Mohammed Ridha al-Shirazi

Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al-Husayni al-Shirazi (Arabic: محمد رضا الحسيني الشيرازي‎; Persian: محمد رضا حسينى شيرازى‎; 1959–June 1, 2008) was an Iraqi-Iranian Shia scholar, and the eldest son of the late Grand Ayatollah Muhammad al-Shirazi.[1][2][3]

Ayatollah Sayyid

Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi
السيد محمد رضا الحسيني الشيرازي
Personal
Born1959
Karbala, Iraq
Died1 June 2008(2008-06-01) (aged 48–49)
Qom, Iran
Resting placeImam Husayn Mosque
ReligionIslam
NationalityIraqi-Iranian
ChildrenMuhammad-Hassan
Muhammad-Baqir
ParentsMuhammad al-Shirazi (father)
DenominationTwelver Shīʿā
RelativesMirza Shirazi (great-great grandfather)
Mirza Mahdi al-Shirazi (grandfather)
Sadiq al-Shirazi (uncle)
Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi (cousin)

al-Shirazi was regarded as a prominent scholar despite his young age, accepted by many, and considered to be the 'hope for the future of Islam' by his uncle, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq al-Shirazi.[4]

Early life and education

Born in Karbala, to Sayyid Muhammad al-Shirazi, and Zainab Maash.[5] He comes from the prominent al-Shirazi family of Shia scholars, who claim ancestry from Zayd ibn Ali, the son of the fourth Shiite Imam, Ali ibn Husayn. He is the great-great grandson of Mirza Shirazi from his father's mother's side.[6] His mother was the daughter of Muhammad-Salih Maash, a well known merchant in Karbala.[7]

Education

His education began at a very young age, he spent his basic levels of seminary studies at the hawza of Karbala. He then emigrated to Kuwait in 1971, along with his father and uncle due to the Bathist pressure in Iraq, and continued to study under his uncle Sadiq al-Shirazi and cousin Muhammad-Taqi al-Modarresi.

In 1980, he moved to Iran and settled in Qom. Over there he spent his advanced levels of seminary studies, and excelled quickly under his father and uncle, as well as senior religious clerics such as Grand Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani and Mirza Jawad Tabrizi.[8] He gained the degree of ijtihad from his father, his uncle Grand Ayatollah Sadiq al-Shirazi, Grand Ayatollah Muhammad al-Fatimi al-Abhari, Grand Ayatollah Yadollah Duzduzani, Grand Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani, Ayatollah Ahmed Shahristani, Ayatollah Ridha Sadr, Grand Ayatollah Murtadha al-Ardikani.[9]

By 1989, he began to supervise bahth kharij (advanced research seminars) in jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence.[1]

Works

Books

al-Shirazi authored many books. He wrote books at different academic levels; some directed at senior clerics, and others at the general public. Some of his books are:[8]

  • al-Rasool al-Atham: Ra'id al-Hadhara al-Insaniya (The Great Messenger: Leader of Human Civilsation)
  • al -Tadabor Fi al-Qur'an (Reflecting In The Quran)
  • al-Imam al-Husayn: Athama Ilahiya Wa Ataa' Bila Hidood (Imam Husayn: Divine Greatness and Limitless Altruism)
  • al-Sha'aer al-Husayniya (The Husayni Symbols)
  • al-Zahra al-Faisal Wa al-Qudwa (Zahra: The Arbiter and Role Model

Lectures

al-Shirazi has given over five thousand lectures, in the science of Quran exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence, principles of Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic scholastic theology, creed, manners, family, history and Arabic literature.[10]

Death

al-Shirazi was found dead in the kitchen of his home in Qom, in the early hours of Sunday, 1 June 2008.[11][12] He was then taken to Karbala, and buried in the Imam Husayn Shrine near his grandfather Mirza Mehdi. His death was sudden and considered to be due to a chronic disease. However, no death certificate was issued.[13][14][15]

Murder

Followers of al-Shirazi denied his death to be of natural cause or a chronic disease, rather they believe that he was murdered.[16] al-Shirazi had carried out some medical tests a week before his passing, and showed no signs of concern. He had no previous known illnesses, except for a slipped disc, and was arguably leading a relatively healthy life.

