Ayatollah Khamenei’s Speech about the Conference for Reviving the Memory of the Naraqi Fauzelayn

In the Name of the Most High

 I very much agree about holding this conference.  I am generally a proponent for honoring the memories of our great scholars.

It’s a fact that unfortunately Muslim scholars and especially Shia scholars have not been recognized well enough.  Only a few Shia intellectuals have been renowned since the beginning of the Shia intellectual history (i.e. from before Sheikh Mofeed), such as Mohaqqeq Hellee and Allaume Hellee.  These two great jurisprudents have been relatively well introduced.  This is the case regarding our jurisprudents.  Shia philosophers, mystics and theologians have received much less recognition.

Any way, these two father and son [i.e. Molla Mohammad Mahdee and Molla Ahmad Naraqi] have a very important status [in our history].  I used to ponder about them [from a long time ago], for I’ve been familiar with Molla Ahmad’s name since childhood as the result of having his Khazau’en at hand.  These two great scholars have a very amazing case.  They were the connecting point between Vaheed Bebahaunee’s jurisprudence school and that of Sheikh Ansauree.  Both father and son were pupils of the former and contemporaries of Sheikh Ja’far Kaushef-ol- ghetau.  [Molla Mahdee had Vaheed Behbahaunee’s “permission”.]  His son, Molla Ahmad also had the latter’s “permission” [i.e. a certification from a teacher of jurisprudence that a student has the knowledge and the skill to derive the Islamic rulings from the Qoran and the traditions].  After Sheikh Vaheed Behbahaunee’s demise, Molla Ahmad became a pupil of the formers students, including his own father [Molla Mohammad Mahdee].  [So] Molla Ahmad was Vaheed Behbahaunee’s student, who was the founder of the new jurisprudence school (which is still being followed) based on concrete “osooly” reasoning.  Moreover, Molla Ahmad was Sheikh Ansauree’s teacher [; so as mentioned before, the former was the connecting point between Vaheed Behbahaunee and Sheikh Ansauree].

Sheikh Ansauree resided in Kashan [a city of central Iran where the Naraqi’s lived] for four years [taking advantage from Molla Ahmad’s presence].  Of course there is a popular notion that Molla Ahmad benefited from Sheikh Ansauree [more rather than vise versa].  [This notion cannot be correct, for it] is true that every teacher benefits from good students but no matter how good the student is the teacher is still the teacher [ and has the lead in terms of knowledge ; that’s exactly why Sheikh Ansauree stood in Kashan for four years].  It’s obvious that the latter did not stay in Kashan for its good weather or for any other such reason.  The only factor that kept the Sheikh in Kashan was Molla Ahmad’s intellectual weight.  [Molla Ahmad’s books prove this fact very well.]  Mostanad and Awau’ed, two of Molla Ahmad’s books, are at hand.  They include a very wide variety of subjects.  They have every thing in them.

Now, [besides all the aforementioned facts that compel us to honor this great personality, it should be noted that regarding] the issue of an Islamic state, Molla Ahmad was the first and most renowned jurisprudent who proved the concept of “welauyat-ol-faqeeh” [i.e. the concept that the lawful state in the absence of the Twelfth Imam is that which is headed by a jurisprudent ruler who acts on the Imam’s behalf] very clearly and without any hesitation.  Of course, it can be rightly claimed that Sauheb Javauher [the author of Javauher-ol-kalaum] was also a proponent of the theory of “welauyat-ol-faqeeh” just as strongly as Molla Ahmad.  It can furthermore be claimed that all Shia jurisprudents from the period of Mohaqqeq Hellee and even before him believed in the concept of “welauyat-ol-faqeeh”.  They just did not see any reason to discuss the issue, for they did not perceive that an Islamic state could be established before the reappearance of Imam Mahdee.  This fact is evident in their books and sayings.  But even so, there is no doubt that Molla Ahmad was the first jurisprudent who clearly mentioned the topic and discussed it.  This is another reason that obligates us to honor his great intellectual personality and to revive his memory.      I am absolutely for this conference and, God willing, will help as much as possible.

I am very delighted to see that Mr. Ostaudee is involved in preparing for this conference for he is the ahl va mahal [i.e. the right person] for this job.  Of course, other scholars in Qom must also contribute to this conference.  I believe that Molla Ahmad’s opinions, his jurisprudential and other aspects must be revived.  You should know that he was also a poet with a very nice and delicate style.  In Khazau’en before many of the poems that he has recorded there, he writes, “le mo’allefehee” [which means that that poem is by the author himself, Molla Ahmad].  Tauqdees [i.e. his book of poetry] contains spiritual and ethical poems.

Molla Mahdee, the father, is even less-known than his son.  Molla Mahdee’s jurisprudential and intellectual aspects have been less recognized than Molla Ahmad’s.  He was a great and highly esteemed person.  His Moshkelaut-ol-oloom (the latter book belongs to the father, not the son) shows that was versed in mathematics, astronomy and all other sciences of his age.

In any case, we advocate this conference.  We hope that God will help to carry out this task in the best way possible.  But take my advice not to rush in this process.  Give yourselves a good amount of time.  It’s fine if it takes even up to one to two years.  You do not have to finish the job in six months.  The great scholars should write and lecture whatever they find appropriate in this regard.  Hopefully this conference would produce several good books about the Naraqi’s jurisprudential and osooly ideas, or in any of their other aspects.

Also, in this regard, it’s relevant to note that one of the Naraqi’s offspring, Aqua Mirza Abolqausem, has a book in the field of “rejaul”, which in my opinion is one of the best books that could be republished on this occasion.  I have this book.  It’s a really good book.  [Thus] it’s a very good idea to print this book in an appropriate manner.

God willing you will be successful.

WASSALAUM-O-ALAIKOM WA RAHMATOLLAUHE WA BARAKAUTOHOO