It is well-known, in sociology, that the family is considered the primary building block of a person's personality and development, and for that we would like to shed some light on the family of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafi (May Allah prolong his life), though it may be brief:

His Ancestry

His name is Sheikh Bashir Hussain Ibn Sadiq Ali Ibn Muhammad Ibrahim Ibn Abdullah Al-Lahori, the Sheikh of Islam, and Sheikh Hafiz. Bashir Hussain is his compound name or 'Sheikh Bashir' for short. His noble family is from one of the most prodigious and well-known families of Lahore, and they are held in the highest esteem for their social, political, and scientific status in the country.

His grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim (may Allah bless his soul), was a social, political, and scientific figure as well as the head and mediator of the family tribe. He also had a special hall where people from various sects and social classes would come to meet for scientific discussions and debates, one of which were the Hindus. He lived in the city of Jalandahar, one of the largest cities of India.

Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim was blessed with a shrewd mind and natural cleverness, as well as a remarkable ability to solve intellectual issues, exchange point of views, and discuss religious beliefs. Sheikh Muhammad was also a convincing leader of his family tribe; therefore, it was his responsibility to spread the religion of Islam and the principles of the Shia school of thought. He migrated (after the separation of Pakistan from India) to Pakistan and settled in Batabur, one of the villages of Lahore. He was buried in the family's grave in the very same village.

His Respectable father: Sheikh Sadiq Ali

Sheikh Sadiq Ali (may Allah bless his soul) followed in his noble father's footsteps. He was a prominent social figure and also owned a room, in which people from different Islamic sects would come from places near and far to debate about religious issues.  After leading a life full of good deeds and services to the religion of Islam, he died in the year 1984 and was buried next to his father.

His Uncles:

   His uncle, Rahmat Ali was one of the poets of Ahlul-Bayt (as), his poems and literary works were dedicated to the praise and love of the prophet's progeny. Unfortunately, he did not live for long, passing away in his father's lifetime. 

Another one of his uncles, Aashiq Ali was also a great poet and writer, and his works were equal to the great Pakistani mystic, Doctor Mohammad Iqbal in meaning. His poems presented philosophical arguments that expressed the right of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) in Imamate and disproved opinions that state otherwise. He died in the year 1992, and was buried in the family's graveyard.

His uncle, Khadim Al-Hussain was born in the year 1332 Hijri in Jalandahar which falls under the state of Punjab, the section of India. He migrated to Pakistan after the division and settled in the cities of Lahore, Batabur. He studied in both Sunni and Shia schools and practiced debating and discussing; he was particularly known for defending the Jafari School of thought and standing up for the truth.  Khadim Al-Hussain was also known for his cleverness, his sharp mind, and his ability at answering questions readily. His sharp tongue was always ready to defend the fundamentals of Oneness, Prophethood, and Imamate; therefore he was one of the distinguished in teaching the art of debating and speech- he was dubbed Al-Jafari. He was assassinated more than once in his lifetime, and died in the year 1402 Hijri while defending the Shia school of thought. May Allah bless his soul.  

His noble brothers:

    His eldest brother, Sheikh Mandhoor Hussain, was a well-known speaker and a teacher in one of the religious schools of Pakistan. He received most of his knowledge from his uncle then migrated to the sacred city of Qum, Iran, where he studied under the best of scholars and gained a vast amount of knowledge; his discussions and debates are so powerful that people recite and remember them to this day. He is the director of the Liaison Office of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafi in Lahore, and he supervises all the other offices located throughout India and Pakistan.

Sheikh Bashir's older brother, Natheer Hussein, and his younger brother, Sharif Hussain, have mainly devoted themselves to commerce.   

    Sheikh Bashir also had an older brother that was younger than Manthoor Hussain, named Bashir Hussain. When he was born, his family foresaw that his future would be a life of righteousness and piety, unfortunately he passed away at a very young age and when Sheikh Bashir (may Allah protect him) was born, they named him after his brother, in remembrance of him and his character.  Sheikh Bashir achieved all that they had hoped for in the previous child (may Allah bless his soul) and even more so.

    As for his mother, she was from a well-known, noble, and generous family- an honorable and respectable lady; she was the daughter of Mahradeen which is Urdu for 'the crescent of religion'. Her father (Mahradeen) was a wealthy man who possessed many lands, as well as the head of his family tribe. It has been said that Sheikh Bashir's mother had received, in her dreams, glad tidings from Imam Ali (as) that she would be blessed with sons who would serve the religion of Islam.

