HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Holy cities of Najaf and Karbala as well as Mosel, Baghdad, Dujail and many other cities revived the death anniversary of late Marje Shia’yaan-e-Aalam Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Mohsen Al-Hakim by hosting conferences and commemorative ceremonies.

Representatives of Maraje, intellectuals, thinkers, clerics and religious scholars besides common people participated in these gatherings honoring the late Grand Marje. His laudable services for the religion of Allah and spread of mission of Prophet Muhammad (s) and his progeny (a) were highlighted.

Grand Ayatullah Sayyed Mohsin AlHakim, born in 1306 AH in a famous scholarly family, studied under the tutelage of great Foqaha like Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Kadhim Yazdi, Ayatullah Mirza Hussein Naeeni, Ayatullah Zia Araki and others.

After the sad demise of Ayatullah Sayyed Hussein Burujurdi, with whom his family tree shared a common lineage finally reaching Ameerul Mumineen Imam Ali b. Abi Talib (AS), he became a sole Marja.

The Hawza of Najaf al Ashraf grew immensely under his Marjaiyya, boasting nearly an unprecedented figure of 8,000 students. He also instituted several changes in the curriculum of the Hawzas, which have had far reaching effects.

Grand Ayatullah Mohsin AlHakim’s famous work in fiqh is 'MUSTAMSAK' which is acknowledged as the most exhaustive and enlightening commentary on the first part of alUrwatul Wuthqa. The style and skill of his reasoning established him among the FUQAHA of the first rank.

He is also well known for his clear fatwa against Communism, declaring it an ideology of kufr and atheism.

He died on Rabiul Awwal 27, 1390 AH in Najaf al Ashraf – the city of knowledge - and was laid to rest in the great and modern library he had established.