Sheikh Hassan Allahyari

Sheikh Hassan Allahyari (Persian/Arabic: شیخ حسن الله‌یاری) is an Afghan-born Twelver Shia Islamic preacher, debater, and media figure. He is the founder of the religious media network Ahle Bait TV and is known for his online lectures and debates on Islamic theology, particularly Shia–Sunni polemics. He has publicly criticized clerical authority structures such as taqlid, ijtihad, and wilayat al-faqih.

Early life

Allahyari later emigrated to the United States during the period of political instability associated with the Soviet–Afghan War. Publicly available information about his early life is limited, and most biographical details are derived from statements connected to his religious and media activities.

Education

According to biographical accounts, Allahyari pursued religious studies within the Shia seminary system (hawza). He has stated that he studied in Najaf, Iraq, and Qom, Iran. In his later lectures, he became openly critical of aspects of the traditional seminary curriculum, particularly Islamic philosophy and mysticism, which he considers unnecessary for religious scholarship.

Media activities

Allahyari is the founder of Ahle Bait TV, a religious satellite and online media network based in San Diego, California. The network broadcasts religious lectures, debates, and live question-and-answer programs in multiple languages, including Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and English.

Ahle Bait TV distributes its content through satellite television and online platforms, including YouTube, and primarily targets audiences in South Asia, the Middle East, and Shia diaspora communities.

Online presence

Allahyari maintains multiple official YouTube channels, where he regularly hosts religious lectures and public debates. His programs have attracted viewership from a wide international audience.

Views and positions

Allahyari is known for advocating a traditionalist interpretation of Twelver Shia Islam. He emphasizes direct reliance on the Quran and hadith attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and the Twelve Imams, while rejecting the authority of contemporary jurists and institutional clerical hierarchies.

He has publicly opposed:

• Taqlid (following a living jurist)
• Ijtihad (independent legal reasoning)
• Marjaʿiyya (clerical authority)
• Wilayat al-Faqih (guardianship of the jurist)

He has also criticized Islamic philosophy, mysticism (irfan), and Sufism, describing them as religious innovations inconsistent with early Shia teachings.

Controversy

Allahyari’s theological positions and confrontational debating style have generated controversy within Muslim communities. Critics argue that his rhetoric may intensify sectarian tensions, while supporters regard his approach as a defense of scriptural orthodoxy.

References

Category:Living people Category:Afghan Shia Muslims Category:American Shia clerics Category:Islamic broadcasters Category:Shia religious debaters Category:Year of birth missing (living people)