Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani

Grand Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Golpaygani was an Iranian Shia and marja' scholar. He was born in 1899 in Gogad village near the city of Golpaygan, Iran. He was taught preliminary studies by his father, Mohammad Bagher. At the age of 9, his father died and he later on moved to Golpaygan to continue his studies. He was one of the highest-ranking Shia clergies to participate in the Iranian Revolution, and a one-time serious contender to succeed Ruhollah Khomeini in the 1989 Iranian supreme leader election. However, his candidacy was voted down by the Assembly of Experts, in favor of the eventual successor, Ali Khamenei.