By Sayyid Zia Murtadhavi | Translated by Sayyid Ali Imran [Source]

On the 8th of the blessed month of Ramadan 1446 AH, we mark the birth anniversary of one of the pillars of jurisprudence, purity, and spiritual detachment—the esteemed jurist and grand marja’, His Eminence Ayatullah Haj Sayyid Musa Shobeiri Zanjani. Born on the 8th of Ramadan 1346 AH in Qom, [today] marks one hundred years of his noble and blessed life according to the lunar calendar, as he steps into the first day of his second century.

A distinguished jurist and a true muhaqqiq (researcher), Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani has illuminated the fields of jurisprudence and its related sciences for decades, with a foundation rooted in profound piety and spiritual struggle. Thousands of seekers of knowledge and jurisprudence, directly and indirectly, across various levels, have benefited from his vast knowledge. By the grace of God, despite the natural challenges of his age, he remains a guiding light for those devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and ethics. For us students and members of the seminary, Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani embodies nothing but intellectual striving, spiritual purity, detachment from worldly desires, and sincere goodwill towards the state, the people, and those in hardship.

Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani is the son of the esteemed and virtuous scholar, Ayatullah Haj Sayyid Ahmad Zanjani, who was a student of the founder of the Qom Seminary, Ayatullah Haj Sheikh Abdul Karim Ha’eri Yazdi, and a close companion of Imam Khomeini. He passed away in 1352 SH (1973 CE), may God’s mercy be upon him. His noble father, known for his meticulous insight, left behind valuable scholarly works in both jurisprudence and other fields. However, his greatest legacy—the true baqiyat al-salihat—was the nurturing and training of a scholar whom Imam Ali (a) would describe as a “learner on the path of salvation,” a refined jurist of the stature of Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani. A mere glance at his jurisprudential and rijali discussions reveals the rigorous demands and high standards required for the true realization of Islamic jurisprudence. A prime example is his extensive and invaluable research on Nikah, which recently garnered special recognition and appreciation.

The esteemed scholarly status and ethical refinement of Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani have long been acknowledged by leading seminary figures. Imam Khomeini himself, due to his long-standing friendship with Ayatullah Sayyid Ahmad Zanjani, was well acquainted with the scholarly and spiritual ranks of his son, Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani, and held him in high regard. One example of this trust is when Imam Khomeini, upon a verbal and in-person request for shar’i permission, declared that Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani possessed “all the same authorities that he himself had in the mentioned matters.” This profound endorsement underscores Imam Khomeini’s immense trust and recognition of Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani’s scholarly and spiritual integrity.

On the second day of Imam Khomeini’s return to Iran, Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani personally visited him, demonstrating great respect and consistently recalling and honoring his memory with reverence and admiration.

Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani must truly be regarded as a “great mujahid” in the field of knowledge and jurisprudence. Describing his scholarly attributes, noble character, and ethical refinement would be an extensive endeavor. However, I will highlight just four key points:

1. His Profound Selflessness in Spreading Knowledge

Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani is among the most refined and ethically upright scholars, distinguished by his intellectual and practical detachment. Like an ocean of knowledge, he has never shown the slightest “miserliness” in sharing his intellectual achievements and the fruits of his decades-long, arduous scholarly struggle. With utmost humility and sincerity, he has placed all his knowledge at the service of his students and companions—seeking nothing but the spread of knowledge, the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (a), and the intellectual and spiritual growth of those around him. Despite physical frailty, he continues to illuminate minds. This level of generosity in scholarship and mentorship is a rare and invaluable trait, one that is well known to those who attend his lectures and study under him.

A personal anecdote serves as a testament to this: When I was a young seminary student in the 1360s SH (1980s CE), I humbly requested his corrected edition of the book al-Kāfī so that I could compare it with my own copy and verify its accuracy. Without hesitation or reservation, he granted me access to its volumes, allowing me to make corrections. Later, my other esteemed teacher, Ayatullah Saanei, upon learning of this, used my corrected copy for further comparison and revision of his own edition of al-Kāfī.

