Grand Ayatollah
Marja (; plural ''marājiʿ''; ) is a title given to the highest level of Twelver Shia religious cleric, with the authority given by a hawzah (a seminary where Shi'a Muslim scholars are educated) to make legal decisions within the confines of Sh ...
Sayyid
''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan ibn Ali, Hasan and Husayn ibn Ali, Husayn. The title may also refer ...
Abu al-Qasim Musawi Khoei ( ; (; ; November 19, 1899 – August 8, 1992) was an Iranian
Shia
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
marja'. Khoei is considered one of the most influential
twelver
Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the Islamic schools and branches, largest branch of Shia Islam, Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twel ...
scholars.
After the death of
Muhsin al-Hakim
Muhsin al-Tabataba'i al-Hakim (; 31 May 1889 – 2 June 1970) was an Iraqi Shia religious authority. He became the leading marja' of Najaf in 1946 after the death of Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani, and of the majority of the Shia world in 1961, afte ...
in 1970, he became the spiritual leader of much of the Shia world until his death in 1992. He was succeeded briefly by
Abd al-A'la Sabziwari, until his death in 1993. Then his former student,
Ali Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
, took leadership of the seminary, whereby many of his followers became followers of Sistani.
Biography
Khoei was born to a
sayyid
''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan ibn Ali, Hasan and Husayn ibn Ali, Husayn. The title may also refer ...
family in the northern Iranian city of
Khoy
Khoy (, ) is a city in the Central District (Khoy County), Central District of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan province, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Occupied since Medes, Median times, ...
in 1899. Khoei grew up in
Qajar Iran
The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic peoples, Turkic origin,Cyrus G ...
. Around the age of 13, he moved to
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
along with his older brother Abdullah and took up residence in the holy city of
Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...
where he began studying Shia theology with the scholars of that city. He eventually attained the rank of Ayatollah and was made a
marja. Khoei continued to live in Najaf, becoming a teacher for the remainder of his life, and overseeing the studies of scholars who would be qualified to issue fatwas based on Shia theology.
Due to his prominent position as a teacher and scholar in Najaf, he became an important leader of worldwide Shias. He was made the most prominent Grand Ayatollah in 1971 after the death of
Muhsin al-Hakim
Muhsin al-Tabataba'i al-Hakim (; 31 May 1889 – 2 June 1970) was an Iraqi Shia religious authority. He became the leading marja' of Najaf in 1946 after the death of Abu al-Hasan al-Isfahani, and of the majority of the Shia world in 1961, afte ...
. In this position, he became a patron of numerous institutions across the globe that sought to provide welfare, and also provided scholarships to theological students from across the Muslim world.
He is considered as the architect of a distinct school of thought in the principles of jurisprudence and Islamic law, and one of the leading exponents of ''
kalam
''Ilm al-kalam'' or ''ilm al-lahut'', often shortened to ''kalam'', is the scholastic, speculative, or rational study of Islamic theology ('' aqida''). It can also be defined as the science that studies the fundamental doctrines of Islamic fai ...
'' (scholastic theology) and ''
rijal'' (study of the biographies of transmitters of ahadith, the prophetic traditions), ''
fiqh
''Fiqh'' (; ) is the term for Islamic jurisprudence.[Fiqh](_blank)
Encyclopædia Britannica ''Fiqh'' is of ...
'' (jurisprudence), and ''
tafseer'' (exegesis of the Qur'an). His interests included astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy.
Khoei's status as the pre-eminent scholar of his age did not go unchallenged. In the 1970s, Grand Ayatollah
Mohammed Shirazi, a radical theologian based in
Karbala
Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...
had a long-running feud with Al Khoei and his fellow clerics in Najaf over the legitimacy of theocratic rule. The dispute resulted in Khoei seeking to dismiss Al Shirazi's status as a religious scholar.
After the
Persian Gulf War
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, Khoei was arrested by
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...
during the mass Shia uprising that followed the defeat of Iraqi forces. While under arrest, he was taken to
Baghdad
Baghdad ( or ; , ) is the capital and List of largest cities of Iraq, largest city of Iraq, located along the Tigris in the central part of the country. With a population exceeding 7 million, it ranks among the List of largest cities in the A ...
and forced to make public appearances with Saddam Hussein. Hussein eventually allowed Khoei to return to Najaf, but he was placed under house arrest. Khoei died on 8 August 1992 in
Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...
, at the age of 92.
[Biography of Ayatollah Khoei in English](_blank)
/ref> His funeral was led by his student Ali Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
. He was buried in the Shrine of Imam Ali in Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...
.
