Updated 4 July 2010

With profound sadness and grief, The World Federation has learned of the sad demise of Ayatullah Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadhlullah of Lebanon at the age of 74.

Mu'mineen are requested to remember Marhum Ayatullah Fadhlullah in their prayers and jamaats are requested to hold Majlis e Aza.

Brief Biography:

Birth and Childhood

Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadhlullah was born in the holy city of Najaf in 1935 CE / 1354 AH. He was raised and educated by his father who had a great influence on the life and thought of his son. His father was a prominent scholar of Najaf and a recognised Mujtahid, after having studied under a number of illustrious scholars.

Education

After completing his primary education, Sayyid Mohammad Hussein Fadhlullah began  his theological studies at a very young age. He also took great interest in the cultural, social and literary development of the Muslim countries and was an avid reader of Lebanese, Egyptian and Iraqi magazines and newspapers.

At the age of ten, Sayyid Fadhlullah joined hands with some friends in publishing a hand written magazine titled 'al-Adab' that would eventually be published by the Jama'at al-Ulama group of Najaf. He began a second editorial called 'Kalimatuna' (Our Message). The first Kalimatuna editorial was written by Martyr Sayyid Mohammed Baqir as-Sadr.

Teachers

Sayyid Fadhlullah attended the Bahth Al-Kharij classes of some of the greatest scholars and religious authorities of his time including: 

Marhum Ayatullah Abul Qasim al-Khui, Marhum Ayatullah Mohsin aL-Hakim, Marhum Ayatullah Mahmoud Shahroudi, and others.

Back to Lebanon

After 21 years of studying under the prominent teachers of Najaf, Sayyid Fadhlullah concluded his studies and returned to Lebanon where he began organising events and delivering sermons and speeches.

He founded a religious school called The Islamic Sharia Institute, in which several students enrolled and later became prominent religious scholars. He also established a public library, a women's cultural centre and a medical clinic.

When the Lebanese civil war erupted in 1975, he moved to the Southern suburb of Beirut where he gave priority to teaching and educating the people. He used the Mosque as his centre for holding daily prayers, giving lessons in Quranic Tafseer, as well as religious sermons and speeches. He also opened a religious school in the Sayyeda Zeinab area of Damascus, where he used to teach regularly.

Resistance

Sayyid Fadhlullah was a staunch fighter for the cause of freedom. He supported the international liberation movements and devoted his efforts to guide the international Islamic movements.

Along with Martyr Sayyid Muhammad Baqir as-Sadr, he founded the Islamic Movement in Iraq as a first step towards energising the Shias in Iraq. In the late seventies he announced his support to the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic movement in Lebanon with all the means possible to ensure its success: speaking, writing, and defending its major arguments at every opportunity.

He called for armed resistance to the illegal Israeli occupations of Lebanon and Palestine, along with opposition to the existence of Israel. The media described him as the spiritual guide of the resistance. Before long he became the target of several assassination plots executed by local, regional, and international intelligence services.

Social Activities

His Mabarrat Association has built nine orphanages, two medical centers nine schools, one vocational School, eight Islamic centres and other Media and Information centres.