A brief biography of grand Ayatollah Rohani

 His birth

The great Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad sadegh Rohani, a man from the family of guardians of the religion and feghh (Islamic jurisprudence) a religions authority, an anti despite and indefatigable warrior in the way of God, was born in Moharam 1345 after Hejra (a.h), coinciding with 1305 Hejri shamsi (h.s) (solar year) and 1926 A.D. in holy city of Qom.

His family was of Imam Hussein (a) extraction, with a great background of knowledge and virtues.

  His parents

His father, ayatollah Haj Mirza Mohammad Rohani, one of the luminaries of Qom seminaries, was born in 1307 A.H in Qom.

He traveled to Najaf under the auspices of ayatollah seyed Abolhasan Esfahani and Mirza Naeeni. For a while, he was a student of the deceased ayatollah Haji Hussein Tabatabaei qomi. Then he came back to Qom. Through his continuous attempts, the great ayatollah Sheikh Abdolkarim Haeri traveled to Qom and started to teach seminary science. He was one of the Ayatollah Haeri's special and best students.

After his father death, used to answer people's religious questions and solve their living problems in "Aqa mosque", Qom to mention some of his great measures, one can recall his cooperation with Ayatollah Kashani in the issue of nationalizing Iran's oil industry, fighting Reza shah in the issue of removing the Hijab and religion from the country, making attempts to invite ayatollah Haeri to Qom paving the way for his teaching, and cooperating in the process of establishing Qom seminary.

The religious authority, Ayatollah Sadegh Rohani, passed away in Sha'ban, 18, 1381(A.H) due to a long-lasting disease. When the news of his death circulated around the city of Qom, city bazaar, offices and religious schools were adjourned in respect.

All religious authorities, luminaries, teachers and students of the seminaries took part in his funeral while traders, craftsmen and offices raised black flags as an emblem of mourning and attended mourning sessions. After the funeral prayer, his body was buried in Bala sar mosque, Qom.

His mother was also one of descendants of Imam Hussein (a). She was daughter of ayatollah Haji Seyed Ahmad Tabatabaei qomi, who used to hold congregation prayer in the courtyard of Hazrat Masuma's holy shrine.

  His education

Ayatollah Rohani learned the basic lessons of Arabic literature in Qom. Then, in his adolescence he traveled to Najaf to learn from great ayatollah, accompanied by his older brother. Because of his incredible aptitude and intelligence, he learned "Sath" (seminary lesson based on the reading of the text) in a short period.

Through being examined and advised by Ayatollah Khoei, he turned to learning "Methodology" and Kharej (seminary lecture not based on reading textbooks). An adolescent's being accepted to learn "Methodology" and "Kharej" was totally confusing and incredible for the older students of Najaf seminary.

Ayatollah zadeh Milani quotes: "Ayatollah Khoei told my father, I have the honor to teach in a seminary in which an adolescent is learning "Makaseb" (earning and professions) beside his older brother and other more experienced schoolmates. Rather, he can understand and analyze the lesson better than the rest of students.

Those familiar with Islamic science know that the valuable book of "Earning and professions" – one of Sheikh Ansari's greatest works is being taught in seminaries and only intelligence and talent students can completely comprehend and analyze the subject of that book.

  His teacher

Due to his staidness and desire to learn, ayatollah Rohani used to attend the greatest religious authorities classes. Some of them are:

1-   Great Ayatollah Haji Sheikh Kazem Shirazi (1290-1367)

2-    Great ayatollah Haji Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Esfahani, also known as Company (1361- )

3-   Great ayatollah Haji Sheikh Mohammad ali Kazemeini

4-   Great Ayatollah Haji Seyed Abdolhasan Esfahani (1284-1365)

5-   Great Ayatollah Haji Sheikh Mohmmad reza Al-e-yasin

6-   Great Ayatollah Haji Seyed Abolghasem Khoei (1317-1413)

7-   Great Ayatollah Haji Seyed Mohammad Hussein Tabatabaei Boroujerdi (1292-1380)

He learned many valuable things from his famous teacher and has always been thankful to them. However, the role ayatollah khoei played in treating Ayatollah Rohani was really appreciable. As he acknowledges, a great share of his knowledge is due to 15-year attendance in public and private classes of Ayatollah Khoei among the rest of great Ayatollahs. There was consensus among almost all of scholars of that time that Ayatollah Khoei was an incomplete jurisconsult who was expert in seminary sciences such as feghh (jurisprudence), methodology, kalam (speculative theology), interpretation, rejal (biography and criticism of traditional) and philosophy. His published works verifies this claim.

