The Irawani family in Iraq
The Irawani family roots are traced back to the city of Yerevan (capital of Armenia). The family ancestors were a leading religious authority of the southern Russian republics and money was brought to them from the regions.
The family elder (Mirza Mohammad Irawani) known to have moved from Yerevan to Iraq around 1820 (following the 2 wars fought with the Russian Army for control of Yerevan) and the family settled in the city of Najaf. The family is known to have produced some of the leading intellectuals of Shia’a theology and have prominence in religious circles.
One of their elders was Sharif Al-Ulama’s Mohammad Iravani who had the leadership of the religious community and awarded Ijtihad by Sayid Abul Hassan Al-Isfahani, had 2 sons (Jawad & Ali Asghar). Mohammad Iravani taught theocracy in Masjid Al-Tusi (Najaf) in the morning and Usool at night and was known to be excellent in Mathematics. Mulla Mohammad Iravani succeeded Kuhkamara as head of the Turkish faction in the Najaf Hawza and died on Thursday 3rd March 1885.
In Najaf, the Iravani family managed (Masjid Al-Turk) which was to be used by Ayatollah Khomeini during his exile in Iraq.
Masjid Al-Turk, which was run By Mirza Abood Irawani had a unique following in Najaf for operating in a different style such as the candle, lit processions by relatives and extended families (which runs at around 4000 people in the city alone), The processions, which usually recite in Turkish through the streets on Najaf at nights in Ashura.
One of the landmarks was the Irawani Madrassa in Mohey Al-Deen Street in Al-Emara area near Syed AbulHassan Al-Isfahani House which was built in 1884 by Mirza Irawani (management expenses was paid by Mahdi Irawani) when the Turkish students were discriminated against by Iranian students and complained to the Mirza who ordered a madrassa to be built to have study rooms, library and residential rooms on the top floors. The school was demolished during Saddam crashing of the Shiaa revolt in 1991.
Al-Irawani family is a well known for their knowledge in Philosophy, theocracy and have a number of notable people such as Mirza Ali Abdul Hussain Mulla Ali Asghar Mohammad Baqir Al-Irawani (a leading figure and awarded Ijtihad at an early age and had written 10 books – to date 7 have been published by his sons).
Mirza Ali Al-Iravani joined Mirza Taqi Al-Shirazi during World War 1 to write to and incite the Arab tribes in the South of Iraq to revolt against the British Army. Mirza Ali Al-Irawani left back to Najaf after Shirazi’s death; his students include Syed Al-Khoei, Syed Jawad Al-Tabrizi, Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Sayed Ahmad Al-Mustanbit, Al-Khomeini, Al-Shirazi & Abtahi.
Mirza Ali Al-Irawani died in Karbala on Friday 12th April 1933 and was buried in Imam Ali Sahan Room no.23 (3 rooms away from Sayed Abul Hassan Al-Isfahani. 9 years later his wife Alwiya Zahra Syed Ali Zaini was buried next to him (4th room from Bab Al-Saeh)
After Sharif Al-Ulama Mohammad Iravani death in 1888 Hassan Magmaqani who are cousins of the Iravani succeeded him.
Other known Irawani’s are Sheikh Yusuf Irawani (Son of Mirza Ali), a leading religious authority representing the Najaf Marjeia and has a tremendous Turkish and Azeri’s followings in Tehran. Yusuf was arrested by the Shah of Iran for meetings with Khomeini in Najaf in 1973 (the meetings were organised by his brother in law Syed Murtaza Nakhchevani). Sheikh Yusuf was instrumental in solving the problems that erupted between Ayatollah Khomeini and Shariat Madari at the start of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Other notable people include Sheikh Sadiq Al-Irawani, Mohammad Ali, Baqir Al-Irawani and Sheikh Yusuf Al-Irawani.
Sheikh Ahmad, Sheikh Sadiq & Sheikh Tahir is known to be leading the Majalis Husainia in Najaf and the South of Iraq.
During Saddam regime Jassim Al-Irawani was a legendary figure in the city of Najaf for standing out publicly against the Baath regime in 1975 and declaring opposition against the government attacks against Shiite traditions. This resulted in the largest manhunt against him and was arrested in 1977 and executed by Saddam intelligence services.
Both of Mirza Ali Al-Irawani daughters Saddiqa & Nashmiya Irawani were married to Nakhchevani family and are also related.
The Irawani family members are today residing in UK, USA, Iraq, Syria, UAE, Kuwait, Iran, Sweden, Poland, and Netherland.
Business:
Saad Al-Irawani: runs a number of advertising, marketing and media companies and trade & construction businesses in London, Dubai & Iraq).
Ali Al-Irawani runs businesses in Iraq, Sharja, Morocco.
Hasson Al-Irawani a well-known finance man in Iraq.
Jawad Al-Irawani (Finance minister for 8 years during Ali Akbar Rafsanjani rule and a director of Jihad Construction companies in Iran, Head of Iran Economic think tank and Chairman of Istiqlal Football club in Iran.
Khadum al-Irawani (deputy minister of economics during Rafsanjani government, head of Iran trading company and chair of the Kish Island trading company.
Sheikh Mohammad Irawani was an advisor to Sheikh Zayed of the UAE and his sons live and work in the government of Abu Dhabi.
Contributions:
Lutuf Ali Khan Al-Irawani built Imam Ali silver Door opposite the Gold hall in 1283 Hijri.
Kumail Bin Ziyad dome was built by donations from Hasson Al-Irawani in 2000.
Kumail bin Ziyad mahogany door was donated By Saad Al-Irawani & his wife Zina Abu Qlam in 2002.
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