From the above, we find that his ancestry is full of great and noble figures from both parents' side: 

"Glory has flowed to you from all directions,

And you have become the place where all its floods meet"

birth & upbringing

    He was born in the year 1942 in the city of Jalandhar, India and was raised in its spiritual environment where he picked up the love of Ahul-Bayt (as). He was raised with the highest morals and the most noble of virtues and both his mother and father strived to raise him according to Islamic teachings and principles. They directed him to the path of righteousness and helped him reach the highest peaks of knowledge and divine beliefs until the day he matured and his thirst for knowledge grew; he began to seek knowledge himself.

His primary studies:

     He first took lessons in the basics such as Grammar, Jurisprudence, Usool (Fundamentals of Jurisprudence), and eloquence (Balagha) in the city of Lahore. The lessons were conducted by his grandfather (from his father's side) Sheikh Muhammad Ibrahim and his uncle Sheikh Khadim Hussain, in addition to the founder of Al-Muntadhar School, the Pakistani Sheikh Akhtar Abbas. Al-Muntadhar School is one of the most active religious schools in Pakistan at the present time, from its credible teachers and its ambitious students. His other teachers included Allama' Sayed Riyadh Al-Naqawi, and the late Allama' Safdar Hussain Al-Najafi.

His Migration to Najaf:   

    Sheikh Bashir Hussain (may Allah prolong his life) migrated to the holy city of Najaf, Iraq in the year 1965 to enrich his soul and mind with the divine sciences this city had to offer and to be blessed with the bounties of Imam Ali (as). He learned his studies from many of the eminent and religious scholars there such as:

-Sheikh Muhammad Khadim Tabrizi (may Allah bless him) who taught him Al-Kifaya and parts of Al-Kharij in Al-Shirbiyani School. Sheikh Bashir also studied the level of Sutooh under him and other elite teachers from the holy city of Najaf.

- The late Sayed Muhammad Al-Ruhani (may Allah bless him), one of the students of the His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sheikh Muhammad Hussain Al-Asfahani. Sheikh Bashir studied Fiqh (Jurisprudence) and Usool (Fundamentals of Jurisprudence), for more than seven years.

He began to teach the level of Sutooh in the year of 1968 in Al-Mahdiya School, which is located behind Al-Tusi Mosque, Al-Shibriya School, and Al-Hindi Mosque, located in Souq Al-Hawaysh.

-His Eminence the Late Sayed Abu Qasim Al-Musawi Al-Khoe'i (may Allah accept his deeds), the leader of the Hawza of Najaf in his time, he died in the year 1413 Hijri. The most important lessons in Kharij level, both in jurisprudence and Usool, that Sheikh Bashir attended was given to him by Ayatullah Al-Khoe'i, in addition to a complete course in Usool. As for Jurisprudence, they began from the laws of the traveler until Ayatullah Al-Khoe'i could no longer continue teaching because of his health.

Of the things that distinguish Sheikh Bashir is his supreme religious authority and his deep intellectual capabilities. Furthermore, he has always had a strong love and passion for teaching, beginning in Al-Muntadhar Mosque in Pakistan to this very day, and varying in topics and genres. In fact, many of his students now lecture others in Jurisprudence, and Usool (Kharij level) in different places throughout the world, but he insisted that their names would not be mentioned out of humbleness.

His Eminence Sheikh Bashir has been teaching for 35 years since the year 1974 in the following places:

1. Dar Al-Hikma School , a foundation founded by His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Al-Uzema Sayed Muhsin Al-Tabatabai Al-Hakim (may Allah bless him).

2. Dar Al-Ilm School, founded by His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Al-Uzema Sayed Al-Khoe'i (may Allah bless him).

3. The Shibriya School.

4. Al-Qawam School, which lies near Sheikh Al-Tusi Mosque.

5. Kashif Al-Ghataa' Mosque

6. Al-Hindi Mosque.

In addition to teaching, His Eminence is continuing his studies at his office in Jurisprudence and Usool, in addition to interpretation and Morals.        

His Methodology & Personality     

     From what we have gathered from his eminence's students, there are a few who equal Sheikh Bashir in his methods of teaching, the strength of his discussions, the exact order in which he portrays information and leading up to the most accurate results, and his concise, direct conclusions without the need of mentioning any irrelevant details.

