Seghatoleslam (Persian language: ثقت الاسلام ) also spelled Seqat-ol-Eslam, or Thiqat ul-Islam, is an honorific title within the Twelver Shia clergy. Historically, it denoted a scholar who had completed a certain level of religious education but had not yet attained the highest authority in the religious hierarchy, known as Ayatollah.
Etymology
The term (, ) is derived from two Arabic words:
thiqa (), meaning
trustworthy, and
Islam (). Consequently, the title can be translated as
Trustworthy of Islam.
In Usulism, a branch of Islamic biographical evaluation, there is issuing a fatwa is only permissible by trusting the words of authenticated narrators, and Seghatoleslam designates narrators whose justice and trustworthiness have been explicitly verified.
Seghatoleslam as a religious title
In
Shia Islam, was historically viewed as a precursor to the higher
title of
Ayatollah, as achieving
Ayatollah status required additional years of study and
research beyond the degree.
Although the majority of Iran's population is Shia Muslim, the use of the title is not widespread in Iran. It was, however, utilised in other countries with substantial Shia Muslim , such as Iraq.
The application of religious titles in Shia Islam is not uniform, and variations exist in how these titles are employed and understood in different contexts.
The title was initially used for Muhammad ibn Yaqub al-Kulayni (864 -941),
Difference between the titles Ayatollah, Hujjatoleslam, and Seghatoleslam
The conceptual evolution of titles for
Shia Islam Clergy in Iran has changed over time.
Seghatoleslam, once used for the students in preliminary stages, was previously the title of eminent scholars.
Some titles, like
Grand Ayatollah, became prevalent and are exclusively applied to Maraji, meaning religious scholars who are references for others. At different times, the title
Akhund, was used for great scholars such as
Akhund Molla Mohammad Kazim Khurasani or
Akhund Molla Mohammad Baqer Majlesi.
These titles in
seminaries are conventional, without a specific institution awarding them.
In the past, Seghatoleslam referred to at level 1 and 2.[ ]
The duration of the taught course typically spans three years for the Arabic literature course, along with an addition three years for the Logic and Jurisprudence courses.
In earlier times, Seghatoleslam was a title bestowed upon distinguished scholars, such as Sheikh Muhammad ibn Yaqub al-Kulayni or Sheikh Ibn Babawayh.
Hujjat al-Islam refers to students at level 3. During this stage, books like Mo'alem al-Usul
The duration of the taught course typically spans four years.
Upon entering the next stage (advanced level 4) and reaching the kharej (advanced courses of the seminary) study level, students are conferred the title Hujjatoleslam Wal-Muslemin. This stage is regarded as the highest course of seminary courses, aiming to produce in the fields of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) or theology (Usul al-Din). The goal is to develop the ability to derive rulings from authentic sources books
The taught course at this stage typically lasts a minimum of four years.
In the past, the title Hujjatoleslam Wal-Muslemin was used for Maraji, such as the Risalah of the late Ayatollah Hossein Borujerdi was published under the title Hujjatoleslam Wal-Muslemin Hossein Borujerdi, or, for example, Muhammad al-Ghazali, had this title in the past.
Ayatollah refers to an individual who has successfully completed the kharej course (advanced courses of the seminary) and reached the level of Ijtihad. Ijtihad implies the ability to independently derive rulings using legal and principled evidence and foundations.
There are two types of : the bounded mujtahid, who is proficient in specific chapters of Fiqh, and the absolute mujtahid, who is proficient in all chapters of Fiqh.
Apart from completing advanced studies, an individual must teach a kharej course (advanced courses of the seminary) of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh) or theology (Usul al-Din) for several years to attain the title of Ayatollah.
Seghatoleslam as a family name in Iran
While
Seghatoleslam is primarily a
title in
Shia Islam,
it is also used as a
surname in some
Iranian peoples families. This practice aligns with the common cultural phenomenon where individuals use titles as family names or adopt religious or cultural terms reflecting their identity as their family name.
