Marja

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of a series on the Usul al-fiqh
Fiqh
Qur'an and Sunnah Taqlid (imitation) Ijtihad (interpretation) madh'hab (school of law) Minhaj (method) Qiyas (analogical reasoning) Urf (society custom) Islamic jurisprudence Ijma Bid‘ah Madrasah Istihlal Istihsan
Ahkam
Halaal — legal Mustahab — favored Mubah — neutral Makruh — disliked Haraam — illegal Fard/Wajib — obligation, duty Baatil — incorrect Fasiq — corrupt
Scholarly titles
Marja — ... Ulema Mufti Qadi Faqih Muhaddith Mullah Imam Mawlawi Sheikh Shaykh of Sufism Punjabi Shaikh Ayatollah Mujaddid Maulana This box: view • talk • edit</div>

Marjaˤ (Arabic/Persian: مرجع), also appearing as Marja Taqlid (Arabic: , Persian: مرجع تقليد), literally means "Source of Imitation", "Reference of Emulation" or "Source of Tradition" and refers to the second highest authority on religion and law in Twelver Shi'a Islam after Muhammad and Shi'a Imams.

Marjas are accorded the title Grand Ayatollah. This happens when the followers of one of the Ayatollahs refer to him in many situations and ask him to publish his Juristic book in which he answers the vast majority of daily Muslim affairs. The book is called Resalah and contains their fatwa on different topics, according to their knowledge of the most authentic Islamic sources and their application to current life.. Where a difference in opinion exists between the marjas, each of them provide their own opinion and the Muqallid will follow his/her own marja's opinion on that subject. <ref name="m"> http://www.m-narjes.org/maaref/ahkam/tafkik/ahkam8.htm FAQ on Marjas - in Persian</ref>

Several senior Grand Ayatollahs constitute the Howze Elmiye, a religious institution in Najaf, Iraq and a separate one in Qom, Iran. These are preeminent seminary centers for the training of Shi'a clergymen.