Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Grand Ayatollah
Native Name:آیت الله العظمیٰ شیخ لطف‌الله صافی گلپایگانی
Office:Secretary of the Guardian Council
Term Start:17 December 1980
Term End:17 July 1988
Appointer:Ruhollah Khomeini
Predecessor:Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani (acting)
Successor:Mohammad Mohammadi Gilani
Order1:Member of the Assembly of Experts for Constitution
Term Start1:15 August 1979
Term End1:15 November 1979
Majority1:256,115 (60.7%)
Constituency1:Markazi Province
Module:
Embed:yes
Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani
Native Name:Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani
Birth Date:20 February 1919
Father:Mohammad Javad Safi Golpaygani

Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani (Persian: لطف‌الله صافی گلپایگانی; 20 February 1919 – 1 February 2022) was an Iranian Grand Ayatollah. He was at one point the most senior Twelver Shia scholar (Marja') in Iran until his death. He resided in Qom and taught Islam in the Qom Seminary.[1]

Personal life and education

Lotfollah was born in Golpayegan on 20 February 1919 into a religious family. His father, Mohammad Javad Safi Golpaygani, was a high ranking Shia scholar (Marja'). His mother, known as Fatemeh Khanom, was the daughter of a Mujtahid called Akhund Mohammad Ali. His brother, Ali Safi Golpaygani was also a high ranking Shia scholar. He is also the son-in-law of Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani, and father-in-law of Ayatollah Ali Karimi Jahromi.[2] [3]

While a child in Golpayegan, he was first introduced to basic books in Arabic literature Jalil al-Qadr, and Mullah Abu al-Qasim known as "Qutb". He continued his Islamic Studies with his father in Golpeygan, while there his father taught him Islamic Theology (Aqidah), Interpretation of the Quran (Tafsir), Hadith, Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh), Principles of Islamic jurisprudence (Usool Fiqh), as well as several other subjects. At the age of 22 in 1941, he left Golpeyegan and settled in Qom to further his Islamic Studies in the Qom Seminary. After spending a few years there, he visited Najaf to attend the Hawza Najaf for approximately 1 year, then returned to Qom to partake in advanced Islamic Studies (Darse Kharej). He would spend the next 15 years there learning and attending lessons under many high ranking Shia scholars, as well as debating Islamic Mysticism.[4]

Teachers

Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani's teachers and tutors included Hossein Borujerdi, Seyyed Mohammad Hojjat Kooh Kamari, Sadr al-Din al-Sadr, and Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani.[5]

Political activities

Before the 1979 Iranian revolution, Lotfollah was a critic of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. SAVAK had banned some of his works in Iran as a response to this.[6] After the revolution, he was elected by the Markazi province to represent them in the Assembly for the Final Review of the Constitution. Ruhollah Khomeini also appointed him to be the secretary in the Guardian Council.[7] [8]

Works

Throughout his life, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani published over 100 works in both Persian and Arabic. Here are some of them.[9] [10] [11]

Views

Criticism of Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism

Safi Golpaygani was a critic of Islamic Philosophy and Mysticism. In one of his essays, he wrote:[12] Commenting on Mysticism, he said:He wrote a book, nigrashi bar falsafa o irfan, on this topic too. He was also a critic of Hassan Hassanzadeh Amoli. In a speech with Ahmad Mojtahedi Tehrani, he spoke against a poem of Rumi, and Hassan Amoli and said they are "against us".[13] He is among several high ranking Shia scholars who reject Islamic Mysticism and claims it to be nothing but dreamy and artificial, and that the pursuit of such things is a waste of life.[14] [15]

Reducing poverty in Iran

Safi Golpaygani often spoke out against poverty in Iran. He claimed that a just Islamic System should eradicate poverty. In an interview with Tasnim News Agency, he highlighted that the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee should focus on reducing poverty and social problems in Iran.[16]

Calling for Iran to establish good relations with all countries around the World

On 21 October 2021, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met with Safi Golpaygani. Lotfollah emphasised the need for Iran to establish good relations with all nations around the world. He was very concerned about the economic situation, and the problems the people are facing.[17] [18] After this, he received criticism from several outlets, most notably from Hossein Shariatmadari with Kayhan newspaper.[19]

Condemnation of the Taliban

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, there was a fear among the Shia of Afghanistan as to what would happen to them due to their Persecution in Afghanistan under the Taliban.[20] Safi Golpaygani issued a message for the World to help the people of Afghanistan.[21]

The Shahin Najafi affair

When Shahin Najafi released a song called "Naghi", he angered many Shia Muslims in Iran, and around the world. In the song, Shahin was accused of insulting the 10th Imam of The Twelve Imams, Ali al-Hadi. He also depicted the Imam Reza Shrine (shrine of 8th Imam, Ali al-Ridha) in a sexual manner representing a woman's breast, alongside a rainbow flag. Two weeks prior to the release of his song, a Fatwa was issued by Safi Golpaygani claiming those who insult the Imams should be issued a death penalty. It was after the release of his song that this Fatwa was then issued for Shahin Najafi.[22]

Death

In the early hours of Tuesday, 1 February 2022, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani died in a hospital in Qom due to a cardiac arrest at the age of 102.[23] His death was mourned by many Shias around the World, figures such as Ali Khamenei,[24] Ali al-Sistani[25] and Hossein Wahid Khorasani[26] sent a message of condolence on his death. His funeral took place on 2 February in Qom, many attended his funeral. His son-in-law Ali Karimi Jahromi led his funeral prayers.[27]

