Patriotic Union of Kurdistan President Bafel Jalal Talabani issued a condolence message following the passing of Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayyadh, praising the late religious authority’s contributions to national unity, moderation, and civil peace in Iraq.

The Grand Ayatollah passed away in Baghdad early this morning at the age of 96. His death follows a sudden deterioration in his health two days ago, which required his hospitalization in the capital.

Talabani Honors Late Grand Ayatollah’s Role in Promoting Unity

“It is with deep sorrow and grief that we received the news of the passing of the religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayyadh,” Talabani said in the message.

He honored the late religious authority's legacy in teaching Islamic sciences, noting his vital role in “spreading the values of moderation, tolerance, and virtue, and contributing to the consolidation of civil peace and national unity.”

Talabani Extends Condolences to Najaf Authority and Iraqi People 

Talabani extended his condolences to the deceased's family, the Supreme Religious Authority in Najaf al-Ashraf, Islamic scholars, seminary students, and the Iraqi people.

“We implore the Almighty to envelop the late religious authority in His vast mercy and satisfaction, to grant him a place in His spacious Paradise, and to inspire his loved ones and students with patience and solace,” he concluded.

Life and Legacy of Senior Najaf Marja Grand Ayatollah al-Fayyadh 

Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayyadh, one of the four supreme Shia religious authorities (Maraji‘) in Najaf, was born in 1930 in a village within the Ghazni Province of central Afghanistan. Born into a low-income family of Hazara ethnicity, he migrated to the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, in 1951 to pursue his advanced religious studies.

During his tenure at the Najaf Seminary (Hawza), Al-Fayyadh studied jurisprudence and religious sciences under some of the school's most eminent jurists, including Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei, Muhsin al-Hakim, and Muhammad Ali Mudarris Afghan. He eventually achieved the highest clerical rank of Grand Ayatollah, solidifying his status as one of the most influential figures in the Shia world.

He authored numerous foundational books covering Islamic jurisprudence, legal theory, and contemporary social issues.