|
Founder of
the Library Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.),
the leading
jurist, the
Grand Marja
of the
Shi'ites in
the world,
the great
preserver of
Islamic
heritage,
renowned
jurisprudent,
the great
researcher,
historian
and
genealogist.
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Sayyid
Shihab
al-Din
Hussaini al-Marashi
al-Najafi
was born on
20the Safar
1315 A.H./
July 21,
1897 in the
holy city of
Najaf(Iraq)
in a famous
religious
family
renowned for
its high
knowledge
and ardent
faith. In
the
beginning he
was taught
by his
learned
father
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Sayyid Shams
al-Din
Mahmood
Husaini al-Marashi
al-Najafi
(passed away
in 1338
lunar Hijrah)
who was one
of the
greatest
Islamic
jurisprudent
of that era.
He also
learned
Qur'anic
sciences and
its
exegesis,
fundamentals
of
jurisprudence,
mathematics,
astronomy,
medicine,
Rijal,
Dirayah and
theology
from a large
group of
well-known
professors
in the
Hawzah
(Islamic
seminaries)
in the holy
city of
Najaf
(Iraq),
which was
one of the
greatest
Islamic
seminary in
the Islamic
world.
He attained
the highest
degree of
Ijtihad in a
short period
and be came
renowned
amongst the
scholars for
his in depth
research and
also for
lecturing
religious
sciences in
the
seminary.
Some years
later
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
went to
mashhad(Iran)
to perform
the ziyarah
of Imam
Reza(A.S.).
On his
return he
stayed in
Tehran to
pursue his
studies and
researches.
After a
year stay in
Tehran he
decided to
move to the
holy city of
Qom to
attend the
lectures of
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Shaykh Abdul
Karim Haeri
al-Yazdi,
the founder
of the
Hawzah
(Islamic
Seminary) in
Qom. On his
arrival in
Qom he also
began
lecturing in
the Islamic
seminary as
well as
attended the
advanced
courses in
jurisprudence
lectured by
Ayatullah al
Uzma Haeri
al-Yazdi.
He decided
to stay in
the holy
city of Qom
and very
soon emerged
as a leading
professor in
the Hawzah.
After a
short time
the leading
Ulama and
professors
of the
Islamic
seminary of
Qom declared
him as the
Grand
Marja(religious
leader) of
the Shi'ites
in the
world.
Millions of
the Shi'ites
in Iran,
Iraq,
Lebanon,
Kuwait,
U.A.E,
Bahrain,
Pakistan,
India,
Turkey,
Tanzania,
Kenya,
Zanzibar and
the eastern
provinces of
Saudi Arabia
followed his
rulings in
Islamic
jurisprudence.
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.)
was the
leading
professor in
the Hawzah
of Qom for
more than 67
years. His
lectures
every day
was attended
by hundreds
of Ulama and
Tullab
(seminary
students).
He also led
the daily
congregational
prayers in
the holy
shrine of
Hadrat
Fatima
Masoomah(A.S.)
for more
than half a
century.
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
dedicated
all his
efforts
towards the
progress and
advancement
of the
Hawzah in
the holy
city of Qom.
He trained
hundreds of
jurisprudents
and
theologians
who later on
became
famous
professors
in Hawzah
and the
universities
in Iran and
abroad.
He wrote
outstanding
books in
almost all
the Islamic
sciences.
most of them
were written
in Arabic
and they are
as
follows:
* Molhaqat
al Ahqaq
* Al
Hashiyah Ala
al-Orwat
al-Wothqa
* Minhaj
al-Momineen
* Taqrirat
al-Qusas
* Tabaqat
al-Nassabeen
*
Al-Hashiyah
Ala Kifayah
al-Usul
*
Al-Hashiyah
Ala
Al-Rasail
* Al
Mashhahed
Wal Mazarat
* Aayan al-Marashieen
* Al-Moawal
Fee Amr
al-Motawal
* Ulama
al-Sada'at
* Masareh
al-Afkar Wa
al-Hashiyah
Ala Taqrirat
al Shaykh
al-Murtuza
al-Ansari
* Al-Fawa'id
al-Rijaliyah
* Kashf
al-Irtiyab
* Al Mujdi
Fi Hayat
Saheb
al-Mujdi
* Raf
al-Ghashiyah
An Wajh
al-Hashiyah
* Al-Rad Ala
Moddae'i
al-Tahreef
* Taliqah
Ala Omdat
al-Taleb
*
Mushajjarat
Aal Rasool
Allah
al-Akram
* Rehlah
Isfahan,
Shiraz,
Samarrah Wa
Azarbaijan.
