Pioneers
Founders (1967)
The late Sayed Mortaza Nouri
- Holy Najaf 1933
- 2021
Father: Sayed Ali (Born in Samarra)
Primary Education: Kuttab (Homeschooling)
Education in the Islamic Seminary:
- Intermediate Level: Ayatollah Mirza Ali Falsafi (Al-Makasib) - Ayatollah Sayed Ali Sistani (Al-Rasa'il)
- Advanced Level: Ayatollah Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei
Activities:
- Manuscript editing, copy editing, and index editing during his youth.
- Establishment of the World-Wide Organization for Islamic Services in 1966 a.d., with by Dr. Muhammad Ali Shahrestani and administrating the organization for more than 50 years.
The late Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Ali Shahrestani
- Karbala 1932
- 2011
Birth Place: Iraq, Karbala
Born: 1932
Demise: 2011 (Buried in the courtyard of Imam Al-Hussein’s shrine)
Education: PhD in International Engineering from University de la Romande, England
POSITIONS HELD
- Founder and CEO of (R E Group) in Iran (Tehran), Germany (Solingen), USA (Huston), UK (London) and Lebanon (Beirut)
- Founder and CEO of a steel manufacturing company in Tehran, Iran
- Founder and Trustee of the International University of Technology in London (established in association with UNESCO)
- Founder and President of International Colleges of Islamic Science in London
EXPERIENCE
He was a designer or executer of multiple projects including:
- Hotels: 6 hotels in Iran (Mashhad) and Iraq (Karbala and Kadhimiya)
- Town Planning & Housing: Large projects in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Iraq (in total over 25,000 housing units)
- Hospitals and Clinics: including 8 hospitals and medical centers in different cities of Iran and Bangladesh (in total more than 1700 hospital beds)
- Commercial and Office Buildings: 5 shopping malls in Iran, USA, UK, and Lebanon
- Religious and Cultural Buildings: The most significant of which are:
- The extension of Imam Al-Ridah’s (a.s) holy shrine
- The extension of the main hall of Kadhimain shrine
- Lavatory facilities in Karbala and Kadhimain (800 Units)
- A new courtyard and ancillary buildings for the Kadhimain shrine
- A new massive courtyard surrounding shrines of Imam Al-Hussein (a.s) and Al-Abbas (a.s)
- The extension and roofing of Imam Hussain’s (a.s) courtyard
- Lady Ruqayyah’s Shrine in Damascus, Syria
- Hujr ibn Uday’s shrine in Damascus, Syria
- Chief designer of many industrial projects
- Chief designer of many agro-industrial projects
- Academic Activities: Establishment of two universities and participation in many international world conferences
- Higher education consultant to UNESCO during 1987 - 1990.
- Broadcasting Activity: Managing Director of a Documentary Educational / Religious Satellite Channel called "Ghaem Channel"
- Founder of the “World Organization for Islamic Services” (WOFIS)
PATENTS
- Rotary Combustion Engine design, patented in England in 1961
- New design for modular roof structure, patented in England in 1988
AWARDS
- Commentative Medal of Honor (Gold) for outstanding achievements by the American Biographical Institute
- Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Biographical Institute
Scientific & Editorial Staff (1967-2017)
The late Sayed Mortaza Nouri
- Holy Najaf 1933
- 2021
Father: Sayed Ali (Born in Samarra)
Primary Education: Kuttab (Homeschooling)
Education in the Islamic Seminary:
- Intermediate Level: Ayatollah Mirza Ali Falsafi (Al-Makasib) - Ayatollah Sayed Ali Sistani (Al-Rasa'il)
- Advanced Level: Ayatollah Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei
Activities:
- Manuscript editing, copy editing, and index editing during his youth.
- Establishment of the World-Wide Organization for Islamic Services in 1966 a.d., with by Dr. Muhammad Ali Shahrestani and administrating the organization for more than 50 years.
