QOM — Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. The global Shia community and the sacred seminary of Qom are mourning the profound loss of one of the most revered jurists and sources of emulation (marja’) of our time, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Musa Shobeiri Zanjani, who returned to his Lord at the age of 98.
His esteemed office announced in the early hours of Monday that “the pure soul of the jurist of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and the exalted authority of the global Shia community, Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani, has joined God.”
The revered marja was admitted to a hospital in the holy city of Qom on Friday evening due to pulmonary complications. After two days under intensive care, his blessed soul departed this world. The announcement of his passing cited the noble Quranic verse:
“Those whom the angels take in death while they are good, they say, ‘Peace be upon you; enter Paradise for what you used to do.’”
— (Surah an-Nahl, Chapter 16, The Bee, Verse 32).
A Lifetime Devoted to the Ahl al-Bayt (AS)
Born on March 2, 1928, in the holy city of Qom, Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani was immersed in the love and teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt from his very first breath. His father, the late Ayatollah Sayyid Ahmad Shobeiri Zanjani, was a prominent jurist and a close companion of Imam Khomeini and Sheikh Abdul-Karim Haeri Yazdi (the founder of the Qom seminary).
From his childhood, the late Ayatollah dedicated his life to sacred knowledge. He went on to study under some of the greatest Shia luminaries of the 20th century, attending the advanced jurisprudential lessons of Grand Ayatollahs Sayyid Hossein Borujerdi, Sayyid Mohammad Mohaqeq Damad, Sayyid Abolqasem Khoei, Sayyid Mohsen Hakim, Sayyid Abd al-Hadi Shirazi, and the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini (RA).
He became widely recognised as a towering authority in ilm al-rijal (the science of evaluating hadith narrators) and taught advanced Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh) in the Qom seminary for over four decades. Following the passing of Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Araki in 1994, the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom formally recognised him among the top jurists qualified for marja’iyya.
Despite his immense scholarly weight, Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani was renowned for his characteristic humility and restraint. He shunned the public spotlight, preferring instead the quiet sanctity of the hawza, dedicating himself to the rigorous training of scholars, deep reflection, and safeguarding authentic Shia jurisprudence. For many years, believers were blessed to see him leading congregational prayers at the holy shrine of Hazrat Fatima Masoumeh (peace be upon her).
A Heavy Loss for the Ummah
His office has offered heartfelt condolences to the Imam of the Time (may Allah hasten his reappearance), the Islamic seminaries, the noble people of Iran, and all followers of the Wilayah across the globe. They described his blessed life as one marked by “continuous scholarly struggle, sincere effort to elevate authentic jurisprudence, and goodwill toward the people.”
Details regarding the farewell and burial ceremonies—which will undoubtedly see thousands of mourners gathering near the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh (SA) to pay their final respects—will be announced shortly by his office.
May Allah (SWT) elevate his station with the Ma’sumeen (as), grant patience to his students and followers, and reward his lifetime of service to the school of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS).
Reference: PressTv