The
Prominent
Personalities
Who Met
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi
Al-Najafi(R.A.)
1) The
famous
Indian poet
Rabindranath
Tagore.
2) Rashid
Raza, the
Egyptian
author of
Tafseer
al-Manar.
3) Shaykh
al-Tantawi
al-Jawhari,
the famous
Egyptian
author of
Tafseer
al-Jawaher.
4) The
Cardinal
Al-Kermily
from
Baghdad(Iraq).
5) Henry
Corbin, the
famous
French
philosopher
and
orientalist.
6) Shaykh
Muhammad Bin
Zebarah, the
famous
historian
from yemen.
One of the
most famous
and
important
cultural
services of
Imam Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
was the
establishment
of a grand
library in
the holy
city of Qom
which has
international
reputation
and prestige
to its
credit. This
library is
considered
as the
greatest
cultural
heritage in
the history
of Iran.
Imam Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
is also
famous as
"The
Greatest
Preserver of
the Islamic
Heritage" in
the world's
scientific
circles and
centres.
After
rendering
selfless
service in
the fields
of learning,
teaching and
disseminating
Islamic
culture for
nearly a
century,
Imam Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
passed away
after
suffering a
heart attack
on
Wednesday,
29 August
1990. He was
96 years of
age.
On Friday,
31 August
1990,
millions of
devoted
Shi'ites
from
throughout
Iran and
various
countries
carried the
holy remains
of Imam
Marashi al-Najafi(R.A.)
in the
historical
funeral
procession
which was
attended by
all the
Grand Marja,
Ulama,
Tullab,
high-ranking
government
and military
officials of
Iran and
diplomatic
staff of the
many Islamic
countries
based in
Tehran. As
per his last
will he was
laid to rest
at the
entrance of
the Grand
Library
which was
established
by his
ceaseless
and
incessant
efforts. His
last will
states:
"Bury me at
the entrance
of the
library so
that the
feet of the
researchers
of Islamic
sciences
step beside
my grave."
|
How Ayatullah
al-Uzma Najafi Marashi Established the Library? |
One prominent
scholar and authority on Islam called
Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayyid Mar’ashi
established a famous library in the city of
Qum. He did this with his own personal
effort by toiling hard for many years.
Libraries play a very important role in
causing awareness to the people, giving the
people a good hobby and pass time, to spread
good virtues, to be a source of pleasure,
for the preservation of our culture and for
the continuation of our culture and
knowledge. It is due to all these reasons
that our scholars toiled hard to establish
public and private libraries and preserved
valuable and ancient manuscripts in it.
I will relate some examples which will touch
our emotions and find in front of us a man
of great caliber and cause us to question
ourselves as to why we don’t exploit our
potentials.
The doors of this library were opened since
1394 A.H. Sayyid Mar’ashi didn’t get much
financial assistance in establishing this
library. In many of the books in this
library I have seen a caption in which the
Sayyid has written that he bought the
particular book in question by praying and
fasting on behalf of people who had died and
whose relatives paid for these acts of
worship. This is called ‘Salaat of Istijara’.
This prayer is incumbent on the eldest son
of a dead man to pray or fast or go to
pilgrimage on behalf of his dead father in
case the dead man did not perform these
acts. The son may pay somebody reliable to
perform these acts.
How great are these scholars who used each
and every opportunity to do something which
would help them in the life Hereafter.
Sayyid Mar’ashi bought some great and rare
books by praying on behalf of the dead, and
sometimes a sum total of two years prayers
in conditions of hunger and extreme fatigue.
(Qasas Wal Khawatir page 238) |
Library's
Development
Stages
The first
step of
constructing
the library
was achieved
when the
great
founder was
busy
studying in
the Islamic
seminary of
Najaf.
He was the
first person
to compile
the index of
the
manuscripts
and the rare
published
books which
was
considered
as an
outstanding
achievement.
Imam Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
used to sell
his clothes
and his
household
equipments
to buy books
and
manuscripts.
He took lots
of pain and
trouble in
this sacred
endeavour.
He used to
avoid eating
one of his
daily meals
in order to
save money
to buy the
rare printed
books and
manuscripts.
He also used
to perform
the fasting
and Namaz of
the deceased
persons and
the money
paid for
this pious
acts were
dedicated by
him to buy
the
manuscripts.
The books
which he
inherited
from his
late father
also played
an important
role in
providing
the library
with books
at its
initial
stage. Imam
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
migrated
from
Najaf(Iraq)
to Iran in
1342 A.H./
1923 A.D.,
and carried
with himself
all the
books which
he had
bought and
inherited in
Najaf and
preserved
them in his
residence in
Qom. He
continued
collecting
and buying
manuscripts
and other
rare printed
books. In
1959, he
presented
278 rare
manuscripts
in Arabic
and Persian
to Tehran
University's
College of
Theology and
Divinity. He
also
presented
numerous
rare
manuscripts
and valuable
printed
books to
many of the
leading
libraries in
Iran.
