Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi or Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi (born 1941) is an Iranian librarian, Bibliographer and manuscript expert. He is the director of Mar'ashi Najafi Library, which he says is one of the largest libraries in Iran and the world.
Life and education Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi, the eldest son of Shahab ud-Din Mar'ashi Najafi and the grandson of Seyyed Shamsuddin Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi, was born in 1941 in Qom, Iran. After elementary and high school in Qom, he started learning Islamic seminary sciences, studied the basics and first levels with prominent professors such as Fazel Lankarani, Seyyed Mahdi Lajevardi, Abutaleb Tajlil Tabrizi, Mohammad Sadegh Nasiri Sarabi, Mohammad Taghi Sotoudeh and Seyyed Ahmad Varamini. He then learned the highest level of seminary lessons from his father, who was a distinguished professor, and until the last days of his father's life, he was his disciple. In addition to studying religious sciences, Mar'ashi studied books and treatises of the ancients and the late in these fields due to his great interest in the sciences of rijal, genealogy, bibliography and codicology. In this way, he used his father's instructions and experiences a lot and gradually became an expert. He has received many permissions from many professors and elders. He then entered the academic sciences in the field of sociology. Mar'ashi continued his studies in sociology, first at the University of Tehran and then at the University of London, and in 1985 received a doctorate in sociology from the University of London.
Bibliography Books Seyyed Mahmoud Mar'ashi Najafi 's independent works are mainly in the field of cataloging of manuscripts, bibliography and biography of a number of Iranian Muslim thinkers. From 1962 to 2003, in a period of forty-one years, he has authored twelve books. In addition, he has corrected 9 works and 64 books have been published under his supervision. Among his independent works, the following can be mentioned (all in Persian language):
Sharhe Haal va Afkar va Asaar va Aqayed va Nazariate Ibn Sina (, Biography, thoughts, works, ideas and theories of Avicenna), 1962 Sharhe Haal va Asaar va Araae va Aqayed va Nazariate Abu Hamed Ghazali (, Biography, works, opinions, ideas and theories of Al-Ghazali), 1962 Sharhe Haal va Asaar va Araae Abu Nasr Farabi (, Biography, works and opinions of Al-Farabi) Al-Mosalsalaat fi al-Ejaazaat (, The series of permissions), Arabic, 1995 Ganjineh: Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khattie Farsie Samarkand va Bukhara va Khwarazm (, Thesaurus (List of part of Persian manuscripts of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khwarazm)), 1998 Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, List of manuscripts of the Grand Library of Grand Ayatollah Marashi Najafi), 2000-2001 Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Seyyed Roknuddin Haidar Hosseini Amoli dar Ketabkhaneye Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, List of manuscripts of the works of Allama Seyyed Roknuddin Haidar Hosseini Amoli in the library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2002 Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Qazi Noorollah Mar'ashi Shustari dar Ketabkhaneye Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, List of manuscripts of the works of Qazi Nurullah Shustari in the library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2002 Fehreste Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Allame Nezamuddin Abdul Ali Birjandi (, List of manuscripts of the works of Al-Birjandi), 2002 Noskhehaye Khatti Kohan va Nafise Nahj al-Balagha va Shoroohe Bargozideh va Tarjomehaye Aan dar Ketabkhaneye Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, Ancient and exquisite manuscripts of Nahj al-Balagha and selected commentaries and translations of it in the library of Grand Ayatollah Marashi Najafi), 2002 Navader al-Makhtootaat al-Arabiah men Qarn al-Saaless ela al-Saadess al-Hijri (, Rare Arabic manuscripts from the third century to the