Big Four (Najaf)
| Part of a series on |
| Islam |
|---|
 |
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
All 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 Hawza of Najaf.[4]
List
| Grand Ayatollah | Date of birth | Place of birth | Death | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(The names are arranged in alphabetical order) | ||||
 | Ali al-Sistani | 4 August 1930 | Mashhad, Imperial State of Iran | |
| Bashir al-Najafi | 1942 (age 83–84) | Jalandhar, British Raj | ||
| Muhammad al-Fayadh | 21 August 1930 | Ghazni, Kingdom of Afghanistan | 4 June 2026 (aged 95) Najaf, Iraq | |
| Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim | 1 February 1936 | Najaf, Kingdom of Iraq | 3 September 2021 (aged 85) 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. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ "Sources close to the reference: the next prime minister will be a surprise to all". iraqidinarchat.net. 30 April 2014. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
- ↑ Finn, Ed (4 February 2004). "Why we'd better listen to Iraq's influential cleric". Slate. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2014.