"The superiority of a scholar over a mere worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the stars. The scholars are the heirs of the prophets.”
The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.w) - Al-Kāfī, vol. 1
Through this powerful analogy, the Holy Prophet (s) elevates the role of scholars as protectors and transmitters of divine knowledge — a legacy embodied in the life of Ayatullah Al-Udhma As-Sayyid Abul Qasim al-Musawi al-Khoei, whose intellectual and spiritual impact continues to benefit the global Shia community even three decades after his passing.
Born on 15th Rajab 1317 AH / 19th November 1899 in the city of Khuy, Iran, Sayyid Al-Khoei hailed from a noble scholarly family tracing lineage to Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a). His father, Sayyid Ali Akbar al-Khoei, was a noted scholar and student of Shaykh Abdullah Mamqani. This early environment of scholarship laid a strong foundation for a life dedicated to knowledge and service.
At just 13 years of age, he moved to the holy city of Najaf in 1330 AH / 1912, where he began his advanced religious studies in Shia theology. His dedication and sharp intellect soon led him to attain the level of ijtihad at an early age, earning him the rank of Ayatullah.
He taught in Najaf for over 70 years, during which he played a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the seminary. For 50 of those years, he concentrated on supervising post-graduate studies, particularly the highly advanced level known as Bahth al-Kharij, which is comparable to a doctoral thesis. Students who successfully completed this level were recognised as qualified to practice ijtihad.
His institute regularly accommodated around 150 students at a time. Among those who studied directly under his guidance were prominent scholars such as Ayatullah Al-Udhma Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani, Ayatullah Shaheed As-Sayyid Mohammad Baqir As-Sadr (Iraq), Imam As-Sayyid Musa As-Sadr (Lebanon), Ayatullah Sayyid Mohammad al-Rohani (Iran), and Mohammad Ali Bahrul ‘Uloom (UK).
Ayatullah Al-Khoei was widely recognised for his deep and methodical approach to the principles of jurisprudence and Islamic law. He was also among the leading scholars in Kalam (scholastic theology), Rijal (the study of the narrators of hadith), Fiqh (jurisprudence), and tafsir (exegesis of the Holy Qur’an). His intellectual interests also extended to the fields of astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy.
Ayatullah Al-Khoei’s contributions to Islamic scholarship also reflected in his extensive writings. He authored 37 books and treatises, many of which have been published and continue to be studied and referenced in seminaries and academic circles. Some of his well-known works include:
Lectures in the Principles of Jurisprudence (10 volumes)
Biographies of Narrators of Tradition (24 volumes)
Islamic Law (18 volumes)
Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Qur’an - (The Elucidation of the Exegesis of the Holy Qur’an).
Minhajus Saliheen (The Path of the Righteous), which has been reprinted over 78 times.
Anthology of Religious Questions – Concise version of the Path of the Righteous – in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, English, Turkish, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, and Gujarati.
After the demise of Ayatullah Sayyid Mohsin al-Hakim in 1972, Imam al-Khoei was recognised as the Marja’a al-A’lam - the supreme religious authority among Shia Muslims. He had the greatest following among the Shias worldwide including Africa, and his leadership was marked by scholarly depth, vision, and a strong sense of responsibility towards the global community.
In this capacity, he dedicated himself to the establishment and support of numerous welfare, educational, and religious institutions across the globe. His vision extended beyond Najaf, reaching communities in Iran, Pakistan, Lebanon, the UK, USA, Thailand, Bangladesh, and beyond. He supported thousands of students by offering scholarships and funding for seminaries, schools, and orphanages.
Despite the increasing political repression in Iraq by Saddam’s Baathist regime, Ayatullah Al-Khoei remained a voice of restraint, dialogue, and non-violence, staying committed to values rooted in Islamic ethics. During the 1991 post-Gulf War uprising, he was arrested along with his family and other scholars, coerced into appearing with Saddam Hussein on state television, and later returned under house arrest to Najaf, where he remained until his death.
Ayatullah Al-Khoei passed away on 8th Safar 1412 AH / 8th August 1992 at the age of 92. His funeral prayer was led by his student, Ayatullah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, and he is buried in the courtyard of the Shrine of Imam Ali [‘a] in Najaf al-Ashraf.
Video clip of the funeral of Ayatullah Sayyid Abul Qasim al-Khoei in Najaf, Iraq on 8th Safar 1412 A.H.
As we observe 33 years since his passing, we honour not just his scholarship, but the values he upheld - humility, integrity, and lifelong dedication to service. We pray to Allah (SWT) to envelop Marhum Ayatullah Al-Khoei in His infinite mercy and to elevate his rank in the hereafter, Aameen.
Let us all remember him, all the past Ulemah-e-Deen and all the Marhumeen, with a Surah al-Fateha.
ARCHIVES SECTION OF THE AFRICA FEDERATION
8th August 2025 / 13th Safar 1447 AH
