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This article provides the list of Maraji (plural of Marja, the supreme legal authority or the source of emulation), followed by Twelver (also known as Imamiyyah) Shia Muslims around the world. The concept of a Marja-i Taqlid (lit. source of emulation) is central to Usuli Shi'a Islam. Marja-i Taqlids provide religious interpretations on matters of law and rituals. Ideally, the most just and knowledgeable specialist in the field of the Islamic law should become recognized throughout the Muslim world as the Marja-i Taqlid. In practice however this rarely happens and there are several marja taqlid's among whom an individual is free to choose and emulate.
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Those clerics who reach the apex in the hirerachy of theological rank in the centers of Shi'a learning become Marja-i Taqlids. Since around 1940, Marja-i Taqlids are often referred to by their followers with the honorific title of Ayatollah al-`Uzma (Grand Ayatollah). Among the functions of Marja-i Taqlids is the collection and distribution of religious taxes (zakat and khums).
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Note: The list contains those Ayatollahs who have published a resalah, regardless of the number of followers they have. This list is just for sake of reference and should not be accepted as proof of Marjaiyat for enlisted candidates. To choose & decide Marja for religious purposes please refer to the Shia-Islamic Codifix, Sources and People of Knowledge (i.e. Ahle-e-Khoboor). The general consensus on the standard by which a believer chooses the marja he/she wishes to follow requires (among other things) that the marja be the most knowledgeable shi'i mujtahid in all fields. However, the assessment of the most knowledgeable scholar (alam) is subjective among experts in the field.
The names are ordered alphabetically (by common name of mujtahids).