Abdul-Karim Mousavi Ardebili

Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili (, 28 January 1926 – 23 November 2016) was an Iranian reformist politician and Twelver shi'a marja.

Education and Teaching He began his religious studies in Ardabil and went to Qom in 1362 AH to continue his education. Two years later, he traveled to Najaf for further seminary studies and returned to Qom in 1367 AH. He returned to Ardabil in 1380 AH and moved to Tehran in 1388 AH. He finally returned to Qom in 1409 AH, where he remained until his death, teaching and writing. His teachers included Seyyed Mohammad Damad, Seyyed Hossein Boroujerdi, Morteza Haeri Yazdi, Mohammad Hossein Tabatabaei, Seyyed Mohsen Hakim, Mohammad Kazem Shirazi, Abolghasem Khoei, Mohammad Reza Golpayegani, Mehdi Mazandarani, Seyyed Ahmad Khansari, and Ruhollah Khomeini. His students included Seyyed Mojtaba Rudbari and Seyyed Ali Mohaqeq Damad. He died in Tehran on 23 Safar 1438 AH. His body was then transferred to Qom and buried near the shrine of Hazrat Masoumeh.

works His works include Fiqh al-Hudud wa al-Ta'zirat (four volumes), Fiqh al-Qada (two volumes), Fiqh al-Diyat, Fiqh al-Qisas, Fiqh al-Shahadat, Fiqh al-Mudarabah, Fiqh al-Shirkah wa al-Ta'min, al-Rasa'il al-Fiqhiyya, Maqalat fi Tafsir al-Qur'an, al-Iqtisad, Jamal Abha fi al-Radd 'ala al-Baha'iyya, Nahj al-Rashad, and Manasik al-Hajj. Khomeini appointed him as chief of justice in 1981 after the impeachment of President Abulhassan Banisadr. As chief justice, he served as a member of the temporary council of the Presidency, along with the Prime Minister and Speaker, carrying out the duties of the president for up to two months.