Marja

This article forms part of the series Islam
Vocabulary of Islam
Five Pillars
Profession of faith Prayer · Alms · Fasting Pilgrimage to Mecca Jihad (See Sixth pillar of Islam)
Major Figures
Allah · Muhammad · Caliph Prophets of Islam · Shia Imam Mahdi · Companions of Muhammad
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Mecca · Medina Jerusalem Najaf · Karbala Kufa · Kazimain Mashhad · Samarra	Hijra Islamic calendar Eid ul-Fitr Eid ul-Adha Aashurah Arba'een
Buildings	Religious Roles
Mosque · Minaret Mihrab · Kaaba Islamic architecture	Muezzin · Mufti Mullah · Imam Ayatollah · Marja
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Nation of Islam Five Percenters Druze*	Babism Bahá'í Faith Yazidi Sikhism
* = self-identification unclear

A marja, or marja-e-taqleed (Arabic مرجع تقليد), literally "source of imitation" or "source of tradition", is the second highest authority on religion and law in Shi'a Islam after the prophet and (Shi'a) Imams. Where a difference in opinion exists between the marjas, Aalims (Religious Scholars) try to provide different opinions.

Four senior Grand Ayatollahs constitute the Hawza Ilmiyyah, a religious institution in Najaf and the preeminent seminary center for the training of Shia clergymen. There is a separate institution in Qom, Iran.

See also

• List of Marjas
• Shia Islam

See also: Marja, Aalim, Aashurah, Ahmadi, Alawite, Alevi, Allah, Arba'een