His body was transferred to Karbala and was buried in the Imam Husayn Shrine on 3 February as per his will.[28]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: آیت الله لطف‌الله صافی گلپایگانی - Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani. 3 February 2022. qurantv.ir. fa.
  2. Web site: در مورد آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی در ویکی تابناک بیشتر بخوانید. 3 February 2022. tabnak.ir.
  3. Web site: 1 February 2022. بیوگرافی آیت الله لطف الله صافی گلپایگانی و همسر و فرزندانش + عکس درگذشت و آثار. 3 February 2022. مجله اینترنتی حرف تازه. fa.
  4. Web site: 2 December 2013. زندگي نامه پايگاه اطلاع رساني دفتر حضرت آيت الله العظمي صافي گلپايگاني. 3 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233027/http://www.saafi.net/fa/node/84/ . 2 December 2013 .
  5. Web site: YJC. خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان . 1 February 2022. نگاهی به زندگینامه آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی(ره). 3 February 2022. yjc.news. fa.
  6. Web site: 1 February 2022. Biography of Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani. 3 February 2022. Jamaran.news. fa.
  7. Web site: 23 June 2009. فقهاي شوراي نگهبان - دوره اول, سه ساله اول . 3 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20090623070000/http://www.shora-gc.ir/portal/siteold/aza/Fogaha/index1_1.htm . 23 June 2009. dead.
  8. Web site: سیما. IRIB NEWS AGENCY خبرگزاری صدا و. 1 February 2022. زندگی نامه یارامام و رهبری؛ آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی + فیلم. 3 February 2022. iribnews.ir. fa.
  9. Web site: Golpaygani. Lotfollah Safi. List of Books of Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani. 2022-02-03. saafi.com. fa.
  10. Web site: 8 April 2015. فهرست كتاب هاي پديدآور: لطف‌الله صافي‌گلپايگاني خانه كتاب ketab.ir - List of Books of Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani part 1. 3 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150408083528/http://www.ketab.ir/BookList.aspx?Type=Authorid&Code=50588 . 8 April 2015 .
  11. Web site: 2015-04-08. فهرست كتاب هاي پديدآور: لطف‌الله صافي‌گلپايگاني خانه كتاب ketab.ir - List of Books of Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani part 2. 3 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20150408041838/http://www.ketab.ir/BookList.aspx?Type=Authorid&Code=50588&pageIndex=1&pageSize=200 . 8 April 2015 .
  12. Web site: 2023-07-01 . The seduction of philosophers and mystics - Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani . 2024-01-13 . Exploring Ibn Arabi, Mysticism and Sufism . en-US.
  13. Web site: 8 August 2013. کلیپ:بهترین واژه ای که می توان برای فلاسفه وعرفای شیعه استفاده کرد! - پایگاه خبری تحلیلی برهان . 3 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20130808011812/http://www.borhannews.com/news/?p=2051 . 8 August 2013 . dead.
  14. Web site: 2023-07-18 . The question of mystic revelation and spiritual schedules - Grand Ayatullah Safi Golpayegani . 2024-01-13 . Exploring Ibn Arabi, Mysticism and Sufism . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2013-01-25. مکاشفه حقیقی کدام است و چه کسانی اهل مکاشفه هستند؟. 3 February 2022. ایسنا. fa.
  16. Web site: آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی: کمیته امداد امام خمینی(ره) بر کاهش فقر و معضلات اجتماعی متمرکز شود- اخبار استانها تسنیم Tasnim. 3 February 2022. خبرگزاری تسنیم Tasnim. fa.
  17. News: روزگار فقیهان در جمهوری اسلامی؛ آیت‌الله صافی و چشم اسفندیار حکومت. fa. BBC News فارسی. 3 February 2022.
  18. Web site: آیت‌الله صافی: با همه دنیا رابطه برقرارکنید. 3 February 2022. روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد. fa.
  19. News: شریعتمداری: اظهارنظر آیت الله صافی درباره روابط خارجی چندان دقیق نبود/ شرق: حمله جبهه پایداری به آیت‌الله صافی وارد فاز جدیدی شده است. 3 February 2022. خبرگزاری موج. fa.
  20. News: 2021-10-05. Afghanistan: Taliban unlawfully killed 13 ethnic Hazara people, Amnesty says. en-GB. BBC News. 3 February 2022.
  21. Web site: Golpaygani. Lotfollah Safi. 9 October 2021. Message to the People of Afghanistan and the World. 3 February 2022. saafi.com.
  22. Web site: 2012-05-10. شاهین نجفی: قصد توهین به امامان شیعه را نداشته‌ام. 3 February 2022. BBC News فارسی. fa.
  23. News: 1 February 2022. آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی دارفانی را وداع گفت. ABNA 24. 31 January 2022.
  24. Web site: Khamenei. Ali. 2022-02-01. Message of Condolence to Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani. 2022-02-03. khamenei.ir. fa.
  25. Web site: بیانیه معظّم له به مناسبت ارتحال حضرت آیة الله صافی گلپایگانی (قدس سره) - پیام های صادره - پایگاه اطلاع رسانی دفتر مرجع عالیقدر آقای سید علی حسینی سیستانی. 3 February 2022. sistani.org.
  26. Web site: تسلیت آیت الله العظمی وحید خراسانی در پی ارتحال آیت الله العظمی صافی(ره) خبرگزاری فارس. 3 February 2022. farsnews.ir.
  27. Web site: YJC. خبرگزاری باشگاه خبرنگاران آخرین اخبار ایران و جهان . 2 February 2022. تشییع پیکر آیت الله صافی گلپایگانی در قم. 3 February 2022. yjc.news. fa.
  28. Web site: mjalali. 2022-02-02. اطلاعیه دفتر حضرت آیت‌الله العظمی صافی گلپایگانی درباره تشييع عراق. 3 February 2022. saafi.com. fa.