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

Abstract

The present article proposes the necessity of the formation of a modern Marjaʿīiyah in Twelver Shia. The first feature of the modern Marjaʿīiyah is the compatibility of its inferences 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 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.