Hawza Najaf



The Najaf Seminary (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 al-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 al-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 al-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.
 * Ahmad ibn Muhammad Ardabili - he was one of the most famous Shia scholars. He was known as Mohaghegh (researcher) and Moghaddas (saint).
 * Moḥammad Mahdī Baḥr al-ʿUlūm - he was known as Baḥr al-Ulum for his considerable knowledge. Bahr al-Ulum was a popular Shia Muslim scholar. He is specifically known as one of the few individuals who attained the climax of spiritual perfection.
 * Mohammad Bagher Shafti - he was the leader of Isfahan seminary.
 * Akhund Khorasani - he was a student of Morteza Ansari. Khorasani was the greatest Marjaʿ after Mirza Shirazi and before Mohammad Fadhil Sharabiani, he was known as an indubitable master of usul al-fiqh. He authored a book focused on commercial law.
 * Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei - Ali al-Sistani was his student. He was made the most prominent Grand Ayatollah in 1971 after the death of Muhsin al-Hakim. He was well-known author in Hadith studies and Rijal and Kalam knowledge.
 * Ibn Idris Hilli - he founded the Hillah seminary.
 * Mirza Shirazi - he was the leader of Samarra seminary and Tobacco Protest.
 * Hajj Muhammad Ibrahim Kalbasi - he was the leader of Isfahan seminary.
 * Abdul-Karim Haeri Yazdi - he was the founder of the Qom Seminary in Iran. Ruhollah Khomeini was his student. He was Marjaʿ.
 * Kashif al-Ghita - he was the leader and great Marjaʿ of Shia.
 * Muhammad Hasan al-Najafi - he authored Javaher al-kalam Fi sharh-e Sharay-e al-Islam and was a leader of the Najaf seminary.
 * Morteza Ansari - he was the leader of Najaf seminary after the death of Muhammad Hasan al-Najafi. He has been called "first effective" Marjaʿ of the Shia or "the first scholar universally recognized as supreme authority in matters of Shii law".
 * Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi - his popular students included Imam Khomeini, Hossein Vahid Khorasani, Sayed Ali Khamenei, Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, and Dr. Seyed Ali Mirlohi Falavarjani. Borujerdi was the sole marja "in the Shia world" from 1945-6 until his death in 1961. Borujerdi was the first Marja who attempted Islamic unity. He sent Sayyid Muhaqqiqi to Hamburg, Germany, Aqa-e-Shari'at to Karachi, Pakistan, Al-Faqihi to Medina and Musa al-Sadr to Lebanon.
 * Muhammad Husayn Tabataba'i - he authored Tafsir al-Mizan and he was one of the most prominent Intellectuals of philosophy and contemporary Shia Islam. He was an expert in philosophy in Islam. His philosophy is focused upon the sociological treatment of human problems. His book, Shi'ite Islam, was translated into English by Hossein Nasr and William Chittick as a project of Colgate University. He was interviewed by Henry Corbin.
 * Abd al-Husayn Sharaf al-Din al-Musawi - he was one of the greatest Marja in Lebanon. He attempted to bring Shia and Sunni closer.