Biography Of Ayatullah Muhammad Hussein Burujerdi

by Abbas Adil

Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi, son of Sayyid Ali, was born in the year 1292 A.H. (Lunar) in the city of Borujerd that is in the province of Lorestan in Iran. He was a famous Faqeeh (Shi’ite Jurisprudent) and a great Marja’ (Chief Religious Authority).

Ayatollah Borujerdi had his primary education in Borujerd. He then attended Noorbakhsh seminary in Borujerd where he completed his preliminary and intermediate Islamic education. From the year 1310 A.H. he pursued further the learning of Islamic sciences, including philosophy, in the city of Isfahan. In 1319 he attained the status of Ijtihad (competence for inference of Islamic decrees and precepts) at the age of 28 when he returned to his hometown, Borujerd. In 1320 A.H. he went to the holy city of Najaf, and completed his education by the year 1328.

He was taught religious sciences in Isfahan by great religious teachers like Sayyid Muhammad Baaqir Durcheyi, Mirza Abul-Maali Kalbasi, Sayyid Muhammad Taqi Mudarris and Sayyid Abul-Qasim Dehkordi. In Najaf, his teachers included Akhund Khorasani, Sayyid Muhammad Kazem Yazdi and Sheikh Shariat Isfahani. He was taught philosophy by renowned teachers such as Mullah Muhammad Kashi and Hakim Jahangir Khan Qashqaii in Isfahan as well.

 After completing his education in Najaf, Ayatollah Borujerdi returned to Borujerd in 1328 and took his residence there for several years. After years of residence in Borujerd, he traveled and lectured in different places. Wherever he went, he was graciously welcomed by local dignitaries and Ulema who requested him to hold teaching and discussion sessions.

The demise of Ayatollah Sayyid Abul-Hasan Isfahani in 1325 A.H./Solar, and a few months later, demise of Ayatollah Haaj Agha Hussain Qummi, resulted in their Shi’ite followers turning to Ayatollah Borujerdi as their new Marja’e Taqleed (Source of issuing Islamic Jurisprudential decrees). Thus, the chair of Marjaiyyat Aam (chief religious authority) was taken by Ayatollah Borujerdi. 

Ayatollah Borujerdi would dispatch the best Muslim lecturers and scholars as his representatives to promote Islam in and outside of Iran.  This is considered as one of his eminence’s major steps in introducing the world to Shia Islam and promoting its doctrine.  He was the first Marja’  to look beyond Iraq and Iran. He sent Sayyid Muhaqqiqi to Hamburg, Germany, Aqa e Shari’at to Karachi, Pakistan, Al Faqihi to Madinah and Sayyid Musa Sadr to Lebanon.

He used the Islamic approximation approach as a basis for his activities in uniting the Islamic Ummah.  In this connection, he corresponded with Dar ul-Taqrib (Center of Proximity) in Cairo and its founders, including Sheikh Abdul-Majid Salim and Sheikh Mahmood Shaltut, the former Rectors of Al-Az’har University. Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Qummi, as the Secretary-General, represented Ayatollah Borujerdi in Dar ul-Taqrib, Cairo.

Continuous communications and contacts of Ayatollah Borujerdi with Dar ul-Taqrib and the Rectors of Al-Az’har University resulted in Sheikh Shaltut’s historic Fatwa (Islamic Decree) concerning attestation of the legitimacy of the “Shiite” sect. It introduced the Shiite Sect as one of the legitimate Islamic Schools of Thought to all Muslims and others in the world.

Ayatollah Borujerdi, was sensitive and averse towards sectarian divisiveness among Muslims, and tried his very best to prevent it. He did not recommend, or justify, any undue focus of attention on the issue of caliphate and its historical account. When dealing with the topic of Imamate, too, he abstained from being engaged in the issue of caliphate. On the contrary, he considered the issue of caliphate as a historical event that is passed, and does not call for a discussion at the present time.

The important matter, he believed, was to identify the sources of “Ahkam” (Islamic decrees and precepts). For this reason, he highlighted the importance of the scientific dimension of Imamate according to what the holy Prophet (S.A.) has stated in the famous ‘Hadith of Thaqalain’.

In addition to some monographs written by his students, writings of Ayatollah Borujerdi himself included the following:

1)      Jame’ Ahadith Ul-Shia’ (The Comprehensive Book of Shiite Traditions/Narrations)

2)      An Encyclopedia that includes an index of narrators, as well as a bibliography of writings on the subjects of ‘Rijal’ and ‘Hadith’(Traditions) along with their documentations

3)      Hashiah (Annotations) on the book ‘Urwatul-Wuthqa’

4)      Hashiah (Annotations) on Sheikh Tusi’s ‘Khilaf’

5)       Sharh (Explanatory Monograph) on the book ‘Kifayatul-Usul’

It has been narrated about the spiritual station of the great marja, Ayatullah Muhammad Husein Burujerdi (d.1961), that he had made a vow (nadhr) that if he ever uttered inappropriate words when angry, he would fast for a whole year (to train his soul). Indeed, he had a very lofty station.

He himself has said, “Before I came to Qom, I used to hear the voices of angels, but after I arrived here and became occupied and busy in the role of Marja, I lost that blessing!”

He died in Qum on 13th Shawaal 1381 ( March 30, 1961)  AH. at the age of 90.  

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