Many reliable and experienced figures have also bore witness to his religious authority and that he is credible enough to be the only Marjea (religious authority).

 Some of the characteristics that distinguish Sheikh Bashir from the rest of the scholars and Ayatollahs is his ability to recall complex sections in Sath level (the level before Kharij) and in Kharij level in grammar, logic, Jurisprudence, Usool (fundamentals of jurisprudence), and others as if he had only recently read them. Furthermore, he uses a variety of examples to penetrate into his students' minds and fully engage them, which therefore enables them to easily digest the most complex of subjects.  Sheikh Bashir also avoids shallow mindedness, which is something dominant in many of the seminary's students if not for His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sheikh Bashir's (may Allah prolong his life) efforts in the Hawza's curriculum.

One of which was a letter directed to the students which sheds some light on his methods of teaching:

All Praise belongs to Allah for guiding us to His religion, and all praise belongs to Him for blessing us with His guidance and protection. It is to Him we turn to and from Him we ask for help in carrying out His orders. May the peace and blessings be upon the seal of the prophets, His messenger, Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and to the twelve Imams after him, and may the curse of Allah (swt) fall upon their enemies.

This letter is from the holy city of Najaf, for I find my heart and soul enjoined with the hearts that its schools and research centers hold, and entwined with the hearts of our dedicated and ambitious students, who are most devoted to learning the path of the Ahlul-Bait (as).

The bonds of religion are of the most powerful bonds that tie us, it is these bonds that allow us to forget all racial and tribal differences and cancel out all means that aim to classify mankind into different social classes. It is the bond of religion which has had the greatest and most active effect, and it is religion alone that is above all standards.     

Another bond which we all share is the love of learning, and because we share these two bonds, we should turn our attention to the following:

Firstly, the Hawza's books suffer from a serious defect and we find that our students have a particular tendency towards easy books that barely touch the surface while avoiding in-depth learning, which is a serious matter -and if neglected- will lead to poor results.

Furthermore, throughout my stay in Najaf, I have sensed profound interest on the student's part in seminaries of different religious sects, including the Wahabi sect, which places a great risk on our students and our society. We should turn our attention to what our curriculum has become and strive to return our students to our previous methods, when accuracy, depth, and complexity were vital for producing better results.    

 Throughout my stay in Najaf, I have sensed a particular interest on the students' part in Hawzas led by different religious sects, especially the Wahabi sect, which is a great risk to our students and societies. Therefore, we should realize what our books have turned to, and the need of returning to our previous system as well as the importance of accuracy and deepness.  

The second matter:

I have come to know that many of our students confuse the seminary's Islamic curriculum with that of governmental colleges and universities, for they find that the curriculum studied in universities was written in a simple style, to provide clarification and easiness to the reader. As for the books studied previously in the Hawza, they hold many complex phrases and theories, some of which are not easily digested by the average student. This has lead to the belief that the books of the Hawza should be more like the ones studied in colleges and universities; however, if we take a closer look, we come to realize that the objective of college textbooks is to help students understand the findings of past scholars in modern sciences and art, and to prepare them for continuing such research in the future to further develop humanity. As such, students have nothing to do with the exact phrases, languages, and texts these scholars used to reach such findings. Of course, considering that the phrases used in any language change drastically over time- that a phrase perfectly clear and concise in one time period would become absolutely incomprehensible to future generations without a dictionary or a book explaining the rules of that language, and that speeches recited centuries ago differ greatly from what we are used to- it only makes sense that governments are forced to update school textbooks once in awhile.  

On the other hand, a student studying Islamic Sciences focuses on understanding Quranic texts and narrations from the holy prophet (p.b.u.h & hf) and the Imams (a.s) in their exact wording, as stated centuries ago, while they were once clear and understandable to the public. In fact, these narrations were quite understandable to Arab people at the time, which explains why they were challenged to come up with verses similar to those found in the Quran, despite the dominance of illiteracy between them.

The same goes for the holy narrations, the speeches of Imam Ali (as), and the supplications of Imam Sajad and Imam Hussain (as) on the day of Arafat- all were read to common Arab people at the time and they were able to not only understand them, but also to absorb their most intricate details and meanings. Now however, we are unable to understand similar texts by merely knowing the Arabic language as in its present form, due to the major changes in the way we talk and the vast time span. This is why it has become absolutely necessary to train students' minds with books that will enable them to understand and comprehend the deep meanings of old texts and passages instead of using the easy phrases we are so familiar with.

