Hawzah News Agency - The Leader of the Islamic Revolution issued a message, wherein he conveyed his condolences on the passing of Grand Ayatollah Hajj Sayyid Abdulkarim Mousavi Ardebili. The following is the full text of that message:  

In the Name of God  

The noble jurisprudent (faqih) and scholar, Ayatollah Hajj Sayyed Abdulkarim Mousavi Ardebili (May God’s mercy be upon him) departed this ephemeral world to meet the Lord.

I condole his respected family, respected children, all his students, admirers and followers on their hefty loss.

Besides his endeavors in scholarly and jurisprudential realms, he was the head of the Islamic Republic’s Judicial Branch during a difficult time; and he was always involved in important events and issues during the time of Imam Khomeini (ra); he was among the outstanding people active in serving the country.

Cultural activities, establishing a high school and a university are glorious pages added in the productive life of this noble scholar. I humbly plead God to bestow His mercy and beneficence upon his soul, entwine,his deeds with tremendous rewards and place him next to his purified lineage. 

Sayyid Ali Khamenei

November 23, 16

President Rouhani's message is as follows:  

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful We are from Allah, and to Him we shall return (Holy Quran) When a believer jurist dies, a gap appears in Islam which will never be filled.

(Imam Sadiq (as)) 

The passing of the great Shia Marja’, wise and educated warrior and jurist, Ayatollah Sayyid Abdulkarim Mousavi Ardebili is a great loss for all knowledge-seekers and followers of the path of action and jurisprudence.  

That steadfast partner of the Islamic Movement and an honest friend to Imam Khomeini (ra) and the Supreme Leader, was one of the knowledgeable Maraji of the time and a scientific pillar of jurisprudence and politics who spent his blessed life accepting tough political, social and judicial responsibilities before and after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, attempting to promote the pure teachings of Islam and reinforce the Islamic system.

He attracted many young people to the Islamic insight and character by his moderate point of view. He also authored valuable books and educated a lot of students in the path of strengthening religious basics and scientific growth.  

I sincerely condole the great loss to Imam Mahdi (as), the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, great Maraji, seminaries, his students in the seminaries and universities, the grateful people of the Islamic Iran, especially the brave people of Ardebil province, and his respectful family, especially his children, and declare the state of national mourning on Thursday and Friday for the loss of the great scientific and spiritual asset and pray for his mercy and his family’s patience and health, and ask the Almighty God to show him with mercy and ample blessings.  

Hasan Rouhani 

President of the Islamic Republic of Iran