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Hawza Najaf

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(Redirected from Howza Elmia Najaf) Shia seminary in Iraq
Ali Sistani (current chancellor of Hawza 'Ilmiyya Najaf) and Abu al-Qasim Khoei (ex-chancellor of Hawza 'Ilmiyya Najaf)

The Najaf Seminary (Arabic: حوزة النجف), also known as the al-Hawza Al-Ilmiyya (الحوزة العلمية), is the oldest and one of the most important Shia seminaries (hawza) in the world. It is located near the Imam Ali Shrine in the city of Najaf in Iraq, and also operates a campus in Karbala, Iraq. It was established by Shaykh Tusi (385 AH/995 CE – 460 AH/1067 CE), and continued as a center of study after the establishment of modern Iraq in 1921.

As of 2023, Ayatollah Ali Sistani heads Hawza 'Ilmiyya Najaf, which includes two other Ayatollahs - Mohammad Ishaq Al-Fayyad and Bashir al-Najafi. The number of students studying there has waxed and waned in modern times, from 15,000-20,000 in the mid-20th century, down to 3000 during the repressive reign of Saddam Hussein, to around 13,000 as of 2014.

As of 2014 the curriculum has been updated to include many modern subjects as well as inter faith and inter sectarian initiatives.


History

Shaykh Tusi (385 AH/995 CE – 460 AH/1067 CE), went to Baghdad to continue education. After 12 years, he was forced to leave Baghdad and go to Najaf for sectarian differences. He established the seminary in Najaf in 430 AH (the 11th century AD), which continued as a center of study until the establishment of modern Iraq in 1921. He died in 460 AH (1067 CE).

In the mid-20th century, the Hawza "witnessed huge developments in its educational program" and the student population grew to 15,000-20,000. During the repression of the Baath party era it declined to around 3000 as the Shiite political awakening (Sahwa) was attacked by the regime and attendance by foreign students fell off because of the Iran-Iraq war. By the time Saddam fell in 2003, there were only approximately 3000 students and 2000 clerics in Najaf. Their number then commenced to grow again, and as of 2014 there are 13,000 students, according to a census by Al-Monitor news service, including approximately 50 from foreign countries — Iran, India, Thailand, France, the United States, Canada, etc.

Subjects

The subjects taught at the seminary include:

  • Mantiq (Logic)
  • Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)
  • Fiqh (Jurisprudence)
  • Tafsir al-Qur'an (Qur'an Exegesis)
  • Ulum al-Qur'an (Qur'an Sciences)
  • Ilm al-Hadith (The Study of Traditions)
  • Ilm ar-Rijal (Science of Narrators)
  • Tarikh (History)
  • Aqaid / Kalam (Theology)
  • Lugha (Language Studies)
  • Falsafa (Islamic Philosophy)
  • Irfan (Islamic Mysticism)
  • Fiqh al-Muqaran (Comparative jurisprudence)
  • Ilm al-Ma’rifah (Epistemology)

Trained scholars

Some of the known Shia Grand Ayatollahs were trained in the Najaf seminary.

See also

References

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  6. ^ Mamouri, Ali (8 April 2014). "Najaf's Shiite seminaries enter 21st century". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
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  28. Chehabi, Abisaab, Houchang , Rula Jurdi (2006). Distant Relations: Iran and Lebanon in the Last 500 Years. I.B.Tauris (April 2, 2006). ISBN 978-1860645617.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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  31. Husayni Tihrani, Sayyid Muhammad Husayn (2011). Shining Sun. Islamic College for Advanced Studie; UK ed. edition (May 1, 2011). ISBN 978-1904063407.
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External links

Islamic educational institutions
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