The third matter:

Attention must be given to the students' outer appearance and the importance of them dressing in clothes suitable for religious figures. In many Islamic countries, we find that it has become quite normal to don European clothing, as well as adopting hairstyles, shoes, and eating habits, something which should not occur in the seminaries. In addition, leaving our traditional clothing in exchange of the Europeans' reveals a low sense of self confidence in the student's character, especially considering that Europeans do not abandon their traditions or behaviors easily, while our youth so willingly adopt western ways.

 The fourth matter is a spiritual one, we should be quite aware that merely memorizing the rules of Arabic grammar, as well as the laws of philosophy and Usool alone does not strengthen the student's relationship with Allah (swt) rather it only allows him to be at the forefront of his class. Those concerned with raising our students should pay attention to the students' behaviors and encourage dedication to Allah (swt) and obeying His orders.

The spiritual state of the soul and elevating one's self must also be accompanied and backed up with intellectual progress; by this, religion becomes embodied in a student's actions and character so deeply that he becomes a role model for the people as well.

The fifth matter:

Profound attention must be given to perfecting one's soul, manners, and behavior. Treating people fairly and equally, according to: "love for your brother what you love for yourself", is a common trait that should be found in any average believer. As for the students of Islam, who have devoted themselves to Allah (swt) in the hope of being worthy of attaining the status of the scholars and the prophets, and to be with the prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h), they should be  of those who sacrifice themselves for the sake of others, despite circumstances such as poverty or lack of means.  

Furthermore, showing respect to knowledge  and to honorable scholars, as well as humbling and reminding oneself of his shortcomings is the first step in perfecting the soul-one of the most important obligations that scholars have called upon, especially since perfecting the manners and behaviors of individuals is an essential key to perfecting the nation.  

To our dear students: let your actions and treatment to others be based on sacrifice. I pray to Allah that we will all be able to perfect and better ourselves, be enlightened with knowledge and good deeds, and be honored to be of the Shia of Imam Mehdi (ajf).

His Works     

    The strokes of pen on paper reveal the wisdom and knowledge of its possessor; it is with this great tool that the mind and soul release themselves- revealing the very essence and intricacy of the writer. Looking at the many works of Sheikh Bashir (may Allah prolong his life) in Jurisprudence, Usool, and the rest of the Islamic Sciences we find ourselves looking at an immense, extremely valuable treasure.

The content of his books and writings are mainly made up of his investigations along with substantial proofs and evidence as well as opinions- portrayed, classified, and proven according to scientific procedure:

"People read his words in servitude and testify their greatness,

at the touch of his fingers with paper."

He has written in many subjects, from Fiqh to Usool, in addition to Philosophy, Interpretation, Hadith, and modern issues.  Below are some of Ayatullah Al-Najafi's works:

-Al-Deen Al-Qayim: Rules and Verdicts for worships and interactions; a total of three volumes, it has been translated to English, Urdo, and the Kijrati language.

-Following Late Clerics (multiple issues were published)

-Improving your level in Usool (Murqat al-Usool) (multiple issues were published

-Laws of Hajj (published)

-Rules of Modesty (a number of issues were printed)

-100 Questions Regarding Khums (published)

-Guidance for the Youth (published)

-The Laws and Rituals of the Holy Month of Ramadan (multiple issues were published)

-Najaf: the Pioneer for Hawzas around the World (multiple issues were published).

-The Laws of Taqleed (multiple issues were published

-Mustafi Al-Deen al-Qaim (multiple issues were published)

-A Friendly Guide to the Holy Kaa'ba (published)

-A Fresh Guide for Muslims in the West (published)

-Research in Modern Jurisprudence (published)

-Explaining the features of Usool (Handwritten)

-The Rules Surrounding Qiblah (Handwritten)

-Rules and Laws of I'tikaf (Handwritten)

-Justice (Handwritten)

-Laws of Backbiting (Handwritten)

-Rules of Correct & Incorrect Guarantees

- Explaining Kifayat Al-Usool (Handwritten)

-Classifying Narrators (Handwritten, unfinished)

