Condolences on the Passing of His Eminence, Shaykh Abbas Mesbahzadeh

June 15, 2022

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

“…to Allah we belong and to Him we shall all return.”

[The Holy Quran, 2:156]

To the respected believers in North America,

Peace be upon you (Assalamu Alaykum).

With great sadness and sorrow, The Council of Shia Scholars of North America mourns the demise of one of our most senior scholars, Hujjatul Islam Wal Muslimeen Allamah Shaykh Abbas Mesbahzadeh (may Allah elevate his status) who recently passed away in Chantilly, Northern Virginia. He will be buried in wadi al-Salam in Najaf, Iraq. We extend our condolences to the Imam of the Time (p), the ‘ulāma’, and the Shia community of North America.

Allamah Shaykh Abbas Mesbahzadeh studied under prominent scholars of his time in Qom, specializing in the pure religious sciences while also taking great interest in poetry, astronomy, and calligraphy. Famous versions of the Qur’an, Sahifah Sajjadiya and Mafatih al-Jinan are the result of his calligraphic endeavors. He was also known for his expertise in preparing the hijri solar and lunar calendars and also salat timetables for many cities in the West.

Shaykh Abbas Mesbahzadeh’s association with the Muhammadi Trust (UK) led to the production of some prominent and beautiful works of calligraphy in various Islamic centers, especially in the mihrab and large panels of the hall in the Muhammadi Islamic Centre (later known as Jaffari Islamic Centre) in Toronto.

In 1989, he moved to the US and eventually established Mo’assasseh-ye Eslami Ahl-ul-Bayt in Virginia in 1990 where he continued preaching for two decades with sincerity and simplicity.

The Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (p), is reported to have said: “When a learned [religious scholar] dies a void occurs in Islam that nothing will fill except if he is succeeded by one like him…” Allamah Shaykh Mesbahzadeh’s void was indeed a great loss for the Muslim community. May Almighty Allah accept his endeavors and elevate his status. The Council also extends its sincere condolences to his family on their loss, especially to his son, Shaykh Mohammad Ali Mesbahzadeh. May Allah give them strength to bear this loss.

On behalf of The Council
Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi, Secretary-General
15 Dhu al-Qidah, 1443 AH, June 15, 2022