Name Karim Kermani | ||
Hajj Mirza Mohammad Karim Khan Kermani (1810 - 1873), was a Shia scholar, a self-appointed leader of the Shaykhi community after the death of his mentor, Sayyid Kazim Rashti, who was the appointed successor to Shaykh Ahmad al-Ahsaʼi. Kermani dedicated himself to the promotion of the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad and Sayyid Kazim. The opinions Kermani expressed became the subject of controversy among his supporters and opponents alike.
Although he claimed to be nothing except an expositor of the teachings of Shaykh Ahmad and Sayyid Kazim, Kermani has to be considered an original thinker in his own right. A particularly controversial doctrine developed by Kermani is the doctrine of the Fourth Pillar (al-Rukn al-Rābiʿ), pertaining to the need of the Shiʼi community at any given time for the existence of at least one especially enlightened cognizant within their midst.