Asif Mohseni facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Ayatollah Asif Mohseni |
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Religion | Islam |
| Denomination | Shi'a |
| Sect | Twelver |
| Other names | Sheikh Muhammad Asif Mohseni |
| Personal | |
| Born | 26 April 1935 Qandahār, Afghanistan |
| Died | 5 August 2019 (aged 84) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Title | Grand Ayatollah |
| Period in office | ? – 2019 |
| Religious career | |
| Post | Grand Ayatollah |
Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Asif Mohseni was an important religious leader from Afghanistan. He was a Shi'a Marja', which means he was a top religious authority. Many people saw him as the most powerful Shi'a leader in Afghanistan. He also started a group called the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan.
Contents
Who Was Grand Ayatollah Mohseni?
Muhammad Asif Mohseni was born on April 26, 1935. His birthplace was the city of Qandahār in Afghanistan. He belonged to the Pashtun ethnic group and followed the Twelver branch of Shia Islam.
His Early Life and Learning
As a young man, Mohseni went to religious schools. He studied in places like Najaf, a holy city in Iraq. There, he learned from very famous religious teachers. These teachers included Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei and Muhsin al-Hakim.
A Law for Families
In 2009, Mohseni helped create a special family law. This law was for the Shi'a people living in Afghanistan. The president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, signed it into law.
However, some parts of this law caused a lot of debate. Many people, especially women, felt that it was unfair. They believed it limited women's freedom. On April 15, 2009, hundreds of Afghan women protested against the law. They gathered outside Mohseni's mosque. Some of his supporters shouted at them and even threw stones.
Because of these protests and international concern, the law was changed. It was updated in August 2009 to address some of the issues. Even with the changes, some people still thought the law was not fair.
Starting Groups and a TV Channel
Mohseni was involved in many different organizations. He owned a TV channel called Tamadon TV. This channel showed programs that were very similar to religious channels in Iran.
In the 1960s, he started a group called Subh-i Danish. This group aimed to bring back knowledge and culture among young Shi'a people in Kabul.
Later, in 1978, he founded the Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. This group was a political party and a resistance movement. It fought against the Soviet Union when they were in Afghanistan. Mohseni's group got support from Iran. It played a big part in the fight against the communist government in the 1980s. His movement was known for being moderate.
His Passing
Grand Ayatollah Mohseni passed away on August 5, 2019. He died in Kabul, Afghanistan. He was buried the next day, on August 6, 2019. His burial place was at the Hawzah Ilmiyah Khatam al-Nabiyin building in Kabul.
Images for kids
-
Grand Ayatollah Asif Mohseni
