Muqtada al-Sadr Announces Death of Najaf Religious Scholar al-Fayyad

NAJAF, Iraq — Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadrist Movement he founded, announced on Thursday the death of religious scholar Sheikh Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayyad. The announcement marked a significant loss for Iraq's religious community. Al-Sadr said he received the news of the death with deep sorrow. He said the religious center in Najaf had lost one of its most important figures alongside the deceased scholar. Al-Sadr said the light of Islam had been extinguished following al-Fayyad's passing. He expressed hope that the path of scholars would continue to illuminate knowledge and righteous deeds, describing it as a tree nourished by the blood of bullets and martyrs. Al-Sadr offered patience and consolation to the Shia community in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also extended condolences, praying for God's mercy and approval for the deceased scholar.