Mirza Javad Tabrizi

Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Mirza Jawad Kubar Tabrizi ( fa, ; 1926 – November 20, 2006) was an Iranian Shia marja'.

Tabrizi was another prominent student of the late grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei, and one of the leading religious authorities that came to light after the death of al-Khoei.

Early life and education

Tabrizi was born in Tabriz, to Ali Kubar, a merchant, and Fatima Sultan. He claimed descent to the Prophet Muhammad through his mother, who was a Sayyida.

Education

He began his academic education in school, and completed his matriculation in Tabriz. However, he did ended up changing his mind, and going to the Islamic seminary. His family were not encouraging, since at that time, the government of Pahlavi dynasty was continuously pressuring the clerical class of the country. However, his family eventually accepted his fact, and Tabrizi began his Islamic education.

He travelled to Qom in 1948, and studied under the thriving seminary under the spiritual guidance of grand Ayatollah Hossein Borujerdi. He studied under Sayyid Muhammad Hujjat Kuh-Kamari for four years, and under Borujerdi for seven years. He was also eventually reaching in Qom, however he decided to move to Najaf, to pursue further education.

He entered Najaf in 1953, and attended the lectures of prominent scholars like Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim, Sayyid Abd al-Hadi al-Shirazi and Sayyid Abu Al-Qasim al-Khoei. He became a close student of al-Khoei, and was appointed as a member in his fatwa office. He attended al-Khoei's lectures and taught intermediate and advanced courses for just under twenty years. He obtained attained the level of ijtihad and began to specialise in philosophy, Quranic exegesis and rijal. He was a contemporary of fellow classmates, Sayyid Muhammad-Baqir al-Sadr, Sheikh Hossein Wahid Khorasani and Sayyid Ali al-Sistani.

Return to Iran

In 1976, the Baathist regime increased its pressures against Iranians as well as Iraqis of Iranian descent, and began to deport them. Among the deported was Tabrizi. His compulsory exile saddened al-Khoei at the time.

Upon his return to Iran, he settled in Qom, and resumed his religious activities, teaching in its seminary. His classes were significantly influenced by those of Najaf, due to the time Tabrizi spent in Najaf.

Religious career

After the death of al-Khoei in 1992, many followers returned to follow him as their marja'.

Napkin of grief

Tabrizi was an avid champion for the mourning symbols of the Ahl al-Bayt. He would be seen attending public gatherings, and weeping excessively, as to filling his napkin with tears. To highlight the importance of these mourning rituals, Tabrizi put in his will that his two napkins be buried with him in his grave, so that they may intercede for him on the day of judgement. In part of the will he wrote directed at his students, he said in regards to mourning:

"Do not provide anyone the space to cast doubt and suspicion in the minds of people with the symbols of Imam Husayn. For the preservation of the creed Jafari madhhab">Ja'fari_jurisprudence.html" ;"title="nowiki/>Ja'fari jurisprudence">Jafari madhhabdepends on the preservation of the symbols of Imam Husayn."

Fatimah's death

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