Iraqi Shiite clerics maintain humility, influence
The Shiite clerics of Najaf have always provided a spiritual reference to their followers, while at the same time playing an important role on various levels.
NAJAF, Iraq — The house of Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani lies a few hundred meters from the shrine of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib in Najaf in southern Iraq. It's located in a poor neighborhood in the Houeich area, which comprises old houses and small shops. Sistani's house is no different from others in the neighborhood, and security measures around it are low profile. If it were not for the line of men standing outside waiting to greet the cleric, no one would know that such a prominent figure lives there.
Sistani, 84, is the most widely acclaimed figure for Twelver Shiites, especially in Iraq, India, Pakistan and the Gulf states. However, there are other Shiite clerics in Najaf, other Iraqi cities, Iran and other countries with Shiite populations. Among these prominent clerics are Ayatollah Mohammad Saeed al-Hakim, Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyad and Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir al-Najafi.
The hawza (seminary) in Najaf, which consists of religious schools where Shiite clerics are trained, was founded by the most prominent Shiite religious scholar, Sheikh Muhammad al-Tusi, in 1028 — even though some tend to believe that the hawza was established in Najaf decades before Tusi came along. During that time, sectarian strife had escalated in Baghdad. After his house and office were burnt down, Tusi fled Baghdad and settled in Najaf where he became a prominent scholar of Twelver Shiism. He became know as “sheikh of the sect,” and he is the author of two of the four main Shiite books that pertain the hadiths (sayings) of the Prophet Muhammad and the imams.
Given the lack of time, I was only able to visit two of the four Shiite clerics in Najaf, Hakim and Fayyad. During my visits, I noticed the simple life the two clerics are leading, in terms of their humble houses, which lack modern furniture and contain merely a few mattresses and cushions. I had a long discussion with Hakim about religion and a research topic presented in one of his books. He was generous enough to dedicate some time to answer my questions.
