The imams of Friday prayers in the city of Karbala, Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai and Ahmed al-Safi, are the only licensed sheikhs who have the authorization to declare a political position on behalf of Sistani's office. Sistani’s shrewd political positioning led to an agreement between all Shiite parties around him, who recognized him as a religious authority with a broad social power involving the Shiites of Iraq and other parts of the world.
The Department of Social Assistance also plays a major role in linking the Shiite authority to the community. Al-Monitor was informed that this assistance amounts to $5 million a month in southern Iraq alone. For example, Najaf received 15,000 displaced persons during the recent Iraqi crisis, and they were not only Shiites, but also included Sunni families.
Sistani’s office contributed 150,000 Iraqi dinars ($130) for every displaced family, without taking into consideration their religion, with an additional 5,000 dinars ($4) for each member of the family, as well as a daily meal. In the same context, there is a wide network of services and economic support in various fields such as education, health and culture in other areas of Iraq and across the Shiite world.
The sources of these funds are wealthy Shiites who provide their authorities with an annual liturgy in addition to gifts, endowments and other public charities.
(Shiite image via Shutterstock)
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