The term, "Marja" refers to a highly skilled and experienced scholar of Islam who has reached a superior level of ijtihad (the ability to derive the laws of the shari‘ah through a deep analysis of its sources) and alamiyyah (achieving a high level of scholarship in relation to all other mujtahīdīn).
To understand the concept in the most simplest way, consulting a Marja is akin to consulting a very high-level medical specialist whose expertise is beyond that of our family doctor’s knowledge.
Thus, the marja may be seen as a very high-levelled and skilled specialist in Islamic law, jurisprudence, ethics and philosophy who helps individuals to not only deal with often unique, unprecedented and often unusual religious issues, but also helps to guide the Islamic ummah by delivering verdicts based on contemporary societal issues which may come up in the life of believers.
A thorough and comprehensive analysis of the concept of Marjaiyyah (including a discussion of the various quranic ayah and ahadith that have provided a basis for the development of this notion) has been recently published by the World Federation in addition to a 4 part series of video lectures on the topic of Marjaiyyah.
All the livelihood expenses of the people who have dedicated their life to teach or learn or serve Islamic knowledge is from the Islamic Fund which is from Islamic dues including Sahm Imam ( AS). Usually the pious scholars do not take more than the real need for them and their families. Many Ulama and Maraaji' of Taqleed do not take from Sahm Imam (AS) but utilize gifts which some believers send to them, or their family resources.
As Muslims, we know that gambling is forbidden, and we also know that any instruments that have been made exclusively for gambling is also haram, whether betting is involved or not.
As for chess, there are numerous narrations from Ahlul Bayt (a.s.) that speak of chess in a negative reprehensible way. These traditions refer to chess as being bad not in itself as chess, but for 'gambling'.
This is where each Jurist, according to their Ijtihad, derives whether the ruling is applicable to chess and its prohibition, exclusively, regardless of betting on it or no. Or, if it is free of any betting and not seen as gambling at all, then it would be permissible.
Some say that chess is viewed as a mind game, and not as an instrument of gambling. Jurists who see chess in this particular way allow chess to be played, whereas there are jurists who, because of the many narrations, view chess itself to be haram.
The important point here is that this is similar to any other matter in fiqh, where each individual must refer back to their Marja' taqleed for their details and fatwas.
Language is never a condition or reason in Taqleed. The conditions of Taqleed are mentioned in the books of Fiqh and in answers of few questions on this website.
Nevertheless, There is one Marja' of Taqleed in Najaf Ashraf who is originally from Pakistan but studied and taught in Najaf Ashraf since mnay decades. His name is Ayatullah Shaikh Basheer Al-Najafi, may Allah grant him and all the Maraaji' long life.
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