seventh century AH), Arabic, 2002 Ketab Shenasi Tosifie Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, Descriptive bibliography of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2003 Safarnameye Chin (, Travelogue of China) Oday ibn al-Raqqa, Shaere Qarne Avval (, Oday ibn al-Raqqa, poet of the first century AH) Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khatti Mansoub beh Alemane Samarkand (, List of part of the manuscripts attributed to the scholars of Samarkand) Moroori bar Zendegie Seyyed Abdul Hadi Delijani (, An overview of the life of Seyyed Abdul Hadi Delijani) Nokhostin Ketabhaye Chappi Arabi va Farsi keh dar Jahan Montasher Shodeh (, The first Arabic and Persian printed books published in the world) Noskhehaye Khatti Kohan Nahj al-Balagha (, Ancient manuscripts of Nahj al-Balagha) Jahane Ketabkhaneha: Gozideh Maqaalaat Darbareye Ketabkhanehaye Iran va Jahan (, World of the Libraries: A selection of articles about Iranian and world libraries), 2012 Mirase Mandegar (, Lasting heritage), 2003 Marja e Miras Baan (, Inheritance keeper Marja'), 2011 Fehreste Dast Neveshtehaye Asaare Khajeh Nasiruddin Mohammad ibn Mohammad Tusi dar Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, List of Manuscripts of the Works of Nasir al-Din al-Tusi in the Great Library of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2005 Ketab Shenasie Asaare Dat Nevise Allame Kamaluddin Meysam ibn Ali Bahrani (, Bibliography of the manuscripts of Allamah Maitham Al Bahrani), 2006 Shenakht Nameye Seyed Abdolhadi Hosseini Delijani (, Cognition treatise about Seyed Abdolhadi Hosseini Delijani), 2007 Ejaazaat va Namehaye Ayatollah al-Ozma Seyyed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani to Ayatollah al-Ozma Seyyed Shahabuddin Mar'ashi Najafi (, Permits and letters of Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Abu Al-Hassan Isfahani to Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Shahabuddin Mar'ashi Najafi), Arabic, 2008 Marja' e Farhang Baan (, Culture keeper Marja'), 2009 Mowsoo'ah al-Imamah fi Nosoos Ahle al-Sonnah (, The encyclopedia of the Imam in the texts of the Sunnis), 2009 Makatib al-Mahfooz (, Reserved letters), 2009 Noskheh Shenasi (, Codicology: Studies on manuscripts of Iran and of the world), 2007 Namehaye Namvaran (, Letters of the prominents), 2010 Shasto Seh Noskheh Khatti Nafis az Sadehaye Cheharom va Panjom va Sheshom Hejri (, Sixty-three exquisite manuscripts from the fourth, fifth and sixth centuries AH), 1994 Yeksado Seh Noskheye Khatti az Sadeye Haftom Hejri (, One hundred and three manuscripts from the seventh century AH), 1994 Devisto Hashtad Noskheye Khatti Nafis az Qarne Hashtom (, Two hundred and eighty exquisite manuscripts from the eighth century AH), 1994 Ketab Khaneye Omoomi Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi dar Yek Negah (, Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi Public Library at a glance), 1992 Ganjineh Shahab: Majmooeh Resaleha va Maqalehaye Elmi dar Pasdaasht Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, Treasures of Shahab: A Collection of Scientific Treatises and Articles in Honor of Grand Ayatollah Mar'ashi Najafi), 2001 Ranj va Ganj (, Suffering and treasure), 2007 Fehrestvareye Noskhehaye Khatti Asaare Elmie Fayz Kashani dar Ganjineh Jahani Makhtootaat Eslami Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Hazrate Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, Catalog of Manuscripts of Fayz Kashani's Scientific Works in the World Treasure of Islamic Manuscripts of the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 2008 Noskhehaye Noyafteh (, Newly found manuscripts: A report on a selection of manuscripts purchased by the Mar'ashi Najafi Library (World Treasure of Islamic Manuscripts)), 2008 Faqihe Farzaneh: Zendegi Nameye Ayatollah Seyyed Morteza Faqih Mobarqa (, The Wise Faqih: Biography of Ayatollah Seyyed Morteza Faqih Mobarqa), 2009 Tariq Sheikh Ansari ela al-Ma'soom (, The path of Murtadha al-Ansari to the Infallible), Arabic, 1995 Ganjineh: Fehreste Bakhshi az Noskhehaye Khattie Farsi va Arabie Samarkand va Bukhara va Khwarazm (, Thesaurus: List of part of Persian and Arabic manuscripts of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khwarazm), 1998 Fehreste Namgooye Nosakhe Khattie Makhzane Hamid Soleiman Anstitoo Shaq Shenasi Abu Reyhan Birooni (Ozbakestan) (, List of manuscripts of Hamid Soleiman Repository of Abu Rihan Biruni, Institute of Oriental Studies (Uzbekistan)), 1998
