Grand AyatollahSheikhMuhammad-Husayn Kashif al-Ghita' (b. Najaf, 1877; d. Karand, 1954) was a Shiite jurist, philosopher, author, teacher, and lecturer. He was considered to be one of the highest ranking scholars in Iraq, yet less popular.[1] He worked for the welfare of the Shia community in Iraq and for Sunni-Shia rapprochement and solidarity.[2][3]
Kashif al-Ghita' was born to Sheikh Ali Kashif al-Ghita' in Najaf in 1877.[4] He hails from a long line of illustrious Shia jurists.[5]
He studied in the Islamic seminaries of Najaf, under grand scholars such as Mirza Husayn Nuri, Mulla Reza Hamadani (d. 1904), Mirza Ḥusayn Ḵalili (d. 1908), Sheikh Mohammad-Kazem Khorasani, and Sayyid Mohammed Kazem Yazdi.[6][7]
Works
Kashif al-Ghita' wrote nearly 80 books on religious sciences such as jurisprudence, authority and hadith. Some of them include:
Daʿwat al-Eslāmiya elā maḏhab al-Emāmiya [An Islamic invitation to the Imami School]. 4 volumes.
Tawżiḥ fi bayān mā howa al-Enjil wa mā howa al-Masiḥ [A clarification on what the Bible is, and who Jesus was]
Aṣl al-Šiʿa wa oṣulohā [The origin of Shiʿite Islam and its principles]. This book was translated to Persian by Sheikh Naser Makarem Shirazi, titled, This is our school.
al-Āyāt al-bayyenāt [Clear signs].
al-Moṯol al-ʿolyā fi’l-Eslām, lā fi Beḥamdun [The supreme ideals are to be found in Islam, not at Bhamdun].
Al Ardh wa al-Torbah Al Husayniyyah [The ground and dust of Imam Husayn].
Death
Kashif al-Ghita' died in Kerend on July 19, 1954. He was buried in the Wadi-us-Salaam cemetery in Najaf.
