Criteria for the right to marja'yat (religious guidance) in shi'a Islam

The modern Ithna-Asheri branch of Shi'a Islam, whose believers constitute the majority of population in Iran and Iraq as well as a significant segment of population in Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, implies that every believer must choose a religious mentor among the most righteous and proficient in Islamic law scholars and fully implement his guidance in religious and, in certain cases, in political life. It is important to find out the modern criteria for the right to this religious guidance. Understanding changes in the institution of marja' (religious mentoring) may enhance the diplomatic capacities of Russia in the Middle East, where Shi'ite population is dominated or significantly presents, and, in general, enhance the effectiveness of Russian policy in this area.