advocate of Christian scholar of Lebanon
He was born in Najaf, Iraq, as his father al Allamah al Shaykh Abdul Kareem Shamseddine was studying there. At age 12 when his father returned to Lebanon, Imam Muhammad Mahdi decided to stay and finish his religious studies under famous scholars including Imam Abolqasim al-Khoei and Imam Muhsin al-Hakim.
His lineage ends to Shahid Awwal who is also known as Shamseddine (Sun of the Faith). During his stay of over 30 years in Iraq he worked closely with the Imams Musa al-Sadr, Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr, and Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, among others Musa al-Sadr disappeared in mysterious circumstances during a trip to Libya in 1978.
In April 1994 Shamseddine was elected president of the Council, which he led until his death.
Shamseddine was known for his moderation and diplomacy. Shamseddine was a staunch supporter of military resistance against the Israeli occupation troops in Lebanon.
He formed the "Total Civil Resistance Against Israel" group in Lebanon after Ashura 1983 to counter the Israeli invasion of June 1982. He also established the Islamic University in Lebanon Association for Charity and Culture, among many other institutions.
Quotations: "There is no Lebanon without its Christians and there is no Lebanon without its Muslims,".