After
establishing
"Marashiyah
Islamic
Seminary" in
the holy
city of Qom
in 1385
A.H./ 1965
A.D., he
reserved a
couple of
rooms of the
seminary for
the library.
That was the
turning
point in
this
glorious and
shining path
of
establishing
a grand
library.
During the
same year
the library
was
inaugurated
in the third
floor of the
Islamic
seminary. A
vast
collection
of
manuscripts
and rare
printed
books were
transferred
to this
library.
The
increasing
number of
researchers
who daily
visited this
library made
this small
but very
rich library
over
crowded.
Thus, 1000
sq.metres of
adjoining
land was
bought and
attached to
"Marashiyah
Islamic
Seminary" in
the year
1390 A.H./
1970 by Imam
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.).
On 15th
Shaban 1394
A.H./ 1974,
the
reference
section of
Ayatullah
Marashi
Najafi's
library was
inaugurated
with the
collection
of 1600 rare
manuscripts
and
thousands of
printed
books and
soon after
another 500
rare
manuscripts
were added
to the
treasury of
the library.
In the
course of
time the
library
emerged as
the centre
of the
scholars and
researchers.
With the
gradual
increase in
the number
of the
visitors the
space
shortage was
once again
felt by the
library. In
1989, Imam
Khomeini(R.A.),
the founder
of Islamic
Republic of
Iran issued
a decree
ordering the
government
of the
Islamic
Republic of
Iran for
implementing
the plans
for the
manifold
expansion of
the library
in according
to with the
master plan
for
expansion as
prepared by
Hojjat
al-Islam Dr
Mahmud
Marashi, the
president of
the library.
On 20th
Zee-al-Hajjah
1410 A.H./
1989, Imam
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.)
laid the
foundation
stone of the
new grand
building. The
new building
possesses
seven
stories and
occupies a
total area
of 16000sq.
meters . At
present both
the old and
the new
buildings of
the grand
library
occupies a
total area
of 21,000
sq. meters.
Mailing
Address:
The Grand
Library of
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi
Najafi(R.A.).
Ayatullah
Marashi
Najafi(R.A.)
Avenue.
P.O.Box.No:
37157.
Qom, Islamic
Republic of
Iran.
Tel:
0098-251-7741970-78
Fax:
0098-251-7743637
Websites:http://www.marashilibrary.com
E.mail:sm_marashi@marashilibrary.org
The
Aims:
The great
founder of
this library
established
this grand
library with
the aim of
collecting
and
preserving
the
manuscripts
for the
purpose of
research and
analysis by
the scholars
and
researchers.
These aims
have been
achieved by
implementing
the
following
measures:
1 -
Establishing
this Great
International
Islamic
Cultural
Centre which
helps in
developing
and
describing
the
tremendous
and
extensive
scientific
achievements
of the
Islamic
culture and
civilization
during the
last
fourteen
centuries.
2 - Creating
excellent
group
discussions
and research
facilities
for the
researchers
in the
library.
3 - Keeping
at the
disposal of
the
researchers
the valuable
manuscripts
preserved in
this great
center which
exhibits and
manifests
for them the
written
Islamic
culture and
heritage in
ifferent
fields and
branches of
sciences and
arts. Many
of the
rare
manuscripts
have been
edited after
under going
a through
process of
extensive
research and
analysis.
4 -
Collecting
and
preserving
the
exquisite
and rare
manuscripts
in this
great
centre.
5 -
Providing
the
microfilms
and
photocopies
of the
manuscripts
preserved in
other
libraries of
the world.
6 -
Delivering
this vast
treasure of
Islamic
heritage
preserved in
this great
library to
the next
generations
so that they
can know
about their
glorious
past,
culture,
civilization
and
heritage.
7 - The
photocopies,
microfilms
and slides
of all the
manuscripts
preserved in
this library
are made
available.
All the
safety
measures and
the
international
standards
for
book-keeping
and
preservation
are strictly
implemented
in this
library.
Library's
Departments
and Sections
This grand
library
comprises of
various
departments
and sections
which are
directly
administered
by the
president of
the
library.
Imam Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.),
delegated
the
administration
and
management
of the
library to
his son and
chief
trustee,
Hojjat
al-Islam Dr
Mahmud
Marashi
about 35
years ago.
