Religion Twelver [islam]] Name Sheikh Osseiran Titles Mufti | Post Mufti Role Mufti Based in Sidon | |
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Other names Arabic: الشيخ محمد عسيران | ||
Sheikh Mohamad Osseiran (Arabic: الشيخ محمد عسيران) is the Jaafari mufti of Saida and Zahrani districts of South Lebanon, Lebanon. Sheikh Osseiran is famous as a highly moderate []]Muslim]] Lebanese politician who focuses much of his efforts on interfaith dialogue. Sheikh Osseiran is also a co-founder and a spokesman of the World Organization of Pan-Islamic Jurisprudence (WOP-IJ).
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Sheikh Osseiran is a dedicated follower of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. He was also a very close associate of Ayatollah Mohammad Mehdi Shamseddine, the co-founder and later president of the Supreme IslamicCouncil (SISC) of Lebanon. Sheikh Osseiran is also a member in the SISC.
Sheikh Osseiran is married to Dr. Zeinab Dirani-Osseiran.
Early life
Sheikh Osseiran was born in Saida, the largest city in South Lebanon, and ancestral hometown of the Osseiran family, to Hassan Osseiran, a feudal landlord, and Aminah Osseiran, a homemaker. Sheikh Osseiran has five brothers and five sisters.
Education
Sheikh Mohammad Osseiran began his theological studies at a seminary in Tyre, Lebanon. He then moved to Najaf, Iraq, to pursue advanced studies at the major seminaries there. Sheikh Osseiran was a student and follower of the late Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei. Sheikh Osseiran remained in Najaf until Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein started pressuring the non-Iraqi Shi'a scholars to leave the country.
Velayat-e Faqih
Sheikh Osseiran is known to be an opponent of the Velayat-e Faqih ideology. Being a traditionalist Shi'a from the Najaf schools of Shia theology and jurisprudence, Sheikh Osseiran favors moderate political policies and religious attitude.
Islamic Centers
Sheikh Osseiran is the trustee of the Husseiniyah of Sidon. After leaving Najaf, Sheikh Osseiran returned to his hometown and was entrusted with the running of the Husseiniyah of Saida by an edict from Grand Ayatollah Khoei.