Legacy
Welfare
He was fervently dedicated to establishing welfare, social, cultural, and educational institutions for Muslims worldwide. The following are some of the institutions he established:
* Imam Khoei Benevolent Foundation in Queens
Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...
, NY.
* al-Iman School in Queens, New York.
* As-Sadiq and Az-Zahra Schools in London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
.
* Imam Khoei Islamic Centre in London, U.K
* Jamia-tul-Kauthar in Islamabad
Islamabad (; , ; ) is the capital city of Pakistan. It is the country's tenth-most populous city with a population of over 1.1 million and is federally administered by the Pakistani government as part of the Islamabad Capital Territory. Bu ...
.
* Darul Hikmah in Najaf.
* Madinatul Ilm in Qom
Qom (; ) is a city in the Central District of Qom County, Qom province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the seventh largest metropolis and also the seventh largest city in Iran. The city is ...
. It is considered one of the biggest theology centres in the Shia world. The complex comprises the school building and living quarters capable of accommodating 500 families.
* As-Sayyid Khoei Centre in Bangkok
Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...
.
* As-Sayyid Khoei Centre in Dhaka
Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...
.
* Imam Khoei Orphanage in Beirut
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
.
* Imam-e-Zamana Mission in Hyderabad
Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
.
* Najafi House in Mumbai
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
.
He was also the patron of about 1,000 grant-maintained students of theology from Iraq and other countries like Lebanon, Iran, Syria, Persian Gulf States, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, South East Asia. He provided financial support for maintaining the schools including boarding expenses, teachers' salaries, and lodging costs.
Students
Former student Ali Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
is currently the most senior Shia cleric in Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
and widely regarded as "wield ngenormous power over Iraq's Shia majority." The degree of success of his articulation of moderate Shia politics in Iraq have been said to be "in no small part traceable to the legacy of his mentor and teacher", Khoei.
Another significant student of Khoei, is Muhammad-Sadiq Rohani, who also shared a close relationship with Khoei. He was considered a high religious authorities in Iran, alongside Waheed Khurasani.
Works
Khoei wrote about various topics, ranging from Islamic jurisprudence
Jurisprudence, also known as theory of law or philosophy of law, is the examination in a general perspective of what law is and what it ought to be. It investigates issues such as the definition of law; legal validity; legal norms and values ...
to mathematics
Mathematics is a field of study that discovers and organizes methods, Mathematical theory, theories and theorems that are developed and Mathematical proof, proved for the needs of empirical sciences and mathematics itself. There are many ar ...
and astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and their overall evolution. Objects of interest includ ...
and was a prolific writer in these disciplines. He wrote 37 books and treatises, most of which have been published. His works include:
* ''Lectures in the Principles of Jurisprudence'' – 10 volumes
* ''Biographies of Narrators of Tradition'' – 24 volumes
* ''Islamic Law'' – 18 volumes
* ''Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Quran
Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Quran ''(The Elucidation of the Exegesis of The Qur'an and sometimes entitled The Prolegomena to the Quran)'' is a tafsir by the Shiite scholar Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abu al-Qasim Musawi Khoei ( ; ( ...
'' (''The Elucidation of the Exegesis of The Qur'an'' and sometimes entitled ''The Prolegomena to the Quran'')
* ''Minhaju-us-Saliheen'' (''The Path of the Righteous'') – 2 volumes, reprinted 78 times (guide book on religious practice and law)
* ''Anthology of Religious Questions'' – Concise version of the ''Path of the Righteous'' – in Arabic, Urdu, Persian, English, Turkish, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, and Gujarati
* ''Mabani al-Istinbat'' (''Edifices of Deduction'') Principles of Jurisprudence
* ''Ajwad-at-Taqrirat'' (''The Best of Regulations'') Principles of Jurisprudence
* ''Sharh-el-Urwatul-Wuthqa'' (''Commentary on The Steadfast Handle'') – Jurisprudence
* ''Treatise on Suspected Attire'' – ''Risala fil Libas Al-Mashkok'', Evidential Jurisprudence
* ''Nafahat-ul Ijaz'' (''The Fragrance of Miracles''), in defence of the Qur'an
Internet
* Imam Khoei Benevolent Foundation
Political impact
Khoei was an "old rival" of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...
from when the two lived in Najaf, and dismissed Khomeini's theory that Velayat-e faqih
The Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (, also ''Velayat-e Faghih''; ) is a concept in Twelver Shia Islamic law which holds that until the reappearance of the "infallible Imam" (sometime before Judgement Day), the religious and social affairs ...