-An Intensive Paper Regarding the Science of Intellect (Handwritten)

-Explaining Manthoomat Al-Sibzawari (Handwritten)

-Reviewing the theme of "Qawaneen (laws) of Usool" (he has reached Mabhath Al-Awamer, handwritten)

- The Indian Circle used for Defining Qiblah (Handwritten)

- Commentary on Sharh Al-Tajreed (Handwritten)

-Explaining Inheritance in "Luma'ah" (Handwritten)

-Rules of Radio, Television, and Acting (Handwritten)

- Khums (Handwritten)

-The Rules of Friday Prayers (Handwritten)

- Upholding Traditions for Imam Hussain (as) and the Mourning Ceremony

-Those Who Repent are the Beloved of Allah (multiple issues were published)

-Nasabi- a reply to misconceptions brought up by one of the Nasabis (handwritten)

-The Birth of Imam Mehdi (ajf) (multiple issues were published, translated to Urdu)

- A Summarized Edition of Rules & Verdicts, translated into Urdu. (Published)

-For the Youth (advice and instructions from Ayatollah Al-Najafi (may Allah prolong his life) to the youth. (multiple issues were published)

Narrations

Ayatollah Al-Najafi (may Allah prolong his life) narrates the following four books: Al-Kafi, Al-Faqih, Al-Tahtheeb, Al-Astabsar, as well as all the publications of Sheikh Sadooq, Sheikh Tusi, and Allamah' Al-Hilli. The chain of narrations is certified and reliable, and many were certified by the great Allamah Al-Hilli.  

  His Projects & Noble Deeds

A person's actions are one of the best signs that reveal his status and character, it is our actions that earn us respect and it is by them that our names go down in history. Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir Hussain Al-Najafi (may Allah prolong his life) is one of those rare men who have proved themselves dedicated to serving the Islamic Ummah and the religion of Islam, and that is most clearly manifested by his various projects and his reform movement in the scientific Hawza of Najaf.

The following are some of the projects under his care, of which Al-Allamah Sheikh Sadiq Saleem Al-Muhsin has also mentioned in regards to Ayatollah Najafi's merits and deeds:

1. Re-printing the major textbooks used in the seminary's curriculum; these books ranged from subjects such as Grammar, Eloquence, and Logic to Jurisprudence and Usool.

2. Reforming the system of study and supervising the preparation of books, the assignment of teachers, and the placing of monthly salaries. Skipping levels or courses, as well as avoiding taking the monthly exams were made forbidden.

3. Distributing gifts, both of materialistic and sentimental value, to the students of the seminary on various religious holidays, to encourage them to continue their hard work and dedication.

4. Paying a great deal of interest to the affairs of the poor and the needy by assigning monthly salaries and providing them with healthcare as well as summer/winter clothes, medication, and wheat. He also gave out various items given to him by his followers- including personal gifts- to the poor and needy.    

5. Sending representatives to many regions, especially throughout the holy months of Ramadan and Muharram, to serve and guide people to the path of truth and righteousness. As for students and beginners, they were not allowed to leave the holy city of Najaf for such a purpose to avoid any cause of distraction from their studies.

6.  Helping in the renovation and furnishing of mosques, Imam-Bargah'as, shelters, and other places of worship in addition to contributing to filling the shelves of Islamic libraries, and preparing dorms for the students of the seminary such as Dar Al-Abrar and Dar-Al-Mutaqeen.

7. Setting up electric generators as well as distributing power lines to families, public and religious schools, mosques, imam bargah's, and to approximately 3 thousand homes.

8. Opening Dar-Al Zahra-a private school for the orphaned; the school offers modern caretaking, the most updated methods in teaching, and monthly and periodic financial help to the children.

9. Bringing Students from various countries, such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Emirates, and India to study in the holy city of Najaf.

10. Finally, Ayatullah Al-Najafi (may Allah prolong his life) has supervised and supported the founding of many foundations, the most prominent of which is Al-Anwar Foundation. This foundation has served many different social classes such as the families of the orphaned and the poor.

The foundation has also provided financial aid to more than 2,700 Hussaini tents and camp. It also works on many other projects, and has many upcoming plans- one of which is building a campus for the students studying in Najaf and a medical facility to serve the students and the poor; a modern up-to-date multi-floored garage is also one of the planned projects.