His family reported to have found him on the floor, with nothing surrounding him close enough, to hit him on his way down to the floor. They saw bruises and dark marks across his face, head and neck. The marks can be seen in the pictures[17] and videos[18] of his corpse, that were released briefly after his burial. It is also claimed that a death certificate was not issued from the hospital, despite it being unlawful in Iran for a corpse to leave a hospital without a death certificate. On Wednesday, 3 June, the corpse was sent to Karbala to be buried, and in Karbala, those responsible for the burial had to change his shroud, because the original from Qom, was stained with blood streaming from the three areas on his face where the marks can be seen.[19]

A close source declared that al-Shirazi's blood was tested for chemicals in a lab in Baghdad, and the result came in positive for a strange chemical substance.[20]

Funeral

al-Shirazi's funeral saw the attendance of the majority of the grand religious authorities as well as notable politicians including Ibrahim al-Jafari and Ahmed al-Chalabi.[21]

References
  1. "Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad Ridha al-Shirazi". Al-Rasool al-Adham Foundation (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  2. "Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Ridha al-Shirazi". Annabaa Information Network (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  3. "Faqih Ahlulbayt Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al Shirazi" [The Jurist of the Ahlulbayt Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al Shirazi]. Shia Waves Arabic (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  4. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 4.
  5. al-Karbassi, Dr Shaykh Muhammad-Sadiq (2012-11-30). Mu'jam Khutaba' al-Minbar al-Husayni [Husayni Orators Encyclopedia] (in Arabic). 2. London, UK: Hussaini Centre for Research. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-908286-53-6.
  6. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 19.
  7. al-Karbassi, Muhammad-Sadiq (2012-11-30). Mu'jam Khutaba' al-MInbar al-Husayni [Glossary of Husayni Orators] (in Arabic). 2. London, UK: Hussaini Centre for Research. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-908286-53-6.
  8. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 21.
  9. "Ijazat al-Ijtihad Min al-Maraji' Wa al-Ulama' al-A'lam Lil Faqeed al-Said Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad RIdha al-Shirazi Qudis Sirah" [Permits for Ijtihad granted to the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi by senior religious authorities]. Official Website of Ayatollah Shirazi (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  10. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 22.
  11. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 9.
  12. Al Hamada, Hassan (2014). Tajarob al-Kutab Min al Qira'a Ila al Kitaba [Trials of Writers, From Reading to Writing] (in Arabic). Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Mahaja al-Baydha. p. 165. ISBN 978-614-426-344-0.
  13. "Nabtha 'An Hayat Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad Ridha al-Shirazi Ridhwan Allah Ta'ala Alayh" [Brief Biography On The Life of Ayatollah Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi]. Buratha News Outlet (in Arabic). 2008-06-01. Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  14. "Wafat al-Sayyid Muhammad Ridha al-Shirazi Athar Nowba Qalbiya" [Passing of Sayed Muhammad-Ridha Shirazi due to heart attack]. Non News Outlet (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  15. "Raheel Ayatollah al-Sayyid Muhammad Ridha al-Shirazi" [The demise of Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi]. Sada al-Watan (in Arabic). 2008-06-09. Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  16. "Al Shirazi Taht Niran al-Tasfiya al-Mukhabaratiya" [Shirazi Family under the fire of Intelligence extermination]. Sky Press (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-18.
  17. "Aqwa Email Wasalni 'An Ightiyal Sayyid Mohammed Ridha al-Shirazi Bil Suwar" [Powerful email I received on the assassination of Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi in pictures]. Anwar al-Wilaya (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  18. 15 Jul 2013. "Corpse Of Sayed Mohammed Ridha Shirazi". YouTube. Minute 3:18 - Marks can be clearly seen
  19. "Ma Hiya Haqeeqat Ikhtitaf Janazat al-Imam al-Rahil Wa Qatl al-Muqadas al-Shirazi" [What is the truth behind the kidnapping of the coffin of the late Imam and the murder of the Divine Shirazi]. Al Qatrah (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-03-17.
  20. al-Muhtadi, Sheikh Abd al-Athim (2011). al-Muqaddas al-Shirazi [The Divine Shirazi] (in Arabic). Ansar al-Hujja Ladies Association. p. 213.
  21. "al-Yawm al-Thani Min Majlis al Fatiha Ala Rooh al-Faqid Ayatollah al-Sayyid Mohammed Ridha al-Shirazi" [Second day of funeral for Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad-Ridha al-Shirazi]. Official Website of Ayatollah Shirazi. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
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