THE SHIITE JIHAD IN SYRIA AND ITS REGIONAL EFFECTS

3
Call to Jihad: Clerical Views of
the Shiite Jihad in Syria
THE SHIITE JIHAD in Syria did not manifest itself in a theological or ideological
vacuum. Historically, Shiite clerics are often the main figures pushing
their coreligionists to fight in a jihad and legitimizing their martyrdom. 81 For
the conflict in Syria, the call to jihad traversed a direct ideological path, set
forth by clerics following Iran’s ideology of velayat-e faqih. Looking at the
clerics who have encouraged the Shiite jihad in Syria is just as important
as focusing on the actual groups involved in combat. If one trend is slightly
clearer, it is that both the traditional clerics of Najaf, Iraq, and radicals like
Muqtada al-Sadr (also of Iraq) did not fully support the campaign and that
efforts to rally Shiite fighters to join the war were mainly driven by Iranbacked
clerical circles.
Khamenei’s Blessing, Sistani’s Opposition
The Najaf-based Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the world’s most
influential Shiite clerics, was initially mum on whether Shiite fighters—
particularly those originating in Iraq—should go to Syria. Even days before
Hassan Nasrallah’s May 2013 public announcement of Hezbollah’s involvement
in the Syrian war, Sistani continued to refuse to issue a fatwa supporting
a Shiite jihad in Syria. 82 It was later reported that senior Najafbased
clerics around Sistani considered Shiites traveling to fight in Syria
as “disobedient.” 83
Despite Sistani’s ambivalence, the Iranians have attempted to co-opt
him, using his image and manipulating his statements to fit their position
and build broader support for the Shiite jihad. Even as Sistani has never
supported absolute velayat-e faqih, 84 Iran’s leaders have unleashed a campaign
aimed at presenting Sistani as a willing participant in the Shiite jihad
and a backer of Ayatollah Khamenei. This messaging strategy has been used
13