The late Sayed Mohammad Nouri
- Holy Najaf 1929
- 2001
Father: Sayed Ali (Born in Samarra)
Education: Traditional Shia Seminary:
- Preliminary Level Studies: Arabic literature, logic, etc.
- Intermediate Level Studies: jurisprudence and its principles and books such as: Al-Qawaneen, Al-Rasa'il, Al-Kifāya, and Al-Makasib.
- Various advanced level courses outside in jurisprudence and its principles.
- Some of His Teachers: The late Sayed Ali Nouri (his father), Imam Isfahani (Sayed Al-Borujerdi’s representative in Kermanshah, Iran), Sheikh Ahmad Fayadh Isfahani, Sayed Ali Beheshti, Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei, Sheikh Mujtaba Hatami Lankarani, Sheikh Abu Al-Hassan Shamsabadi Isfahani, Sayed Abbas Mehri, Al-Sayed Sajjad Gorgani Mazandarani, Al-Sheikh Shams, Mirza Baqir Zanjani, Mirza Hassan Yazdi
Authorships:
- Communism Contradicts Religion
- Firm Thoughts in Recognition of Ideological Believes (4 volumes)
Activities:
- Over 60 years of teaching jurisprudential and Quranic sciences
- Missionary trips to European and Middle Eastern countries
- Part of the scientific committee in the 10th Cairo International Book Fair in 1977 a.d
- Training many students in religious studies
- Answering to religious doubts and questions, especially in WOFIS
- Organizer of religious meetings
- Lectures, poems, and eulogy for Ahl Al-Bayt (a.s)
Sayed Mohammad-Redha Nouri
- Holy Najaf 1932
Father: Sayed Ali (Born in Samarra)
Father's Education: in holy Najaf’s seminary he reached the highest levels in advanced classes; Ijtihad (endeavor to deduce). The late Sayyid Ali Nouri - Sayed Muhammad Ridha’s father - was also the representative in holy Najaf of the high-ranking Shia authority at the time; the late Sayed Abu Al-Hassan Al-Isfahani when he travelled outside Iraq for treatment.
Education: Traditional Shia Seminary:
- Preliminary Level Studies: Arabic literature, logic, etc.
- Intermediate Level Studies: jurisprudence and its principles and books such as: Al-Qawaneen, Al-Rasa'il, Al-Kifāya, and Al-Makasib.
- Various advanced level courses outside in jurisprudence and its principles.
- Some of His Teachers: Sayed Muhammad Baqir Mahallati, Sayed Abu Al-Hassan Shamsabadi Isfahani, Sheikh Hassan Hilli, Mirza Hassan Yazdi Baesi, Mirza Baqir Zanjani, Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei
Authorships:
- A Guide to Mustadrak Al-Wasa’il (A guide to biographical evaluation topics in Mustadrak Al-Wasa'il)
- The Arabic translation of Sheikh Abbas Qomi’s Mafatih Al-Jinan. In addition to translation of the Persian texts in the book into Arabic, he mentions the sources of the narrations available in Mafatih al-Jinan.
- A Collection of Sayings from the Nobel Kafi (written by Muhammad ibn Ya'qub Al-Kulayni) (14 volumes)
- Selections from the Holy Quran & Its Guidance
- Religion & Life
- Assembling and compiling a detailed list of books published by WOFIS
- Books for teaching the holy Quran with groundbreaking and excellent methods
Activities:
- Over 60 years of teaching jurisprudential and Quranic sciences
- Supervision of WOFIS’s correspondence center for answering religious doubts and inquiries
- Examination and organization of the chain of reporters in the second volume of Al-Kafi (Ongoing)
- Leadership of congregation prayers and missionary work prompting topics related to interpretation of the Quran, jurisprudence, and sayings from 1964 to 1983 a.d.
- Inventing a creative method in teaching the holy Quran and authoring necessary books in connection with coaching hundreds of Quranic teachers with this method since.
