The Higher Religious Authority of Najaf and the Post-Sistani Phase: Options and Scenarios

In this article, Yaseen Taha discusses the impact of Ayatollah Sistani on modern Shiite religious authority in Najaf, Iraq, and the challenges surrounding his succession due to his advanced age. Taha examines the marja’a system’s historical roots, its global influence, and the process of selecting a new supreme marja’i in Iraq. He also explores the rivalry between Iranian and Iraqi religious factions and the future of Shiite Islam after Sistani’s leadership.