The various
departments
and sections
of the grand
library are
as follows:
A - The
President's
Office:
This section
comprises of
the
president's
office room,
reception
room, the
private
secretary's
room,
assistance
room and the
office
room of the
manager of
the women's
section. The
president is
the
chief
executive of
the library
and runs the
administration.
The
president's
office
consists of
various
departments
which
are as
follows:
1 -
Endowments
Department:
This
department
looks after
the
administration
of all the
properties
like
residential
buildings
and
commercial
complexes
endowed to
the grand
library by
philanthropists
in Qom,
Tehran
and Isfahan.
2 - Public
Relations
and
International
Affairs
Department:
This
department
is in charge
of the
invitations
and
reception's
timetables
for the
Iranian and
foreign
guests,
releasing
the news
regarding
the
activities
of the
library,
establishing
relations
with
international
cultural
centers and
libraries,
organizing
and
managing
conferences,
exhibitions,
visits,
scientific
competitions,
evaluating
the visitors
ideas and
opinions
about the
library and
preparing
the monthly
and annual
statistics.
3 -
Ceremonies
and
Reception
Department:
This
department
is in charge
of welcoming
and
receiving
the
Iranian and
foreign
guests,
providing
the
necessary
information
regarding
the
library's
different
sections and
departments,
presenting
gifts to the
guests and
so forth.
Every season
more than
2000 guests
visit the
library
which also
includes
more than
200
high-ranking
visitors and
scholars
from
various
countries.
4 -
Secretariat
Department:
This
department
carries out
all the
internal and
external
correspondence
duties.
5 - Women's
Department:
This
department
takes the
responsibility
of assisting
women
researchers
and scholars
to get
access to
scientific
sources and
references
available in
the grand
library.
6 -
Correspondence
Department:
This
department
has the
responsibility
to post,
deliver or
exchange
books to
some
organizations
or
individuals
as approved
by the
president of
the library.
B - Public
Services
Division
This section
is in charge
of rendering
services to
the visitors
and
researchers
in the
various
halls and
reading
rooms of the
library. It
consists of:
1 - Ibn Sina
Hall: This
hall
occupies an
area of 2200
sq. meters
with 750
persons
seating
capacity.
More than
2000 persons
visit
this hall
daily during
the morning
and evening
working
hours.
2 -
Exclusive
Reading Hall
for the
Hawzah
(Islamic
Seminary)
Books:
This hall is
exclusively
assigned for
the study
and research
of
the scholars
and students
of the
Islamic
seminaries.
3 - Khaja
Nasir al-Din
Tusi
Auditorium:
This
auditorium
has a
seating
capacity of
200 persons
and
various
national and
international
seminars and
symposiums
are
conducted in
this
auditorium.
4 - Shaykh
Mufid Hall:
In this hall
local
conferences,
seminars and
academic
sessions
are
regularly
conducted.
5 - Book
Exhibition
Hall:
In this hall
the
library's
publications
are
displayed
for the
visitors.
C -
Reference
Section:
This
department
has the
following
divisions:
1 -
Manuscripts
Treasury:
The
manuscript
copies
present in
the treasury
till the end
of October,
2001 was
more than
60,000
volumes
comprising
32,000
titles of
books. Sixty
five percent
of these
manuscripts
are in
Arabic and
the rest of
them are in
Persian. A
few Turkish,
Urdu,
Abyssinian,
Syriac and
Latin
manuscripts
are also
available in
the
treasury.
Every year
about
500-800
other
valuable and
rare
manuscripts
are added to
this great
collection
either
gifted or
procured.
The copies
of the Holy
Qur'an in
Kufic script
belonging to
the second
century
Hijrah
comprises
the oldest
copies
preserved in
the
manuscript
treasury of
the library.
The
manuscript
copies of
third and
fourth
century
Hijrah are
also
available
and the
oldest
among them
is the
illustrated
copy of the
Holy Qur'an
calligraphed
in 392 A.H./
1002 A.D.,
by Ali ibn
Hilal
Baghdadi
also famous
as Ibn
Bawwab, the
renowned
calligraphist
of the
fourth
century
Hijrah.
Till now the
catalogue of
12,000
manuscripts
available in
the library
has been
published in
30 volumes.
The complete
catalogue
of the
manuscripts
of this
grand
library will
be published
in 90
volumes
series.
2 -
Photographs
of the
Manuscripts:
This section
preserves
more than
4000
photographed
copies of
the
priceless
and valuable
manuscripts
obtained
from the
different
libraries in
the world.
3 -
Microfilm
Section
In this
section the
microfilms
of more than
13000 rare
manuscripts
are
available.
4 -
Documents
Treasury
This section
consists of
more than
one hundred
thousand
written
documents
belonging to
the last
five
centuries.