The late Sheikh Mohammad-Redha Jafari
- Holy Najaf 1932
- 2010
Father: Nasrallah Ja’fari Ashkouri, who was trained by Sayed Abu Al-Hassan Al-Isfahani and Al-Muhaqiq Mirza Al-Naini, and was available during the era of Sayed Muhsin Al-Hakim and Sayed Mahmoud Al- Shahroudi in holy Najaf.
Education:
- The advanced level (Kharij lesson)
- English literature (advanced level)
- French literature
- Astronomy
- Philosophy
- Logic
Teachers:
- Sheikh Nasrallah Ja’fari Ashkouri (preliminary level)
- Sheikh Abdul Samad Yazdi (Logic)
- Sheikh Sadra Badkoubi (Philosophy)
- Abdul Jalil Adly (Astronomy)
- Al-Mudaris Al-Afghani (Arab literature)
- Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei and Sayed Muhammad Rouhani (Jurisprudence and Principals of Jurisprudence)
- others: Sayed Abdulali Sabzavari - Mirza Muhammad Ardebili - Sheikh Ali Kashi - Sheikh Mortada Lahiji - Sayed Ahmad Ashkouri - Mirza Hassan Yazdi.
Articles:
- History of Islamic Theology
- A Classification of Shia Theologists
- Saqifa
- Fadak
- A Treatise on Al-Ghadir
- A Treatise on the Meaning of “Mawla”
- Commentary on Sheikh Aqa Bozorg Tehrani’s Classification of Shia Scholars
- Editing and Commentary of Al-Khalasa Allamah Al-Hilli
- Research About Hisham Ibn Al-Hakam
- Research About Ismailism
- Research About the Distortion of the Quran
Authorships:
- Sects, Branches, and Ideologies: (Ismailia, Mu'tazila, Karami, Ashʿarīyyah, Heretics, Kharijites, Murji'ah, Zaydi)
- Imami Theologists: (Hisham ibn Hakam, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Nu'man, Ibn Maytham)
- Biography of Al-Tabari & Al-Mufid
- Sunni Theologists
- A Biography of Imam Al-Mujtaba (a.s)
- A Biography of Imam Zayn Al-Abidin (a.s)
- A Biography of Imam Al-Hussein (a.s)
- Virtues and Defects of Sahaba, Tabi'een, and Imams of Sects
- The History of Shia Culture
- Polytheists’ Monotheism
- Sayings About Imam Al-Mahdi (a.t.f) & Mahdiism
- Poets of Virtues
- The Distortion of the Quran According to Sunnis
- Commentary of Usul Al-Kafi (Kitab Al-Hujja [The Book of the Proof])
- Hadith of Wahhabism
- A Selection from Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal
- The Verse of Wilayah [Leadership]
- The Verse of Ikmal [Perfection of the Religion]
- Research on the Ummah (the meaning of the imam and the guardian (research report)
- Research on the Ummah (Events During the Prophet’s Illness)
- Al-Azhar Al-Muqtatafa
- Memoirs
- Shia Religious Rituals
- The Occultation
- An Introduction to Tashih Al-Itiqadat [A Correction of Al-Saduq's Risalat Al-Itiqadat]
- Reports of Saqīfa
- The Event of Saqīfa
- Commentary on Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal (3 volumes)
- Sunnah of Interpretation (5 volumes)
- Commentary on Allamah Al-Hilli’s Rijal Book
- Days of Illness
- The History of Transcribing the Holy Quran
- The Battle of Tabuk in the Holy Quran
- The Battle of Uhud in the Holy Quran
- A Biography of Abu Hanifa
- Shia Religious Rituals
- The Prophet’s Wives in the Holy Quran
- Commentary on Sayed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani’s Wasilat Al-Najat (in cooperation with Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Khoei)
Activities:
- A member of Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Kohei’s Q&A Office
- An active member in the administration group of holy Najaf’s seminary (2001 a.d.)
- An active member in the administration group of Al-Adhwa'a magazine
- Educating and teaching criticism of Marxism (Najaf Ashraf)
- Islamic theology teacher holy Najaf’s seminary
- Thought Islamic history, Islamic believes, principles of jurisprudence, and interpretation of the holy Quran for seven years in Najaf’s Fiqh University
- Enforced emigration to Iran in 1972 a.d.
