Ayatullah Syed Ali Sistani

Born: Rabi'ul Awwal, 1349/1930   Mashad was his place of origin and education, where he was born in a family renowned for its knowledge and piety, and where he studied until he joined Dars-e-Kharij of Mirza Mahdi Isfahani. In 1368, he moved to Qum and attended the lectures of Ayatullah Burojirdi (in Fiqh and rijal) and Ayatullah Kuhkamra'i. Then in 1371, he went to Najaf and joined Dars-e-Kharij of Sayyid Mohsin Al-Hakeem, Shaykh Husain Al-Hilli and Sayyid Al-Khou'i. He attended the latter's Dars-e-Kharij in Fiqh and Usule-fiqh for more than ten years. In 1380, he was given Ijazahs of Ijtihad by Sayyid Al-Khou'i and Shaykh Al-Hilli. In 1381, he started his own Dars-e-Kharij of Fiqh, using Al-Makasib and Al-Urwatul wuthqa as his main texts.

In 1384, he also began Dars-e-Kharij in Usule-Fiqh, and by 1411 had completed its third series. Ayatullah seestani's humility is reflected in his simple attire and small rented house in Najaf where he lives

Ayatullah Sheikh Muhammad Fazel Lankarani

Mohammad Fazel Lankarani was born in 1930 in Qum. His father was one of the great sages at Qum's religious school (Hozeh Ilmieh Qum). At the age of 13 he started his education in Islamic sciences in Qum's religious school. He rapidly progressed through the various levels and by the age of 19 was able to attend the "Kharij" level, which at that time was taught by Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi. His studentship at this level lasted for 11 years (this level being among the longest and most difficult collection of courses taught at the religious school of Qum). Also, he attended Imam Ruhollah Khomeini's courses for a period of nine years. He learned "interpretation" and "philosophy" in the classes of Ayatollah Tabataba'ie. At the age of 25, Mohammad Fazel Lankarani was formally designated Grand Ayatollah by his teacher Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi. For the past 25 years, Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani has been teaching, inter alia, the "Kharij" level at Qum's religious school.

His classes are usually attended by over 700 religious experts and students. Part of the lectures are broadcast on the radio for Iranian and non-Iranian audiences. Subsequent to the demise of Imam Khomeini [p], and Grand Ayatollah Araki [p], Grand Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani was conferred the status of the "first source of emulation" of the Islamic ummah by the Society of Instructors at Qum's religious school.