—i.e., a ruling jurist should be the basis of Islamic Government
''Islamic Government'' (), or ''Islamic Government: Jurist's Guardianship'' () Abrahamian, ''Khomeinism'', 1993: p.11 is a book by the Iranian cleric, Islamic jurist and revolutionary, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. First published in 1970, it ...
—as a "bogus innovation" in Islam according to scholar Vali Nasr
Vali Reza Nasr (, born 20 December 1960) is an Iranian-American academic and political scientist, specializing in Middle Eastern studies and the history of Islam. He is Majid Khaddouri Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies ...
. Nasr argues that Khoei's importance in limiting the reach of Khomeini's ideas "is often underrated and unrecognized".[Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, 2006, p. 145]
Although enthusiasm was passionate in the Shi'i world for the Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...
in its early years, Khoei "openly urged followers to ignore" Khomeini[Nasr, Vali, ''The Shia Revival'', Norton, 2006, p. 144] and "kept alive" the tradition of Shia thought "that accords more leeway to the idea of distinguishing between religious and political authority" then and "did so" until enthusiasm for Islamist rule had lost much of its "allure" among Shia worldwide. He should also be given much of the credit for whatever influence "moderate Shia politics" has had in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...
through his mentee and student Ali Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
who became the leading marjaʿ in Iraq after Khoei's death.
Personal life
Khoei was married and had seven sons:
* Jamal al-Din. He was Khoei's eldest son and spent his life in the service of his father's marja'iya. He died in Tehran after being diagnosed with cancer, in 1984. He was buried in the Fatimah Masumah shrine in Qom. His notable works are: ''Sharh Kifayat al-Usul'', ''Bahth Fi al-Falsafa Wa Ilm al-Kalam'', ''Sharh Diwan al-Mutanabi''.
* Ali. He was killed young in a car accident between Baghdad and Najaf.
* Abbas. Born in Najaf, moved to Baghdād to find work at the age of 12. Learning his craft and eventually becoming a successful businessman owning five shops in Baghdād. Abbas was a forward thinker who spoke 7 languages fluently (English, Arabic, Farsi, Turkish, Urdu, Azeri, Hindi) regularly travelled to the far east importing a variety of goods to Iraq for sale. After finding entrepreneurial success, Abbas provided financial backing to his entire family taking them out of poverty. This was fundamental in allowing his father Khoei to study full time and publish his works. Abbas moved to London in 1978. Whilst in London Abbas served the Middle Eastern community, including sending his own children to interpret for sick patients at Kings College Hospital. Abbas passed away in July 2021 in Najaf at the age of 91.
* Abd al-Sahib. Current secretary general of the Imam Khoei Foundation in London. Previously specialised in antique Persian rugs. Suffered a stroke on Friday 7 March 2025. Condition unknown.
* Muhammad-Taqi. He was the secretary general of the Foundation in 1989. He was placed under house arrest with his father after the 1991 Shaban uprising. Muhammad-Taqi was allegedly assassinated by Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...
, who set up a car accident, on the night of 21 July 1994. Besides reports of his father's lectures, he has authored ''Kitab al-Iltizamat al-Taba'iya Fi al-Uqud''.
* Abd al-Majid. He emigrated from Iraq soon after the Shaban uprising and left for London. He became the secretary-general of the Foundation after his brother, Muhammad-Taqi's death. Soon after the fall of Baghdad to US forces in 2003, he returned to Iraq with plans to revive Najaf to the glory and splendour it enjoyed under the patronage of his father. However, he was assassinated on April 10, 2003, near the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf.
* Ibrahim. He was abducted from his house by the Baathist regime after the Shaban uprising, in 1991.
See also
*Muhammad Hossein Naini
Marja', Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad-Hossein Naini Gharavi (; May 25, 1860 – August 14, 1936) was an Iranian Shia marja'.
His father Mirza Abdol Rahim and grandfather Haji Mirza Saeed, both one were Sheikhs of Nain and Mohammad Hussein prov ...
*Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini (17 May 1900 or 24 September 19023 June 1989) was an Iranian revolutionary, politician, political theorist, and religious leader. He was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the main leader of the Iranian ...
* Abd al-A'la Sabziwari
*Ali Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of Ir ...
References and notes
External links
Official website
Imam Khoei Foundation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khoei, Abul-Qassim
1899 births
1992 deaths
Iraqi ayatollahs
People from Khoy
Iranian emigrants to Iraq
Musawis
Critics of Sunni Islam
Burials at Imam Ali Mosque
Biographical evaluation scholars
20th-century Iranian people
Iranian Shia clerics
Shia hadith scholars
Critics of Wahhabism