On 1 February, the Shia world was struck with grief with the news that Ayatullah al-Udhma Safi Golpaygani had left this temporary abode, answering the call of Allah. This was indeed a heavy loss for the Shia world, and we extend our condolences to Imam al-Mahdi (aj), the Islamic Seminaries, and to all the mu’mineen.

Ayatullah Safi Golpaygani was born in 1919 in the city of Golpaygan, in the Islamic Republic of Iran. From a young age he was a seeker of knowledge and spirituality. He had a deep love of poetry and the wilayah of Ahlul Bayt. In 1941 he moved to the holy city of Qum to continue his studies under the tutelage of its grand maraji, including illustrious teachers such as Ayatullah Khonsari and Ayatullah Borujerdi. After this, he migrated to the holy city of Najaf, where he benefitted from further beacons of knowledge, including Ayatullah Sayyid Jamal Golpaygani, Ayatullah Muhammad Kadhim Shirazi, and Ayatullah Muhammad ‘Ali Kadhimi.

Ayatollah Safi leaves behind a rich legacy of achievements, to name but a few:

• Personally endorsed by Imam Khomeini and Ayatullah Muhammad Ridha Golpaygani as part of the team of experts responsible for drafting the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• 150 books and scholarly works, with many being translated to various other languages
• Specialisation in the field of Imam al-Mahdi (a)
• A renowned poet with many works about tawhid, ethics, and the Ahlul Bayt

As we reflect on yet another towering figure that we have lost in the last 1-2 years, we are deeply saddened and stricken with grief. At the same time, we are thankful to Allah for having granted us the opportunity to learn from such wise scholars.

It is now our duty to:

• Pray for the departed scholars
• Beseech Allah to grant the scholars that remain with us a long life
• Ask Allah for tawfeeq to be able to humbly accept them as our leaders and role models
• Be determined in following their teachings
• Aspire to be like them, in service of our awaited Imam

Al-Fateha.