2. His Exceptional Scholarly Rigour in Jurisprudence

The depth of Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani’s knowledge and jurisprudential expertise is evident to anyone who has attended his lessons or studied his analytical works in fiqh. However, a particularly compelling proof of his scholarly precision can be found in his fatwa sources, such as his Tawdih al-Masā’il and his collections of Istiftā’āt. These works are filled with meticulous conditions, qualifications, and unique perspectives, reflecting his remarkable scholarly rigour and making them a source of confidence for those who refer to them.

One key reason behind this scholarly precision, beyond his deep knowledge, is his ethical and spiritual outlook on jurisprudence. This is reflected in his view on the conditions for valid taqlīd, where he states:

“A marja’ must be ‘trustworthy,’ meaning that his errors should not exceed the norm.”

He then adds a profound jurisprudential and epistemological insight:

“A person who is greedy for the world is often not trustworthy, because intense love for worldly gain leads to frequent errors in judgment.”

This principle—that attachment to the world causes errors in discernment—is a powerful and far-reaching truth, applicable beyond just the realm of religious leadership. It warrants an independent study, but for now, I will simply remind us of the Qur’anic verse:

“If you fear God, He will grant you a criterion (to discern truth from falsehood).” [8:29]

And in a spirit of competition for virtue, the verse:

“So let the competitors compete in this (righteousness).” [83:26]

3. His Balanced Approach to Religious Practices and Avoidance of Extremism

Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani is deeply devoted to Islamic law and has an exceptional love for the Ahl al-Bayt (a)—a devotion that extends through his noble lineage. However, what sets him apart is his avoidance of exaggeration and fabricated religious practices that some introduce under the pretext of “glorifying religious symbols”. He has consistently warned against the unfounded invention of rituals and events, emphasizing that such practices, beyond being unauthentic, can weaken the true essence of religious observances, even among the faithful.

A prime example is the fabrication of specific “decades” (ten-day observances) or false attributions of birth and death anniversaries, such as the supposed birth and passing dates of Lady Fatimah Ma’sumah (s). In his book Jurayee Az Darya (A Drop from the Sea), he explicitly deems these claims as fabrications. I, too, have addressed this issue in a detailed article, which has been published.

4. Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani’s Reserved Approach to Contemporary Political Affairs

Ayatullah Shobeiri Zanjani has always been a deeply compassionate figure toward the Islamic society, the country, and those serving the nation. While government officials occasionally visit him, it is evident that he rarely intervenes in contemporary and especially political affairs. Some might question or even criticize this stance, wondering why a scholar of such high religious authority, intellectual influence, and spiritual stature refrains from engaging in current events.

However, it must be acknowledged—and in light of today’s realities, strongly emphasized—that this very restraint is one of Ayatullah Shobeiri’s great strengths. He openly recognizes that he does not possess the specialized expertise required to navigate such matters thoroughly. Unlike some individuals or political factions, who expect or even demand that religious leaders take public positions on various issues, Ayatullah Shobeiri sees indiscriminate involvement in such matters as potentially harmful—not only to the country and society, but also to the institution of religious leadership (marja’iyyah) and even to the very issues that some expect him to comment on.

This disciplined and thoughtful approach is truly commendable and serves as a valuable lesson, particularly for public speakers and religious orators, some of whom tend to let their primary responsibilities be overshadowed by addressing political issues. Even if such matters were, in theory, within their scope of duty—which often they are not—many lack the necessary depth and expertise to speak authoritatively. In doing so, they risk damaging their own credibility and the greater interests of society more than they contribute positively to the discussions at hand.

This is a powerful lesson that this esteemed scholar and high-ranking religious authority teaches us: Not every position or title necessitates an opinion on every issue. We should not assume that expressing a stance on every matter is an obligation or a virtue simply due to our status.

We express our gratitude to the Almighty for the blessing of such distinguished scholars and devout religious guides, particularly this great jurist and refined marja’. We humbly pray for his continued health, longevity, and well-being, as well as for the preservation of all pious and practicing scholars.

(Published in Jomhouri Eslami Newspaper, with slight editorial modifications.)