16th Jumada al-Thani Marks Martyrdom Commemoration of Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Shirazi

Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Hosseini Shirazi, a prominent religious and scholarly figure of the twentieth century, was martyred on May 1, 1980 (corresponding to the sixteenth of Jumada al-Thani 1400 AH) in a terrorist attack orchestrated by agents of Saddam’s regime in Lebanon.

He was the son of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mehdi al-Hosseini al-Shirazi and the brother of Grand Ayatollahs Sayyid Muhammad and Sayyid Sadiq al-Hosseini al-Shirazi.

Born in 1314 SH into a scholarly and religious family in Najaf al-Ashraf, he dedicated his early academic efforts to promoting the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and fighting against oppression and corruption in Islamic societies.

After studying religious sciences in Karbala and Najaf, his Eminence emigrated to Syria and Lebanon to engage in political and social activities.

During this time, he made extensive efforts to establish seminaries and scholarly associations in various countries, while also writing books and articles on diverse topics, including Islamic economics, in response to the spread of anti-religious ideologies in the Islamic world.

However, his most significant contribution to Islamic history was his relentless efforts to reconstruct the sacred graves of the Imams in Baqi in Medina.

In his negotiations with Saudi officials, Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Shirazi consistently advocated for the revival of these holy sites and the restoration of the dignity and honor of the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) in Islamic society.

Historical documents indicate that in 1971 and 1972, he exerted political and diplomatic pressure to secure the Saudi authorities’ agreement for the reconstruction of Baqi.

On May 1, 1980 (corresponding to the sixteenth of Jumada al-Thani 1400), while intending to attend a memorial ceremony for Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir Sadr in Lebanon, he was assassinated by two motorcyclists.

In an interview, Khalid Abdul Ghafar, Saddam Hussein’s secretary, stated that Saddam personally ordered the assassination of Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Shirazi.

The martyrdom of Ayatollah Sayyid Hassan Shirazi dealt a significant blow to the scientific and religious movement in the Islamic world.

He demonstrated through his sacrifice that the struggle for the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) and the fight to restore the rights of Muslims is the greatest ideal.