List of current maraji

Maraji (plural of marja) are the supreme legal authority followed by Twelver Shia Muslims, also known as Imamiyyah, around the world. The concept of a Marja al-taqlid (lit. 'source of emulation') is central to Usuli Shi'a Islam.^[1] Marja al-taqlid provides religious interpretations on matters of law and rituals.^[2][3] Ideally, the most just and knowledgeable specialists in the field of Islamic law become recognized as the marja-i taqlid. In practice, this rarely happens and there are several marja al-taqlid whom an individual may choose to emulate.^[2][3]

Clerics who reach the apex of Shi'a theological hierarchy, in centers of learning, become marja-i taqlids.^[2][4] Approximately since 1940, marja-i taqlids are often referred to by their followers with the honorific of Ayatollah al-`Uzma (Arabic: Grand Ayatollah, where "ayatollah" means "sign of God").^[2] Among the responsibilities of marja-i taqlids are the collection and distribution of religious taxes, such as zakat and khums.^[2][3]