We agree with Sadiq Salim, that it is up to the qualified, experienced, wise men of the community to join his eminence's Ayatullah Al-Najafi (may Allah prolong his life) in his efforts to promote righteousness and virtue, for the sake of continuing these services and similar projects.

Manners are the standards by which civilizations are judged and graded:

"What value do nations hold other than manners

And what is left of them after the loss of their morals."

 Prophet Muhammad (as) has said: "Attract people, not with your wealth, but with your manners."

Those who have been honored with his eminence's presence and acquaintance , even for a short while, all witness that he is the perfect model of Islamic morals and principles  from his humbleness, polite manner, generosity,  hospitality to believers, religious tolerance and respect to scholars and people of other faiths. He does not discriminate between different social classes, such as the rich and the poor, for he holds faith as the highest criteria.

 As for honorable sayeds, he has great respect for them and addresses them with: 'Your grandfather the Messenger of Allah said', and 'Allah has blessed us with the opportunity to preserve the teachings of your grandfather'. Not once have I heard him say something if it was not in giving solid advice to Muslims, or in relating the characteristics of true believers-believers deserving to be called the Shia of the Ahlul-Bayt (as) and encouraging firm adherence to the rules of Islamic Sharia and the traditions of Islam.

Each and every one of his sayings is in praise of the noble Imams (as) and the importance of following their path, obeying their commands, and avoiding what they have forbidden. His time is spent on answering the religious questions that shower upon him, and his manner reflects the greatness of his abilities, his wisdom, and the extent in which he has applied "enjoining good and forbidding evil".

He is a pleasant conversationalist, convincing and eloquent in his style of speaking, his words are backed up with proofs and evidence, and he has a good-natured, hospitable personality.

His Noble Sons

1.Naser Al-Deen

2. Muhammad

3.Ali

4.Haidar

To conclude

From all that has been mentioned above, an image is formed of this magnificent Islamic figure, who Allah has destined to be one of the supreme Marj'ae, and who has earned such a status because of his abilities and wisdom. Knowledgeable men have all witnessed the wisdom found in his books in Tadrees-Aali and Bahith Kharij as well as what his writings hold from depth, detail, and originality. In his works, he strives to deepen the intellect and rid Usool and Jurisprudence of irrelevant repetition and confusing content.  Each and every one of his writings has left us valuable information in Jurisprudence, Usool, and other topics of Islamic sciences. These writings hold qualities that reveal the unique, endowed, and divinely bestowed capabilities of the writer as well as his advanced level in Ijtihad.    

The respectable Allama', author of "A Glimpse" (Lumha'a), which is a summary of Ayatollah Al-Najafi's life has also touched upon what we have mentioned above. He wrote:

Scholars and wise men have certified their Ijtihad with their actions and writing. From our perspective, such things are:

-Teaching the advanced stage of Sutooh in Fiqh (Jurisprudence), Usool, "Al-Makasib", "Al-Kifaya", and al-Rasail. Sheikh Bashir had plenty of students inside and outside of Iraq who attended his classes.

When one reaches the level of being able to teach Sutooh, particularly the advanced stage, he is considered to have passed the basic and most essential criteria of passing the level of Ijtihad, and becoming able to produce his own rulings and verdicts.

-The complexity that a student of Bahith Kharij faces in Jurisprudence and Usool only indicates the knowledge and abilities he possesses, since knowing the laws of Islam and its multiple branches, the procedure of calculating, proving, and discussing such laws as well as canceling out laws that do not agree with the overall manners and etiquette of a believing Muslim-are all fine indicators that a student has fully mastered Jurisprudence and Usool.

- The scientific works of an individual pose a question: are these works truly original and informative or are they merely repetition of past research?  

He has also said:

"A true researcher needs only to take a look at a sample of his writing in Usool, such as his book "Improving Your Level in Usool" ('Murqat Al-Usool') to realize the value of the meanings and information it contains."

Allah (swt)'s Blessing on him      

He has gone through a number of attempted assassinations, one of which occurred on a Thursday night and which just so happened to be on one of the Nights of Qadr, in the year 1419 Hijri. While he was sitting in his office carrying out his religious duties as a Marja', he was attacked with multiple grenades, and was only miraculously saved by the blessings and protection of Imam Mehdi (ajf) from a room filled with the dead and wounded, and was able to continue his service to the religion of Islam.