5 -
Permanent
Exhibition
of the Rare
Manuscripts.
6 -
Permanent
Exhibition
of the Books
and
Documents
Written by
the Founder
of the
Library.
7 - Rare
Printed
Books Store
Some of the
rare printed
books dating
back to last
five
centuries
are
preserved in
this store.
8 - Rare
Petrography
Store
9 - The
Treasuries
of Arabic,
Persian,
Turkish and
Urdu Books.
The
treasuries
of the books
in the
above-
mentioned
languages
are located
in the three
floors of
this grand
library
building.
10 -
Newspapers
and
Periodicals
Section:
In this
section more
than 2500
newspapers
and
periodicals
in Persian,
Arabic
Turkish and
Urdu are
kept at the
disposal of
the
visitors.
11 - Open
Reference
Book Store
12 - The
Store of the
Islamic
Manuscripts'
Catalogues
of the
different
libraries in
the world.
13 - The
Store of the
Periodicals
in Foreign
Languages.
14 - The
Archives of
the
Forbidden
Books.
15 - The
Store of
Maps and
Geographical
Charts.
16 - The
Store of the
Extra Copies
of the
Printed
Books.
17 - The
Grand
Reading
Hall.
18 - The
Special
Section for
the Research
Scholars of
the
Manuscripts
and Rare
Documents.
19 - The
Centre for
Qom Studies.
20 - The
Centre for
Genealogical
Studies.
21 - The
Centre for
Preparing
the Index
and the
Catalogues
of
the
Manuscripts.
22 - The
Centre for
Publishing
the Works of
the Founder
of the grand
Library.
23 - Islamic
Manuscripts
Edition and
Research
Department.
D -
Administrative
Department: It
includes the
financial,
staff
affairs and
training
units.
E - Public
Services
Department:
It consists
of eighteen
different
sections
such as:
Computing
Services,
Telephone
Exchange,
Wireless
Connections,
Electronic
Mail
(e-mail)
Services,
Publication
and
Distribution,
Conducting
Seminars and
Exhibitions
Affairs,
Maintenance
of the Guest
Houses and
Restaurants,
Purchase and
Excange of
Books and
Reference
Materials,
Photo Xerox,
Office of
Technical
Advisors,
Mirath
Shahab
Journal
Office,
Finance
Office,
Translation
Department,
Management
and
Programming
Office,
Library's
Sub-divisions,
Technical
Support and
Building
Security
Sections.
F - Book
Information
Research
Centre
G -
Manuscripts
and
Documents
Preservation
Unit
This unit
includes the
following
sections: 1
- Book
Preservation
Section: In
this section
books are
fumigated
and made
free from
pests and
termites 2 -
Books and
Documents
Mending
Section:
This section
is the
important
and
sensitive
section of
the library.
3 -
Micrographic
Centre: his
centre
preserves 50
million book
titles in
different
languages in
the form of
minimized
films. This
section is
also
equipped
with optical
cleaner
which is in
turn
connected to
internet
through
computers.
4 - The
Modern
Laboratory:
It is also
equipped
with
ultra-modern
and
sophisticated
equipments
such as
electronic
microscopes
which are
connected to
internet
through
computers.
H -
Exquisite
Objects
Museum
It exhibits
various
types of
valuable and
exquisite
compasses,
astrolabes,
coins, keys
etc
I - The
Centre of
the
Encyclopedia
of the
Libraries in
the
World.
Publications
1 - Mirath
Shahab
Journal: A
specialized
journal in
Persian
dealing with
the study of
bibliography
and its
related
subjects.
The chief
editor of
this journal
is Dr Mahmud
Marashi, the
President of
the Grand
Library.
Till now 30
issues of
this journal
has been
published.
2 - The
Grand
Library till
the end of
2002 has
published
165 titles
of books
comprising
405 volumes.
This grand
library also
enjoys the
rare
distinction
of
preserving
the largest
collection
of rare
manuscripts
in Iran and
in this
regard it
also stands
third in the
Islamic
world.
The library
has also
published
the
"Molhaqat
Ihqaq al-Haq
in 36
volumes
written by
Ayatullah
al-Uzma
Marashi
al-Najafi(R.A.),
the late
founder of
the grand
library. In
1994, this
book
received the
"Book of the
Year Award"
from the
government
of Iran.
The
library's
working
hours for
the visitors
is from 7
A.M till
9.30 P.M.,
without any
interval.
The
membership
cards are
provided
free of cost
to the
researchers,
scholars and
students by
the
secretariat
of the
library.
The daily
average
number of
visitors to
the library
is more than
2000
visitors.
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