Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine
Encyclopedia
Aytollah Muhammad Mahdi Shamseddine (Chamseddine) (1936-2001) is a famous Twelver Shia Islam scholar of Lebanon
from Kabrikha probably a compound name kabr-ikha: the tomb of ikha] in Jabal Amel in the southern part of the country. His lineage ends to Shahid Awwal
who is also known as Shamseddine (Sun of the Faith).
He was born in Najaf
, Iraq
, as his father al Allamah al Shaykh Abdul Kareem Shamseddine was studying there. At age 12 when his father returned to Lebanon, Imam Muhammad Mahdi decided to stay and finish his religious studies under famous scholars including Imam Abolqasim al-Khoei and Imam Muhsin al-Hakim
. During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq he worked closely with the Imams Musa al-Sadr
, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr
, and Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
, among others.
Upon his return to Lebanon in 1969 he helped Musa al-Sadr found the Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council that came to light in 1975, and became its first vice-president. Musa al-Sadr disappeared in mysterious circumstances during a trip to Libya
in 1978. In April 1994 Shamseddine was elected president of the Council, which he led until his death.
Shamseddine was known for his moderation and diplomacy. He was a strong advocate of Christian-Muslim coexistence while at the same time advocating fundamental changes in the Lebanese confessional political system in order to create what he referred to as "al dawla al madaniyya" or the " civic state" in a country which has struggled to overcome confessional divisions since the devastating 1975-1990 civil war. "There is no Lebanon without its Christians and there is no Lebanon without its Muslims," he once said.
Shamseddine was a staunch supporter of military resistance against the Israeli occupation troops in Lebanon. He formed the "Total Civil Resistance Against Israel" group in Lebanon after Ashura 1983 to counter the Israeli invasion of June 1982. He also established the Islamic University in Lebanon Association for Charity and Culture, among many other institutions.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
from Kabrikha probably a compound name kabr-ikha: the tomb of ikha] in Jabal Amel in the southern part of the country. His lineage ends to Shahid Awwal
Shahid Awwal
Muhammad Jamaluddin al-Makki al-Amili also known as Shahid Awwal was the first Islamic martyr and the author of Al-Lum'ah ad-Dimashqiya. He was one of the greatest Shi'a scholars.- Life :Shahid Awal was born in 734 A.H Muhammad Jamaluddin al-Makki al-Amili (1334–1385) also known as Shahid Awwal...
who is also known as Shamseddine (Sun of the Faith).
He was born in Najaf
Najaf
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2008 is 560,000 people. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, as his father al Allamah al Shaykh Abdul Kareem Shamseddine was studying there. At age 12 when his father returned to Lebanon, Imam Muhammad Mahdi decided to stay and finish his religious studies under famous scholars including Imam Abolqasim al-Khoei and Imam Muhsin al-Hakim
Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhsin al-Tabataba'i al-Hakim was born into a family, the Tabatabai, renowned for its scholarship. He was always in the forefront to defend Islam and Muslims. He became the sole Marja in 1961 after the death of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Husayn Borujerdi...
. During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq he worked closely with the Imams Musa al-Sadr
Musa al-Sadr
For the Twelver Shī‘ah Imām, see Mūsá al-KāżimMūsá aṣ-Ṣadr , also Musā-ye Sader and Moussa Sadr), was an Iranian-Lebanese philosopher and Shī‘ah religious leader who disappeared in August 1978...
, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr
Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr
Shahid-e-Khamis Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Baqir al-Sadr was an Iraqi Shi'a cleric, a philosopher, and ideological founder of Islamic Dawa Party born in al-Kazimiya, Iraq. He is the father-in-law of Muqtada al-Sadr and cousin of both Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr and Imam Musa as-Sadr...
, and Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim , also known as Shaheed al-Mehraab was one of the foremost Twelver Shi'a Muslim leaders in Iraq until his assassination in a bombing in Najaf...
, among others.
Upon his return to Lebanon in 1969 he helped Musa al-Sadr found the Supreme Islamic Shi'ite Council that came to light in 1975, and became its first vice-president. Musa al-Sadr disappeared in mysterious circumstances during a trip to Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
in 1978. In April 1994 Shamseddine was elected president of the Council, which he led until his death.
Shamseddine was known for his moderation and diplomacy. He was a strong advocate of Christian-Muslim coexistence while at the same time advocating fundamental changes in the Lebanese confessional political system in order to create what he referred to as "al dawla al madaniyya" or the " civic state" in a country which has struggled to overcome confessional divisions since the devastating 1975-1990 civil war. "There is no Lebanon without its Christians and there is no Lebanon without its Muslims," he once said.
Shamseddine was a staunch supporter of military resistance against the Israeli occupation troops in Lebanon. He formed the "Total Civil Resistance Against Israel" group in Lebanon after Ashura 1983 to counter the Israeli invasion of June 1982. He also established the Islamic University in Lebanon Association for Charity and Culture, among many other institutions.
Arabic
- http://www.shamseddine.com
- http://www.shiitecouncil.com