Nematollah Salehi Najafabadi
Encyclopedia
Ayatollah Nematollah Salehi Najafabadi (born 1923/24 in Najafabad
, Isfahan province - death 2006 in Tehran
) was an Iranian cleric and proponent of Islamic Unity, who spent most years after the Iranian revolution of 1979 under house arrest.
The Special Court for the Clergy had ordered that he do not teach and receive students. His writings were censored.
Rahim Arbab and Ayatollah Haj Shaikh Mohammad Hasan Alem Najafabadi.
Later he continued his studies in Qom
with Ayatollah Alameh Tabatabai and Ayatollah Boroujerdi
.
His most outstanding work is Shahid-e Javid (The Eternal Martyr), which he started to conceive in 1961. It radically reinterpreted early Shii history. Despite the author's house arrest
, it is in its fifth printing in Iran. Many books have been published in response to it, including by such distinguished ulama
as Ayatollah Motahari (d. 1979) and Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani (d. 1993).
In his essay Vahdat-e Islami, Najafabadi advocates steps towards Shii and Sunni ecumenism
. He believes Shii ulama should be permitted to follow Sunni fiqh
in certain areas and vice versa. The article was banned by the Special Court for the Clergy.
He died in Tehran
in 2006.
)
Najafabad
Najafabad is a city in and the capital of Najafabad County, Isfahan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 206,114, in 54,529 families. It is located west of Isfahan and is increasingly becoming a part of Isfahan Metropolitan area....
, Isfahan province - death 2006 in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
) was an Iranian cleric and proponent of Islamic Unity, who spent most years after the Iranian revolution of 1979 under house arrest.
The Special Court for the Clergy had ordered that he do not teach and receive students. His writings were censored.
Background
Nematollah Salehi Najafabadi was born in 1923/24 and studied in Isfahan with AyatollahAyatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Rahim Arbab and Ayatollah Haj Shaikh Mohammad Hasan Alem Najafabadi.
Later he continued his studies in Qom
Qom
Qom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River....
with Ayatollah Alameh Tabatabai and Ayatollah Boroujerdi
Boroujerdi
Boroujerdi is an Iranian surname referring to the region of Borujerd. Notable people with this name include:* Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi, Grand Ayatollah* Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi, Ayatollah...
.
His most outstanding work is Shahid-e Javid (The Eternal Martyr), which he started to conceive in 1961. It radically reinterpreted early Shii history. Despite the author's house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, it is in its fifth printing in Iran. Many books have been published in response to it, including by such distinguished ulama
Ulama
-In Islam:* Ulema, also transliterated "ulama", a community of legal scholars of Islam and its laws . See:**Nahdlatul Ulama **Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama **Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal**Jamiat ul-Ulama -Other:...
as Ayatollah Motahari (d. 1979) and Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani (d. 1993).
In his essay Vahdat-e Islami, Najafabadi advocates steps towards Shii and Sunni ecumenism
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
. He believes Shii ulama should be permitted to follow Sunni fiqh
Fiqh
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Fiqh is an expansion of the code of conduct expounded in the Quran, often supplemented by tradition and implemented by the rulings and interpretations of Islamic jurists....
in certain areas and vice versa. The article was banned by the Special Court for the Clergy.
He died in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 2006.
Works
(in PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
)
- Shahid-e Javid (The Eternal Martyr) (Qom 1968)
- Tautee-ye Shah bar zedde Imam Khomeini (The Shah's Conspiracy against Khomeini) (1984)
- Vahdat-e Islami (Islamic Unity) (article, 1985)