The Necessity of the Formation of a Modern Marjaʿīiyah in Twelver Shia Marjaʿīiyah Institution

Abstract

The institution of Marjaʿīiyah in Twelver Shia is considered the highest religious institution that has a long history. Despite the much research that has been done about this institution and even the necessity of its modernization, the concept of "modern Marjaʿīiyah" needs to be explained, especially from a juristic point of view. The jurisprudential explanation is necessary because of the jurisprudential nature of this institution. The present article tries to organize this matter. The achievement of the article is that, from the juristic perspective, the modernization of the Marjaʿīiyah requires a transformation in three areas: the jurisprudential approach of Marājiʿ, the way of issuing fatwá and social interaction with the audiences. In the first step, the article discusses the necessity of the transformation in the jurisprudential approach of Marājiʿ and based it on the necessity of compatibility between the products of Marājiʿ with the rational and scientific achievements of modernity. The second feature is the modern interaction model with society. In the case of issuing Fatwá, it includes an attachment of arguments to enable the imitator to compare various Fatwás. This model considers Marjaʿīiyah as a social institution that is devoid of special sanctity and holiness. Denying the special holiness means that Marjaʿ does not have unique holiness as a position of Marjaʿ in addition to the holiness that the possessors of knowledge and piety enjoy. The negation of special sanctity, if it is based on juristic arguments, opens the door for the modernization of this institution. The article concludes that the modern Marjaʿīiyah is completely different from the traditional Marjaʿīiyah and recommends further studies on the social necessities of this formation through field research.