Big Four (Najaf)
![](../I/m/Najaf_top_Maraji.jpg)
The Big Four in Najaf: (from left) Ishaq al-Fayadh, Ali al-Sistani, Saeed al-Hakim and Bashir al-Najafi
The Big Four refers to the four contemporary leading Grand Ayatollahs of Twelver Shia Islam based in the holy city of Najaf in Iraq.[1][2][3]
Background
Most Twelver Shia Muslims follow the Islamic rulings of a Grand Ayatollah. Under Saddam Hussein, the clerics were oppressed. At present, the most prominent among them is Ali al-Sistani; who also serves as the head of the Najaf Seminary.[4]
List
![](../I/m/Imam_Ali_Shrine_(1).jpg)
Grand Ayatollah | Date of birth | Place of birth | |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Ali al-Sistani | 4 August 1930 | Mashhad, Iran |
Bashir al-Najafi | 1942 (age 75–76) | Jalandhar, India | |
![]() | Muhammad al-Fayadh | 1930 (age 87–88) | Ghazni, Afghanistan |
Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim | 1 February 1934 | Najaf, Iraq |
References
- ↑ Escobar, Pepe (3 February 2007). "A massacre and a new civil war". Asia Times Online. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
- ↑ Mouzahem, Haytham (7 March 2014). "Iraqi Shiite clerics maintain humility, influence". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ "Sources close to the reference: the next prime minister will be a surprise to all". iraqidinarchat.net. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ Finn, Ed (4 February 2004). "Why we'd better listen to Iraq's influential cleric". Slate. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
External links
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