His defeat of the akhbariyyin and his raising of so many...

His defeat of the akhbariyyin and his raising of so many distinguished mujtahid s has led to him being termed as “ Ustad ul-kul ” (“The General Teacher”). His virtue and piety were perfect and his students maintained profound respect for him. Shaykh Morteza Ansari, a descendant of Jaber ibn Abdullah Ansari, is one of the great companions of the Holy Prophet himself.

On a visit with his father to the atabat of Iraq at the age of twenty, the ‘ulema, appreciating his genius, asked his father to let him stay. He remained for four years in Iraq and studied there under the leading teachers. Then, due to a series of unpleasant events, he returned to his home. After two years he went once more to Iraq, stayed for two years, and again returned to Iran, this time deciding to benefit from the ‘ulema in Iran.

He set off to visit Mashhad and on the way visited Hajj Mulla Ahmad Nuraqi the author of the famous Jam’i S’adat in Kashan. This visit became a long stay as he benefitted from the teachings of Mulla Ahmad in Kashan for three years. He then went to Mashhad and stayed there for five months. He also journeyed to Isfahan and to Burujerd in Iran and the aim of all these trips was to learn from men of knowledge. Around 1202/3 A.H. he went for the last time to the atabat and began giving lessons.

After the decease of Shaykh Muhammad Hasan, he became recognized as the sole authority for referral for verdicts. Shaykh Ansari is called the Khatim ul fuqiha walmuitahidin (the seal of the jurisprudents and the mujtahids). He was one of those who in the precision and depth of his views have very few equals. Two of his books, Risa’il and Mukassib are today’s textbooks for (higher) religious students, and many commentaries have been written on his books by later ‘ulema.

After Muhaqqiq Hilli and Allamah Hilli and Shahid Awal, Shaykh Ansari is the first person whose books have been so regularly subject to commentaries. He passed away in 1281 A.H., in Najaf where he is buried. Hajj Mirza Muhammad Hasan Shirazi, known as Mirza Shirazi. His preliminary studies took place in Isfahan and he then went to Najaf and took part in the lessons of Shaykh Ansari and became one of the Shaykh’s leading and outstanding students.

After Shaykh Ansari’s demise, he became the leading authority of the Shia world, and he remained thus until his demise about 23 years later. It was by means of this great man’s prohibition of tobacco that colonialism’s famous monopoly agreement in Iran was broken.