Muhammad Kazim Khurasani

Grand Ayatullah Sheikh
Muhammad Kazim Khurasani
محمدکاظم خراسانی
Personal
Born1839 (1839)
Mashhad, Sublime State of Persia
Died12 December 1911(1911-12-12) (aged 71–72)
Najaf, Ottoman Iraq
Resting placeImam Ali Shrine
ReligionIslam
NationalityIranian
ParentMulla Husayn Herati (father)
RegionNajaf, Iraq
JurisprudenceTwelver Shia Islam
Notable work(s)Kifayat al-Usul
Known for1. Developing modern Shi'ite Usul al-Fiqh 2. Leading the first democratic revolution of Asia
Muslim leader
Based inNajaf, Iraq
Period in office1895–1911
PredecessorMirza Shirazi
SuccessorMuhammad Hossein Naini
PostGrand Ayatullah

Ayatullah Sheikh Muhammad Kazim Khurasani (Persian: محمدکاظم خراسانی; 1839 – 12 December 1911), commonly known as Akhund Khurasani (Persian: آخوند خراسانی)[1][2][3] was a Shia jurist and political activist.[4]

He is known for using his position as a Marja as legitimizing force behind the first democratic revolution of Asia that happened in Iran (1905–1911), where he was the main clerical supporter of the revolution. He believed that the democratic form of government would be the best possible choice in the absence of Imam and regarded the democratic constitutional revolution a Jihad (holy war) in which all Muslims had to participate.[5][6]

Along with Mirza Husayn Tehrani and Shaikh Abdallah Mazandarani, he led people against what they called a "state tyranny",[7] issued fatwas, and "sent telegrams to tribal chiefs, prominent national and political leaders, and heads of state in England, France, Germany, and Turkey".

When Mohammad Ali Shah became king of Iran, Mohammad Kazim Khorasani sent him a 'ten-point' instruction including points on protecting Islam, promoting domestic industries and modern science, stopping colonial intervention in Iran 'while retaining diplomatic relations', and establishing 'justice and equality'.[3]

He is regarded as one of the most important Shia Mujtahids of all times, and the title Akhund (the scholar) is almost exclusively used for him.[8][9] He started to deliver his lectures at Najaf seminary in 1874 CE, when his mentor Syed Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi left for Samarra and appointed him as his successor.[10]

He became a source of emulation in 1895 and he taught for years in Najaf until his death in 1911 CE and trained a significant number of students from different regions of the Shi'ite world. All major Shia jurists in the twentieth century were in some way related to his circle. He was known for his credibility, independent thinking and intellectual rigor. His most famous work Kifayat al-Usul (Sufficiency of Principles (Arabic: کفایة الاصول)), [11] published in 1903 established him as the supreme authority on Shia theology, where he presented the Shi'ite jurisprudential principles in a more rigorous fashion as a unified theory of jurisprudence. It was recently published for 453rd time.[12]

This book is considered the pinnacle of advanced theology and foundation of Usul al-Fiqh in Shia seminaries of Najaf and Qom. All major Shia jurists following Akhund Khurasani have written commentaries on it, the best known is written by Ayatullah al-Khoei.[13]

  1. ^ Farzaneh 2015, pp. 119–190.
  2. ^ Hermann 2013, pp. 430–453.
  3. ^ a b Hairi, A.; Murata, S. (1984). "AḴŪND ḴORĀSĀNĪ". Encyclopædia Irannica.
  4. ^ Farzaneh 2015, p. 153.
  5. ^ Hermann 2013, pp. 431, 435.
  6. ^ Farzaneh 2015, pp. 159–162.
  7. ^ Kamali, Mohammad Hashim; Ramadan, Tariq (2015). The Middle Path of Moderation in Islam: The Quranic Principle of Wasatiyyah. Oxford University Press. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-19-022683-1. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  8. ^ Farzaneh 2015, pp. 122.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Meir was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Hermann 2013, p. 431.
  11. ^ Farzaneh 2015, p. 123.
  12. ^ Farzaneh 2015, p. 130.
  13. ^ Hermann 2013, p. 432.