Arabic ('''مرجع'''), Persian ''mærjæ' '' (plural ''mærjæha''), also appearing as Persian ''mærjæ'-e tæqlid'', Arabic ''marjiˤ taqlīd'' (مرجع تقليد), literally means "Source of Imitation", "Reference of Emulation" or "Source of Tradition" and refers to the second highest authority on religion and law in Twelver Shīˤa Islām after the Prophet and Shīˤa Imām s. ''Mærjæ'ha'' are accorded the title Grand Ayatollah after they reach the level of Allama or Ayætollah "Sign of God". Where a difference in opinion exists between the ''mærjæ'ha'', Alem s "religious scholars" try to provide different opinions.
Four senior Grand Ayatollah s constitute the Howze Elmiye , a religious institution in Najaf and the preeminent seminary center for the training of Shīˤa Clergymen . There is a separate institution in Qom , Iran .
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