqtar al-Islamiyyah [The Religious Seminaries in the Islamic Realms] (in Arabic). London, UK: Hussaini Centre for Research. p. 198. ISBN 978-1-908286-68-0.
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