Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine

Ayatollah Mohammad Mahdi Shamseddine (Arabic: محمد مهدي شمس الدين) was a Lebanese Twelver Shia scholar.[1] Shahid Awwal who known as Shamseddine, sun of the faith, was ancestor of Muhammad Mahdi.[2]

Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine
Personal
Born1936
Najaf, Iraq
Died10 January 2001(2001-01-10) (aged 64–65)
Lebanon
ReligionShia, Islam
Other namesImam Shamseddine
Senior posting
Based inIraq, Lebanon
Period in office1936-2001
WebsiteOfficial website of Mohammad Mahdi Shamseddine

Biography

Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine was born on 1936 in Najaf, Iraq. Allamah al-Shaykh Abdul Kareem Shamseddine was his father and studied at Najaf seminary. When Mohammad was 12 years old, his father returned to Lebanon but Muhammad Mahdi decided to stay and finish his religious studies. Grand Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei and Sayed Muhsin al-Hakim were his teacher at Najaf seminary. During his remain in the Iraq, he cooperated with Musa al-Sadr, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, and Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim.[3]

In 1969, he returned to Lebanon and cooperated with Musa al-Sadr for founding the Supreme Shiite Council of Lebanon. He was first vice-president. Shamseddine was elected as president of the Council in April 1994.[4] Also, he was deputy of Musa al-Sadr organization.[5][3]

Advocate of coexistence

Shamseddine was a moderate cleric and advocate of Christian-Muslim coexistence. About this matter, he stated that: "there is no Lebanon without its Christians and there is no Lebanon without its Muslims."[6]

Anti-Israeli activities

He was supporter of military resistance against the Israeli troops in Lebanon and formed the "Total Civil Resistance Against Israel" group after Ashura 1983 to counter the Israeli invasion. He declared that Shia attacks against Israeli forces is a religious duty.[1][3]

Blood bank

For avoiding practice Tatbir among people, he established a blood bank in Najaf to donate blood on Ashura day to patients who need it. Every year on 10 Muharram of the Islamic calendar, people voluntarily gave blood in the blood bank Instead of practice Tatbir.[7] Also, Mohammad Mahdi established the Islamic University.

References
  1. Robin Wright (4 December 2001). Sacred Rage: The Wrath of Militant Islam. Simon and Schuster. pp. 65, 93. ISBN 978-0-7432-3342-2.
  2. "Famous Religious Figures: Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine". Famous Lebanese People. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. Roschanack Shaery-Eisenlohr (2011). Shi'ite Lebanon: Transnational Religion and the Making of National Identities. Columbia University Press. pp. 34–37. ISBN 978-0-231-14427-8.
  4. Karim Pakradouni; Anna Wurth; Helen Lackner (1 May 2012). Years of Resistance: The Mandate of Emile Lahood, the Former President of Lebanon. Garnet Publishing Ltd. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-85964-309-9.
  5. Albert J. Jongman (1988). Political Terrorism: A New Guide To Actors, Authors, Concepts, Data Bases, Theories, And Literature. Transaction Publishers. p. 610. ISBN 978-1-4128-1566-6.
  6. "Lebanon buries highest Shia cleric". BBC News. 12 January 2001. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  7. "Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine(in Persian)". nbo.ir.
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