Ayatollah Khoei used to scout around for intelligent students and to play greater role in training them.

When attended Najaf seminary in his adolescence, Ayatollah Rohani was a young student with an unbelievable comprehension power and intelligence. He should learn complicated lessons of feghh write down the notes and make a fair copy of them at home, discuss the lesson with his friend, and pre-study for the next day lesson. This huge bulk of task, especially in lack of learning and living facilities, took 16 hour of his day. Moreover, he should do his personal affairs such as earning his living while tolerating the economic pressures. Being a young man he suffered from a harassing economic situation. Sometimes he had to borrow things and money from the neighboring traders who know him. Contentment was the most significant secret of his success in learning Islamic sciences.

Ayatollah Rohani's teaching

He started teaching different Islamic sciences in his adolescence.

He began to teach in the courtyard of Imam Ali's holy shrine.

It impressed everyone that a young man can assert seminary lesson.

Attending Ayatollah Khoei's classes for a short period, he was able to assert "Feghh and methodology" lessons for those interested in seminary sciences. It wasn't long before he was just like a shining sun in the sky of Najaf. For the same reason, Ayatollah Khoei's relationship with him was growing more and more. Although Ayatollah Khoei used to not let anyone raise question while he was teaching and wanted them to asked their question at the end of the lesson, he repeatedly asked the young Rohani to raise question whenever he deems proper. This indicates Ayatollah Rohani's merits.

The class relationship between the teacher and the student was in such a way that Ayatollah Khoei discussed the teaching matters with Ayatollah Rohani several times. Great Ayatollah Khoei praised the 15-year-old Rohani's great knowledge, comprehension power and briskness in learning (the full text of Ayatollah Khoei's manuscript can be found in this web site, which is also published in biography books in Arabic and Farsi). Verified by the great Ayatollah and religious authorities, Ayatollah Rohani reached the stage of "religious authority" being only 14 years old.

He came back to Qom in the late 1329(H.S) and started teaching Kharej (seminary lectures not based on reading text book) in the courtyard of "Hazrat Masuma's" holy shrine in early 1330(H.S).

Now, it is half of the century that he is teaching Islamic sciences and most of his students are among famous teachers and seminary pundit. Some other of his are supposed to reach the stage of religious authority.

Ayatollah Rohani is used to speaking eloquently while teaching. He avoids engaging in useless matters in his teaching. His lessons include ideas of outstanding Islamic pundits attached with his own discussions on acceptance or rejection of their beliefs. He fights stiffness, one-sidedness, excessive precaution, and blind imitation because he believes that illogical imitation and prejudice on Islamic pundits' beliefs while fighting any news idea will enfeeble the scientific power of the seminaries. He therefore, respecting all Islamic pundits' beliefs, analyses their beliefs as a critic.

Ayatollah Rohani's teaching is filled with new ideas and beliefs, innovations, and keen-sightedness. Nevertheless, he never ignores the decree of god for the sake of "public interest" or "new ideas".

  His work

Ayatollah Rohani has always tried to distribute the Islamic and Al-al-bait (the Prophet Mohammad's family (a)) culture in his entire life. He has either taught and trained many other knowledgeable sages or has written some valuable books on Islamic sciences.

As soon as he attend Qom Islamic seminary, started writing "Shia feghh encyclopedia" besides teaching "Kharej". The mentioned encyclopedia is verified and endorsed by the greatest religious authorities and seminary teachers.