Articles Dr. Mar'ashi has published the results of his studies in the fields of librarianship, archiving and manuscript research, his experiences and his visits of the cultural centers of different countries in more than 60 articles, conversations and reports in the following publications:
Mirase Shahab (, The Shahab's Heritage), journal, since 1995 Miras (, The Heritage), journal Mirase Eslami (, The Islamic Heritage), journal
Some of these articles have also been published in his book Ganjineh Shahab. Among other Mar'ashi 's articles, the following can be mentioned (all in Persian language):
Noskhehaye Khattie Noyafteh (, Newly found manuscripts), 2011 Danesh Nameye Kootahe Farsi (, Concise Persian encyclopedia), 2010 Olamaye Shiiee va Masaleye Ejazeh dar Qarne Noozdahom (, Shiite scholars and the issue of the permission in the nineteenth century AH), translator, 2010 Kabikaj dar Noskhehaye Khatti (, Ranunculus lanuginosus in the manuscripts), 2010 Ketabcheye Porseh va Pasokh ya Estentaq az Mirza Reza Kermani (, Question and Answer Booklet or Interrogation of Mirza Reza Kermani), 2009 Joqrafiaye Khuzestan (, Geography of Khuzestan), 2009 Ketab Shenasie Kamaluddin Meysam Bahrani (, Bibliography of Maitham Al Bahrani), 2006 Resaleye Montakhab (, The selected treatise), 2006 Eslam, Iran, Chin (, Islam, Iran, China), 2004 Safarnameye Eshqabad, Samaqand va Bokhara (, Travelogue of Ashgabat, Samarkand and Bukhara), 2004 Gozareshe Safare Faranse (, Travel report to France), 2004 Maraseme Eftetahe Ketabkhaneh Eskandarieh (, Opening Ceremony of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Library), 2002 Do Nemooneh az Qoranhaye Koofie Kohan; Az Ganjineye Noskhehaye Khattie Ketabkhaneye Bozorge Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi Najafi (, Two versions of ancient Kufi Qurans; From the treasure trove of manuscripts of the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 2001 Noskhehaye Kharidari Shodeh (, Purchased manuscripts), 2001 Noskhehaye Khattie Ketabkhaneye Aref Hekmat (, Manuscripts of Aref Hekmat Library), 2000 Moallefe Rabi al-Shi'ah (, The author of the Rabi 'al-Shi'ah), 2000 Noskhehaye Jadide Ketabkhaneh (Gozide ee az Noskhehaye Khattie Kohan va Nafise Tazeh Kharidari Shodeh) (, New manuscripts of the library (Excerpts from Old and Exquisite Manuscripts Newly Purchased)), 2000 Konferanse Beinol Melalie Noskhehaye Khatti (, The International Conference of the Manuscripts), 2000 Do Ketabkhaneye Nafise Shakhsi (, Two exquisite personal libraries), 2000 Ketab va Ketabkhaneh; Atlalat ala Maktabata Ayatollah al-Ozma Mar'ashi (, Books and libraries; Informations about the Mar'ashi Najafi Library), 1999 Rahtoosheye Ozbakestan (, Route luggage of Uzbekistan), 1998 Ketabkhaneye Shakhsie Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani (, Personal Library of Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani), 1998 Jahan Ketabkhaneh; Ketabkhaneye Shakhsie Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani (, World Library; Ayatollah Bahari Hamedani Personal Library), 1998 Mirase Khattie Ketabkhaneh; Noskhehaye Khattie Zakhireye Khwarazm Shahi (, Library manuscript heritage; Khwarazmian dynasty Saved Manuscripts), 1998 Ravian va Shoyookhe Shiee Bokhari (, Bukhari Shiite narrators and sheikhs), 1998 Gozareshe Safar beh Ozbakestan (, Travel report to Uzbekistan), 1997 Noskhehaye Nehayah Sheikh Tusi (, The manuscripts of the book Al-Nihayah by Shaykh Tusi), 1997 Tafsire Balabel al-Qalaqel (, Interpretation of the Balabel al-Qalaqel), 1994 Gozideye Ketab Shansie Tosifie Foraqe Eslami (, Excerpts from the descriptive bibliography of Islamic sects), 1990 Sharhi Noyafteh bar Tahdhib al-Ahkam Sheikh al-Taefeh Mohammad ibn Hassan Tusi (, A newly found commentary on the Tahdhib al-Ahkam of Shaykh Tusi), 2019