Marja
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Arabic Marjaˤ (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 Imāms. 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, alems "religious scholars" try to provide different opinions.
Four senior Grand Ayatollahs 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.