One of his most valuable works is the book "Feghh-al-sadegh" great Ayatollah Boroujerdi regard this book as a valid source and quoted many parts of it in his teaching, great Ayatollah Khoei also, wrote in a letter that "I delivered the book "Feghh-al-sadegh" to Ayatollah Kashef-al-ghata and told him, look! What a precious service I have done to Islam by bringing such a researchers and scientists up.

The dean of "Al-Zahra" (Al-Zahra university), Egypt, which is the greatest scientific center of sonnies, praises the book Feghh-al-sadegh in a letter, too. This book is one of the expressive, valid and important sources of Feghh and methodology in Shia community. Of many adequate reasons for Ayatollah Rohani's religious authority; one is writing the comprehensive book "Feghh-al-sadegh".

Some of his valuable works includes:

1-   "Feghh-al-sadegh": full encyclopedia of Shia feghh (in Arabic)

This comprehensive source has been published in 40 volumes annexed by a full list of sources and bibliography.

About two hundred years ago, the valuable book "Jawaher-al-kalam". Ayatollah Rohani wrote this book in his youth. Sunni purdites also verified this book. "Feghh-al-sadegh" is being taught in the department of Islamic studies in famous western universities and is regarded as a valid source.

2- "Zobdat-al-usul" (Methodology, in Arabic) in 6 volumes asserts a full review of methodology in rational discussion format.

3- "Menhaj-al-foghaha" (the way of the jurisprudence, in Arabic). In 6 volumes is a description of Sheikh Ansari's "Makaseb"(Earnings and professions) in an innovative way.

4-   "Al-masael-al-mostahdetha" (the recent question, in Arabic): include answering today's new problem with respect to the holy Quran traditions, and feghh.

5-   An explanation of the book "Menhaj-al-salehin" (the way of the righteous) in 2 volumes (in Arabic)

6-   An explanation of the book "Urvat-al-wosgha" (the strongest handle) in 2 volumes (in Arabic)

7-   An explanation of the book "Wasilat-ul-nejat" (means of salvation, in Arabic)

8-   A treatise of the book "Uncertain clothing" (in Arabic)

9-   A treatise of the book "Principle of no harming" (in Arabic)

10-  "Determinism and freewill" (in Arabic translated into Persian)

11- A treatise on (in Arabic)

12-"Scared rites of hajj" (in Arabic)

13- "Masael-al-montakhaba" (the selected question, in Arabic)

14- A treatise on "Principle of collecting knowledge" (in Arabic)

15- Al Ejtehad-wa-al Taghlid" (religious authority and imitation) (in Arabic)

16-"Qawaed-al-thalatha" (the three principles) (in Arabic)

17-"Al-leqa-Al-khas" (the special meeting, in Arabic)

18- Tozih-al-masael" (the Islamic epistle, in Arabic)

19-A research on "Determinism and freewill" (in Farsi)

20-"The government system in Islam" (in Farsi, Turkish, and Urdu)

21-"Sacred rites of hajj" (in Farsi)

22- "A selection of Islamic ordinances" (in Farsi)

23-"Religious consolation of the judicial power and the law institute of international lawyers" (in Farsi)

24-Islamic ordinance of today's problem (in Farsi)

25-"The ordinances" in question and answer format: in 2 volumes (in Farsi)

26-"One thousand question and answers" in 6 volumes: 1000 questions and answers each (in Arabic)

His religious authority

Returning from Najaf and starting to teach Qom seminary, Ayatollah Rohani began to write the book "feghh-al-sadegh" after the death of great Ayatollah Boroujerdi, seminary pundits suggested that Ayatollah Rohani publish his epistle. According to Iranians national library records, his first epistle was published in 1340(H.S).

Great Ayatollah Seyed Sadegh Rohani was the first religious authority in the whole family of Rohanis whose followers are scattered in all over the Muslim world.

