Marja' al-Taqlid (Religious Authority)

Marja' al-Taqlid (Arabic: مرجع التقليد) means "reference for emulation" and is the highest religious authority in Shia Islam. A marja' is a mujtahid (qualified religious scholar) who has reached the highest level of Islamic jurisprudence (ijtihad) and issues a risalah (legal guide) with his fatwa's (legal rulings) for the believers to follow.

In Shia fiqh, it is obligatory (wajib) for the non-scholar (muqallid) either to attain ijtihad level themselves, to follow a qualified marja' (taqlid), or to act with precaution (ihtiyat). For most believers, taqlid is the practical path. The marja' decides all fiqh questions, including the detailed rules of prayer: precise recitation, conditions, invalidating actions, doubts in prayer, etc.

Imam al-Mahdi (may Allah hasten his appearance) said in his letter to his last representative: "As for the events that occur, refer to the narrators of our hadith — for they are my proof over you, and I am Allah's proof over creation" (Wasail al-Shia). This hadith is the primary basis for the marja'iyya institution.

Each marja' issues a detailed risalah (legal guide) covering all aspects of Islamic law, including hundreds of rules about prayer. For Muslims, it is important to know which marja' one follows, as there may be differences in details — e.g., in the calculation of prayer times, rules for the traveler's prayer, and doubts during prayer.