Grand Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani (March 20, 1899 – December 9, 1993) was an Iranian Shia Muslim and marja' scholar. He was born in 1899 in Gogad village near the city of Golpaygan, Iran. He was taught preliminary studies by his father, Mohammad Bagher. At the age of 9, his father died and later on moved to Golpaygan to continue his studies. He was one of the highest-ranking Islamic clergies to participate in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and a one-time serious contender to succeed Ruhollah Khomeini in the 1989 Iranian Supreme Leader election. However, his candidacy was voted down by the Assembly of Experts, in favor of the eventual successor, Ali Khamenei.
Family and early life
Ayatollah Seyyed Mohammad-Reza Golpayegani's father, Sayyed Muhammad Bagher, was a great scholar who made sure that his son learned primary education and religious sciences under great masters. At the age of 20, he moved to Arak to study under Abdul-Karim Ha'eri Yazdi and became one of his most noteworthy students. After completing his education and achieving high scientific and spiritual positions, he started teaching and went on to become one of the most important masters of his time. After Ha'eri Yazdi and Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Khansari founded the hawza of Qom, he moved there and delivered lectures in the Islamic Seminary.
Masters
The following are his main masters: Seyyed Muhammad Hasan Khansari Ayatollah Haeri Ayatollah Muhammad Taqi Golpayegani
His temporary masters
Ayatollah Muhammad Baqer Golpayegani
Ayatollah Muhammad Reza Masjed Shahi Isfahani
Mirza Naini
Allameh Sheykh Muhammad Hossein Qaravi Esfahani
Ayatollah Borujerdi
Muhaqeq Iraqi
Seyyed Abul Hasan Isfahani
Sheykh Abul Qasem Kabi
His students
After the death of "Ayatollah Abdul Karim Haeri" many students and scholars participated in methodology (Osul) classes of Ayatollah Golpayegani: The late Ayatollah Murteza Haeri The late Sheikh Muhammad Fakour Martyr Murteza Mutahari Martyr Seyyed Muhammad Ali Qazi Martyr Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti Martyr Mufatteh Martyr Qoddusi Martyr Shah Abaadi Ayatollah Meshkini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Ayatollah Ostadi Ayatollah Kharazi Ayatollah Tuiserkani Ayatollah Salawati
Works
He wrote many treatises and books about Jurisprudence and Islam, among them: The book of Hajj in 3 volumes The Guiding for whom Have Velayah The book of Judgment The book of witnesses Noted on Qrvah Al Vosqa Notes on ways of saving Issues of hajj Treatise on non-distorting of the Holy Quran The praying of Jumah day
Death
Ayatollah Golpayegani died in 1993 in Qom near the Shrine of Hazrate Masoumeh.