His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani, born August 4, 1930 is the current highest-ranking Shi’a Muslim religious scholar who leads the Hawza of Najaf. He is a Grand Ayatollah and Twelver Shia marja’ born in Iran and residing in Iraq since 1951. He is currently the preeminent Shia cleric for Shia around the world. Ayatullah Sistani had been certificated by the late Ayatullah Khu’i and also by `Allamah shaykh Husayn Hilli who both had confirmed his being a Mujtahid through two separate certification dated 1960, in which the two Ayatullahs had appreciated his personality and knowledge. Our master, Ayatullah Sistani, had been granted his high scientific rank when he was only 31 years old. visit sistani.org for details