Who decides the correct Marja'a ft. Sayed Hussain Al-Hakeem

Who decides the correct Marja'a ft. Sayed Hussain Al-Hakeem

March 19, 2026 · 1h 33m · Season 5 · Episode 159

About this episode

This episode explores the concept of Marja’iyyah and the authority of scholars in the Shia world with insights from Sayed Hussain Al-Hakeem.

Support After Maghrib this Holy month of Ramadhan. Become a partner or make a one-off donation today: https://www.aftermaghrib.com/donate In this episode of After Maghrib, we explore the concept of Marja’iyyah, unpacking what qualifies a scholar to become a Marja’ and the level of authority they hold within the Shia world. Joined by Sayed Hussain Hakim, a student of the Hawza in Najaf, we gain insight into the scholarly journey behind religious leadership. We also address common criticisms of the system, questions around blind following, and voices that reject Marja’iyyah altogether. Finally, we discuss why Najaf remains a central pillar of Islamic scholarship and what the future holds for this deeply rooted tradition.

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Host: After Maghrib

Guest: Sayed Hussain Al-Hakeem

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Places: Najaf

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