Sheikh Al-Khazali: The longing for the seminary lesson continues, and my belief in the guardianship of the jurist requires me to address public issues.
Sheikh Al-Khazali: The longing for the seminary lesson continues, and my belief in the guardianship of the jurist requires me to address public issues.
03 March 2025
63
The General Secretary of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, His Eminence Sheikh Qais Khazali, said today (Sunday) that his visit to the religious Al hawza Al eilmia in Najaf under the patronage of the martyred Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr (may God Almighty be pleased with him) was one of the most important stations in his life, noting that the recommendations of the martyred Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr regarding the necessity of continuing his seminary studies remained constantly present in his mind.
Sheikh Al-Khazali said during a televised interview that since 2003, circumstances have not allowed him to return to seminary studies, despite his repeated attempts. After the end of ISIS, he was able to attend Al hawza Al eilmia lesson for a limited period with His Eminence the religious authority Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq Al-Fayadh, but the exceptional circumstances in Iraq prevented him from continuing.
His Eminence stressed that he seeks to stay in touch with the seminary lessons by listening to CDs and recordings, and attending some lessons that are broadcast live over the Internet, adding: “That original longing for the Al hawza Al eilmia lesson remains”.
His Eminence referred to the school of the two martyred Sayyids Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and Muhammad al-Sadr (may God be pleased with them), indicating that they were among the most prominent figures of Najaf al-Ashraf and believers in the principle of general guardianship, which sees that the role of the religious authority is not limited to religious rulings but extends to include political and social affairs.
His Eminence explained that this school of jurisprudence believes that the religious scholar must address various issues if he has the ability, pointing out that the two Sayyids al-Sadr addressed many jihadist, political, social and cultural fields, and that the current political phase goes back in its roots to their thought.
Regarding the issue of the Guardianship of the Jurist, Sheikh Al-Khazali explained that he believes in it, considering that whoever believes in it sees the necessity of confronting all issues in which he can have a role.
He added that the highest religious authority in Iraq, His Eminence Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, addresses general issues and not just specific rulings, pointing out that his fatwas related to writing the constitution and the collective jihad are the best evidence of that.
As for the authority of His Eminence Sayyed Ali Khamenei in the Islamic Republic, Sheikh Al-Khazali confirmed that it also believes in the guardianship of the jurist, and that its positions on major issues, such as supporting Gaza and the Palestinian people, converge with the positions of the forces that believe in this approach.
His Eminence stressed that the issue of the Marja’iya is not a political or partisan issue, but rather a purely Shiite issue, noting that there are those who seek to portray it from a narrow perspective, although the history of the Marja’iya clearly shows that it was transnational, citing Sayyid Muhsin al-Hakim, who was a Marja’ for Shiites in various parts of the world, noting at the same time that the number of followers of Sayyid al-Sistani in Iran may be equal to or greater than the number of followers of Sayyid Khamenei, affirming by saying: “I am one hundred percent Shiite in this issue”.