“Nizām-e-Marja‘iyat Shaheedain Ki Nazar Mai” is a scholarly exploration of the institution of Marja‘iyat through the profound insights of the two revolutionary scholars known as al-Shaheedain—Ayatullah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr and his sister Ayatullah Sayyida Bint al-Huda al-Sadr. The book examines how Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr envisioned the role, responsibilities, and structure of the Shia Marja‘ (supreme religious authority) within the broader mission of Islamic revival.
At its core, the book highlights al-Sadr’s belief that Marja‘iyat is not merely a personal religious position but an institution of divine guidance, meant to address the intellectual, social, political, and economic challenges faced by the Muslim Ummah. In the view of al-Sadr, the Marja‘ must serve as the guardian of Islamic law, the leader of the faithful, and the protector of society against injustice and tyranny.
The introduction outlines several key themes:
1. Marja‘iyat as a Dynamic Institution
Ayatullah al-Sadr rejects the idea of a passive or isolated Marja‘. Instead, he presents Marja‘iyat as a living, responsive system rooted in ijtihad, taqwa, and responsibility toward the community. He emphasizes that true religious leadership must evolve with the needs of the age while remaining firmly rooted in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
2. Social and Political Responsibility of the Marja‘
For al-Sadr, the Marja‘ is not only a mujtahid issuing legal rulings but also a leader who carries the Ummah through crises. He argued that the Marja‘ must confront oppression, guide the faithful in political awakening, and provide a clear Islamic alternative to unjust systems. His own struggle against the Ba‘athist regime of Iraq is presented as a living example of this belief.
3. Institutional Organization (Nizām)
The book explains al-Sadr’s proposal for a structured, organized system of Marja‘iyat, supported by advisory councils, financial transparency, and collective scholarly work. His vision was to strengthen Marja‘iyat as a unified institution capable of leading the global Shia community with clarity and efficiency.
4. Intellectual Leadership and Reform
Al-Sadr viewed the Marja‘ not only as a legal scholar but as an intellectual architect of the Islamic future. He believed that the Marja‘ must respond to modern ideologies, economic systems, and social transformations with deeper Islamic theory and practical guidance—something he exemplified in his works Iqtisaduna and Falsafatuna.
5. Moral and Spiritual Foundation
The introduction also stresses that the strength of Marja‘iyat lies in the moral purity, piety, and self-sacrifice of its leaders. Al-Sadr’s own life—marked by humility, scholarship, and martyrdom—embodies the ideal qualities he envisioned for the Marja‘.
Summary of Purpose
This book serves as a valuable guide for understanding how Ayatullah Baqir al-Sadr redefined the Marja‘iyat for the modern world—transforming it from a traditional scholarly role into a dynamic, institutional, and revolutionary leadership model capable of guiding the Muslim Ummah toward justice, unity, and intellectual awakening.
