Mohammad Taghi Bahjat Foumani
Encyclopedia
Grand Ayatollah
Mohammad Taghi (Taqi) Bahjat Foumani (1913 – 17 May 2009) was an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja
with political and social views close to fundamentalist schools. He was a student of the famous mystic, Sayed Ali Qadhi Tabatabaei, and also a student of Abulhasan Isfahani and Mirza Naini. Ayatollah Bahjat was among one of the most revered Shia clerics, whose religious decrees were followed by many Shia Muslims.
He was born in Fouman, Gilan Province
, Iran
. At the age of 14, he moved to Karbala
, Iraq
to continue his religious studies. Four years later, he moved to Najaf
to complete his studies under Ayatollah Taleghani and Ayatollah Naeini. He taught in the Seminary of Qom
, Iran
.http://www.salehin.com/fa/bahjat
Bahjat died at the age of 96, at the Vali-e-Asr Hospital in the city of Qom on Sunday 17 May 2009, from heart disease
.,
, who supervise the Iranian leader. He used to encourage his students to engage in politics with the aim of reform.
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
who used to attend his classes said in an interview that his advice had influenced him to engage in politics.
'Those who seek reform [in the society] should reform themselves first.' [probably an indication of lack of enough spirituality in the reformist parties of his country]
'We [Muslims? A group of Muslims?] harm each other and we want the others not to harm us!'
He has once called Ruhollah Khomeini
a 'great man'.
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Mohammad Taghi (Taqi) Bahjat Foumani (1913 – 17 May 2009) was an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja
Marja
Marja , also known as a marja-i taqlid or marja dini , literally means "Source to Imitate/Follow" or "Religious Reference"...
with political and social views close to fundamentalist schools. He was a student of the famous mystic, Sayed Ali Qadhi Tabatabaei, and also a student of Abulhasan Isfahani and Mirza Naini. Ayatollah Bahjat was among one of the most revered Shia clerics, whose religious decrees were followed by many Shia Muslims.
He was born in Fouman, Gilan Province
Gilan Province
Gilan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, just west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. At the age of 14, he moved to Karbala
Karbala
Karbala is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad. Karbala is the capital of Karbala Governorate, and has an estimated population of 572,300 people ....
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to continue his religious studies. Four years later, he moved to Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
to complete his studies under Ayatollah Taleghani and Ayatollah Naeini. He taught in the Seminary of Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
.http://www.salehin.com/fa/bahjat
Bahjat died at the age of 96, at the Vali-e-Asr Hospital in the city of Qom on Sunday 17 May 2009, from heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
.,
Most famous mystical advice he kept repeating
'[according to Quran] if we act according to what we are sure about and be cautious about what we don't know, God reveals the path'Behaviour
His followers saw him as a living example of a great Muslim. He was famous for being modest, silent and living a simple life despite access to considerable Khoms funds.His political stance
People saw him or his office heads (in different cities) as rather reluctant to meddle in some of the political affairs. He was however involved in some parts of the Iranian politics indirectly. One of his heads of offices was a member of Assembly of ExpertsAssembly of Experts
The Assembly of Experts of Iran , also translated as Council of Experts, is a deliberative body of 86 Mujtahids that is charged with electing and removing the Supreme Leader of Iran and supervising his activities.Members of the assembly are elected from a government-screened list of candidates by...
, who supervise the Iranian leader. He used to encourage his students to engage in politics with the aim of reform.
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi
Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi is a hardline Iranian Twelver Shi'i cleric and politician who is widely seen as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's spiritual advisor. He is also a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the Supreme Leader, where he heads...
who used to attend his classes said in an interview that his advice had influenced him to engage in politics.
Political sayings
‘The United Nations who claim to be after human rights do not support weak governments.' (Dar Mahzar-i Hazrat Ayatollah Bahjat, v.1, p. 316)'Those who seek reform [in the society] should reform themselves first.' [probably an indication of lack of enough spirituality in the reformist parties of his country]
'We [Muslims? A group of Muslims?] harm each other and we want the others not to harm us!'
He has once called Ruhollah Khomeini
Ruhollah Khomeini
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini was an Iranian religious leader and politician, and leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran...
a 'great man'.