The utilisation of Seghatoleslam as a family name is relatively uncommon and mostly confined to Iran / Persia. In other countries, even those with significant Shia Muslim populations,
Notable Seghatoleslam family in Iran
Individuals with the
Seghatoleslam family name may be residing in
Shiraz,
Tabriz, or other parts of
Iran / Persia, considering it is a distinct family name in the region. Notable family members in Iran include:
-
Mirza Ali Aqa Seghatoleslam Tabriz
-
Seyed Zeinolabedin Seghatoleslam
-
Mohammad Ali Isfahan
-
Seyed Abdullah Seghatoleslam
See also
Further reading
-
Calmard, Jean. (2009). " Ayatollah". In Esposito, John L. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/acref/9780195305135.001.0001.
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Glassé, C. (2013). The new encyclopedia of Islam. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. p. 71.
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Nasr, Seyyed Hossein; Dabashi, Hamid; and Vali, S. (1989). Expectation of the Millennium. SUNY Press.
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Golkar, S. (2017). Clerical militia and securitization of seminary schools in Iran. Contemporary Islam, 11(3), pp. 215–235. doi:
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AncientFaces. (n.d.). Seyed Zeinolabedin Seghatoleslam biography. online Available at: Seyed-Zeinolabedin-Seghatoleslam-192886125 Accessed.
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Momen, M. (2015). Shi’i Islam. Simon and Schuster.
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Wikishia. (n.d.). Thiqat al-Islam
Accessed.
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Hosseini, Seyed Mohammad Hassan. (2014). Commemoration ceremony of the late Ayatollah Seyed Ali Seghatoleslam Arsenjani. online Available at: http://www.arsanjan.org/item/301 Accessed.
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Momen, M. (1985). An Introduction to Shi’i Islam: the history and doctrines Twelver Shi’ism. New Haven; London: Yale University Press.
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Zaare, Jafar. (2014). A panegyric upon Seyed Zeinolabedin Seghatoleslam. online Available at: http://www.arsanjan.org/item/278 Accessed.
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Ebrahimi, M.H. (2020). Saeedieh School (a collection of articles on the history of Saeedieh School in Arsanjan- Biography and life of the Seghatoleslam families). 1st ed. Shiraz, Fars province, Iran: Islamic Reserves Council (in
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Hermann, Denis. (1 May 2013). " Akhund Khurasani and the Iranian Constitutional Movement". Middle Eastern Studies. 49 (3): 430–453. doi: 10.1080/00263206.2013.783828. ISSN 0026-3206. JSTOR 23471080. Semantic Scholar 143672216.
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Akhlaq, Sayed Hassan. (2023). The Making of Shia Ayatollahs. Rowman & Littlefield.
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Anvari, Hassan. (2007). فرهنگ بزرگ سخن (in Persian language) (3ed.). انتشارات سخن،. p. 2033. .
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موسسهٔ لغتنامهٔ دهخدا و مرکز بینالمللی آموزش زبان فارسی. (n.d.). معنی ثقة
Accessed.
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www.merriam-webster.com. (n.d.). Definition of AYATOLLAH. online Available at: Accessed.
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Bearman, P.J., International Union of Academies and Al, E. (1986). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition. Leiden E.J. Brill -≪&Gt.
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World Shia Muslims Population. (n.d.). Shia Muslims Population. online Available at: http://shianumbers.com/shia-muslims-population Accessed.
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Ibn Durayd, Abūbakr Muḥammad b. Ḥasan (24 April 2012). Baʿlbakī, Ramzī Munīr (ed.). Lisān al-ʿArab. Beirut: Brill.
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Mudir Shanachi, Kazim. (2017) . کتاب درایه الحدیث. Ghom, Iran: دفتر انتشارات اسلامی جامعه مدرسین حوزه علمیه قم. pp. 112–113.
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Mudir Shanachi, Kazim. (1983). کتاب علم الحدیث (in Arabic) (1 ed.). Ghom, Iran: دفتر انتشارات اسلامی جامعه مدرسین حوزه علمیه قم. p. 75.
