Hawzah News Agency- Speaking on the sidelines of the international conference commemorating Allama Naeini (RA) in Najaf Ashraf, the Iranian cleric highlighted the intellectual stature of the late jurist, describing him as a distinguished student of Mirza Shirazi who later became a close disciple of Akhund Khorasani.
Hojatoleslam Rabbani Birjandi noted that Allama Naeini’s exceptional scholarly precision earned him deep trust from his teachers. “Akhund Khorasani once said he entrusted him with a set of questions at night, and Mirza Naeini would return the next morning with well-argued, fully documented answers,” he stated.
He went on to underline Mirza Naeini’s significant influence in Najaf’s seminary, saying the renowned scholar trained a generation of leading figures, including the late Ayatollah Khoei and Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Hussein Hilli.
According to the Khorasan professor, Mirza Naeini’s scholarly legacy was temporarily overshadowed by political circumstances and religious sensitivities of his time, leading even to periods of isolation after the publication of Tanbiyyah al-Ummah. “With the passage of time, his true rank became clear again. Today, nearly eight decades after his passing, he is recognized as a foundational figure in Usul al-Fiqh, and the seminaries continue to benefit from his intellectual contributions,” he said.
Strengthening trilateral scholarly ties
Rabbani Birjandi emphasized the need to maintain and deepen scientific ties between the seminaries of Iran, Iraq, and Mashhad, calling on academic authorities in Qom and Mashhad to engage more actively with international academic events—especially those held in Iraq.
He stressed that Mashhad, recognized as the third most important center of Shiite seminary education, must play a more prominent role in these scholarly exchanges. Upcoming major congresses, such as the event planned in honor of Grand Ayatollah Milani—one of Naeini’s notable students—represent key opportunities to enhance cooperation, he added.
Concluding his remarks, Hojatoleslam Rabbani Birjandi said continued scholarly interaction between seminaries would foster a broad and constructive exchange of ideas, research, and academic achievements, ultimately benefiting the Shiite world as a whole.
Your Comment