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Shiite Cleric Upping Ante With Ayatollah Studies

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The Associated Press

Published: December 14, 2007

BAGHDAD - The leader of Iraq's biggest Shiite militia movement has resumed seminary studies toward attaining the title of ayatollah - a goal that could make Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army an even more formidable power broker in Iraq.

Al-Sadr's objectives are part of increasingly bitter Shiite-on-Shiite battles for control of Iraq's southern oil fields, the lucrative pilgrim trade to Shiite holy cities and the nation's strategic Persian Gulf outlet.

The endgame among Iraq's majority Shiites also means long-term influence over political and financial affairs as the Pentagon and its allies look to scale down their presence.

But al-Sadr is also confronting the most serious challenges to his influence, which includes sway over a bloc in parliament and a militia force that numbers as many as 60,000 by some estimates.

Becoming an ayatollah - one of the highest Shiite clerical positions - would give the 33-year-old an important new voice and aura.

It also would give him fresh clout to challenge his top rival, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, which looks to Iranian-born Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as its highest religious authority and has its own armed wing, the Badr Brigade, which has been largely absorbed into Iraqi security forces.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Becoming an Ayatollah: Eight years of classes in religious studies, followed by research that can take a minimum of four years or far longer. The candidate also must be supported by Islamic seminarians and laymen.

Other Shiite ranks: First rank for a seminary student is "hojat al-Islam." The next is "ayatollah." The highest is "grand ayatollah," which must be supported by seminary authorities.

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