- A fundamental member of WOFIS’s academic board, Q&A office, bookfair ambassador, translation of reliable books such as Al-Kafi (7 years)
- Thought Islamic theology, Islamic history, criticism of western philosophy, interpretation, and modern theology in Faravan, Iran
- Various researches, including the encyclopedia of Imam Al-Hussein (in twenty volumes and more than 15 thousand pages)
- Gathering of a large and specialized library in various fields of Islamic sciences, as well as other sciences in Persian, Arabic, and English for research purposes (more than 30,000 volumes)
- Defending Shia creeds by answering doubts and misconceptions
- Missionary trips to Egypt, Indonesia, and various countries in Europe
- Carried out countless religious gatherings and ceremonies throughout 40 years in Iran.
The late Sheikh Mohammad-Sadiq Jafari
- Holy Najaf 1935
- 1998
Father: Al-Sheikh Nasrullah Ashkuri
Education: Advanced Level (Kharij Lesson)
Teachers:
- Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei
- Al-Sayed Muhammad Al-Rouhani
- Mirza Ali Falsafi Tonekaboni
- Al-Sheikh Abdulhussein Al-Rashti
- Mirza Kadhim Al-Tabrizi
- Al-Sayed Ali Fani Isfahani
- Al-Sheikh Mujtaba Al-Lankarani
- Al-Sheikh Sadra badkoobei
Authorships:
- An Interpretation of the Holy Quran
- A Dialogue on Imamate
- A Treatise on Friday Prayers
- Jurisprudence and Ijtihad from Shia’s Point of View
- Detection of Arwa Al-Wuthqa (The Topic of Divorce)
- A Treatise on Divine Justice.
- A Treatise on Dubious Clothes
- A Treatise on the Maxim: No Repeating
- Principles for Studying and Compiling Islam’s History
- Semantics in Akhund Khurasani's View, Notes from His Kifāya Classes (Verbal Issues)
- Notes from Principles of jurisprudence (Advanced Levels)
- Al-Murtaqa Ila Al-Fiqh Al-Arka (Report of Ayatollah Al-Rouhani’s Lessons)
- Report of Ayatollah Al-Khoei’s Lessons (Principles of Jurisprudence)
- Report of Ayatollah Al-Khoei’s Lessons (Jurisprudence: Ritual Purity – Prayers)
- Report of Ayatollah Al-Rouhani’s Lessons (Jurisprudence: Khums – Hajj – Fasting – Forbidden Transactions – Trading – Settlement)
- Report of Ayatollah Al-Rouhani’s Lessons (Principles of Jurisprudence)
Activities:
- Teaching the books Kifayat Al-Usul and Al-Makasib, and training many respected scholars in Iraq.
- Answering Inquiries sent to Ayatollah Khoei's Office
- Teaching Islamic Jurisprudence, Principles of Jurisprudence, Interpretation [of the Quran] and Theology in Iran to a large group of scholars, clerics, and academics.
- Missionary duties in which he spread the words of guidance with lecturers and eulogy in various ceremonies.
- Effective cooperation with the Worldwide Organization For Islamic Services since 1972 a.d.