SOME OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF AYATOLLAH ROHANI

The political life

Great Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Sadegh Rohani never considers religion and politics separate. Rather, he sees the sprite of the politics in the body of religion. He therefore, deems it necessary to fight despotism, colonialism, and Zionism, to engage in political matters of the Muslim world, to make attempts to establish freedom and justice for all, and to remove poverty and superstitions from the world. As a result, in his opinion, it is permissibly for every one to take part in the area of politics.

Ayatollah Rohani was a key leader of public contest against shah's regime. While many where surrounded government favors, and many other disappointed hypocrites consider the contest useless, people like Ayatollah Rohani encouraged the people to visits, not to be afraid of the government threats, and fight the regime. He always believed that one should always tell the truth and be on the right side.

He was a great architect of the Islamic revolution in Iran. He has made anti despotism the epigraph of all his programs. He considered the leadership of fight against shah's regime till the establishment of the Islamic governments as a way serving Imam Mahdi (a).

Given that despite all the problems, sufferings, living in exile, and long imprisonment, he never succumbed. He insisted on his deeds until he succeeded. The Islamic revolution won and the Islamic republic of Iran was established. This was one of his greatest political achievements.

The generous Ayatollah Rohani has never had any strong desire for materialistic issues and has always been trying to serve people just like the way his model, Imam Ali (a), behaved in his life.

Although his enemies have tried to blur his key role in leadership of the contest against shah's regime and in establishment of Islamic governments in Iran, it has always been and will be true that "the truth will out". His caustic harangues against shah's regime, Savak (Iran's intelligence agency at the time of shah) profiles, his being exiled into Zabol, Yazd, Meygoon, and Tehran, his being sentenced to individual imprisonment with no right to be visited, and his being abandoned to teach or even to leave the country, beside long imprisonments of his colleagues and students obviates any more require and obviously indicates his key role in the Islamic revolution establishments process.

His respect for other religious authorities:

Another characteristic of Ayatollah Rohani is his respect for other religious authorities, despite some disagreements; he has never insulted them or spoiled their characters. It has happened many times that some people have insulted the religious authorities with Ayatollah Rohani in disagreement, however, he has always defended them because of his respect for the character of a religious authority although it might be harmed for him. He believes if the respect for other people, particularly for religious authorities, fades away, all the enemies will tack the advantage in the past.

Advises and recommendation

Ayatollah Rohani has always taught his students and followers, both in theory and practice, to:

-Not to be proud of or angry at people praising or criticizing them.

-Live simply, and not to be a slave to this mundane life.

-be careful that the vicissitudes of like not hinder them

-know that there is nothing in this world as great as leading the mankind to the way of God.

- Open our minds for different views, moment the death may come by, so behave in a way that is proper for the life in the hereafter.

-Remember God in all issues of life.

-Always do our best and tolerate the problems till success.

-Know that time is precious and it's fading away every moment.

-Have mercy for everyone from all races, colors and religions.

- Avoid evil desire, gaudiness, and selfishness, proud and praise-seeking.

-Practice diligence, forgiveness, tolerance, scrupulousness, serving the people, freedom and justice-seeking.

-Always appreciate those who had taught you something and your teachers.

His religious life

Ayatollah Rohani reads "Ziarat Ashora" (Imam Hussein's traditional prayers) every early morning.

-Once a week, he goes to "Jamkaran mosque" where he holds prayer.

Then, he goes to "Hazrat Masuma's"to hold prayers. Lastly, he visits his father's tomb in "Bala sar" mosque, Qom.

-He holds mourning sessions for Imam Hussein (a) every year. During the months "Muharram" and "Safar", the walls of his house were covered by black flags as an emblem of respect. People from all over the country came to cooperate in these sessions. After each session, every one holds congregation prayers with Ayatollah Rohani. Finally, the dinner was served to every one.

-He also holds feasts for all birthday of Imam in his house. People cooperate in these sessions, too.

-Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad sadegh Rohani's house is hold with no luxury or bureaucracy. Every one could easily meet him just with an appointment. All the expenditures of the house are paid by him. As mentioned before, he lived a really simple life, and every one who knows Ayatollah Rohani will acknowledge it.