Jurist and poet. Syed Hussain Bahr al-Ulum was a grand ayatollah who, hailed from one of the most prominent families, the founder of the Movement for Islamic Revival, which paved the way for the 1920 revolt against the British occupation of Iraq. By 1975 Syed Hussain had become a mujtahid and in 1992 he was recognised as a marja. He was an authority on the transmitters of hadith and the Twelve Imams and published his own collection of fatwas. Syed Hussain had a keen sense of humour and one whom it was easy to communicate with was also a gifted poet. The ayatollah had a large following in the Middle East. He was born in Najaf. He was found dead in his library and was buried in the Tusi Mosque.