The late Sheikh Redha Amini Najafi
- Holy Najaf 1934
- 2013
Father: Abdul Hussein ('Allama Amini)
Education: Up to the advanced level (Kharij lessons)
Some of His Teachers:
- Sheikh Hashem Ozzy
- 'Allama Amini
- Sheikh Ghorban Ali Sarabi
- Sheikh Ali Asghar Tabrizi
- Sayed Ali Allama Fani
- Sheikh Muhammad Gharavi Qazvini
- Sheikh Mirza Ali Falsafi
- Dr. Abu Al-Qasim Gorji
- Sheikh Gholamreza Erfanian Isfahani
- Allameh Sheikh Mohammad Taqi Jafari
- Sayed Assadullah Madani
Authorships:
- An Introduction to The Book: Al-Ghadir
- An Introduction & Description of The Book: Tafsir of Surah Al-Hamad by ‘Allama Amini
- A Journey During the pyramids
- Ghadir: The Shia’s Jewel
Activities:
- Accompanying 'Allama Amini on all his trips to India, Syria, Turkey, and Iran
- Permanent attendance with 'Allama Amini
- Cooperation in construction and management of Amir Al-Mumenin (as) Library
- Cooperation with WOFIS (Finance, Director During Book Fairs, Establishment of the Dar Al-Turath Institute)
The late Sayed Hoseinali Nabavi
- Behshahr 1932
- 2020
Father: Sayed Muhsin
Education: Studied in holy Najaf’s Islamic seminary
Teachers:
- Al-Sayed Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei
- Ali Mohammad Boroujerdi
- Mirza Hashem Amoli
- Sayed Muhammad Rouhani
Authorship:
- Reports and notes from the jurisprudence and principals of jurisprudence lessons of Ayatollah Abu Al-Qasim Al-Khoei and Ayatollah Rouhani, which are yet to be published.
Activities:
- Various activities for many years in holy Najaf, Bandar-e-Gaz, Tehran, and Mashhad.
Sayed Mahdi Nabavi
- Behshahr 1935
Sponsors (1967-1986)
The late Dr. Sayed Mohammad-Ali Shahrestani
- Karbala 1932
- 2011
Birth Place: Iraq, Karbala
Born: 1932
Demise: 2011 (Buried in the courtyard of Imam Al-Hussein’s shrine)
Education: PhD in International Engineering from University de la Romande, England
POSITIONS HELD
- Founder and CEO of (R E Group) in Iran (Tehran), Germany (Solingen), USA (Huston), UK (London) and Lebanon (Beirut)
- Founder and CEO of a steel manufacturing company in Tehran, Iran
- Founder and Trustee of the International University of Technology in London (established in association with UNESCO)
- Founder and President of International Colleges of Islamic Science in London
EXPERIENCE
He was a designer or executer of multiple projects including:
- Hotels: 6 hotels in Iran (Mashhad) and Iraq (Karbala and Kadhimiya)
- Town Planning & Housing: Large projects in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Iraq (in total over 25,000 housing units)
- Hospitals and Clinics: including 8 hospitals and medical centers in different cities of Iran and Bangladesh (in total more than 1700 hospital beds)
- Commercial and Office Buildings: 5 shopping malls in Iran, USA, UK, and Lebanon
- Religious and Cultural Buildings: The most significant of which are:
- The extension of Imam Al-Ridah’s (a.s) holy shrine
- The extension of the main hall of Kadhimain shrine
- Lavatory facilities in Karbala and Kadhimain (800 Units)
- A new courtyard and ancillary buildings for the Kadhimain shrine
- A new massive courtyard surrounding shrines of Imam Al-Hussein (a.s) and Al-Abbas (a.s)
- The extension and roofing of Imam Hussain’s (a.s) courtyard
- Lady Ruqayyah’s Shrine in Damascus, Syria
- Hujr ibn Uday’s shrine in Damascus, Syria
- Chief designer of many industrial projects
- Chief designer of many agro-industrial projects
- Academic Activities: Establishment of two universities and participation in many international world conferences
- Higher education consultant to UNESCO during 1987 - 1990.
- Broadcasting Activity: Managing Director of a Documentary Educational / Religious Satellite Channel called "Ghaem Channel"
- Founder of the “World Organization for Islamic Services” (WOFIS)
PATENTS
- Rotary Combustion Engine design, patented in England in 1961
- New design for modular roof structure, patented in England in 1988
AWARDS
- Commentative Medal of Honor (Gold) for outstanding achievements by the American Biographical Institute
- Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Biographical Institute
The late Sayed Mahdi Shahrestani
- Karbala 1935
- 2009
The late Sayed Hasan Shahrestani
- Karbala 1935
- 2008