Among the prominent scholars who imparted wisdom in philosophy...

Among the prominent scholars who imparted wisdom in philosophy, mysticism, and metaphysics to Modarres was the renowned sage Mīrzā Jahāngīr Khān Qashqāʾī [4] . His intellectual rigor and mastery of these fields earned him the respect of his peers and teachers alike, marking him as a rising scholar within the Shi’a religious community. After completing his studies in Isfahan, Modarres arrived in Najaf in Shaʿbān 1311 AH.

Upon visiting the sacred shrine of the first light of Imamate, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (PBUH) and paying respects to Ayatollah Mīrzā Shīrāzī, he took up residence in the Ṣadr School. There, he shared a room with the renowned mystic Shaykh Ḥāj Āqā Shaykh Ḥasan ʿAlī Nukhudakī Iṣfahānī. In Najaf, Modarres benefited from the teachings of grand scholars such as Sayyid Muḥammad Fashārakī and Sharīʿat Iṣfahānī.

He also maintained connections with figures like Sayyid Abū al-Ḥasan Iṣfahānī, Sayyid Muḥammad Ṣādiq Ṭabāṭabāʾī, Shaykh ʿAbd al-Karīm Ḥāʾirī, Sayyid Hibat al-Dīn Shahrastānī, and Sayyid Muṣṭafā Kāshānī. Modarres engaged in advanced discussions with Ayatollah Ḥāj Sayyid Abū al-Ḥasan and Ayatollah Ḥāj Sayyid ʿAlī Kāzarūnī.

After seven years in Najaf, having received confirmation of his status as a jurist (Mujtahid) from the scholars of the city, he returned to Isfahan in 1318 AH (at the age of forty) [5] . His Scholarly Contributions Upon returning to Iran, Ayatollah Muddaris began teaching in the seminaries, where he earned the title “Muddaris” (meaning “teacher”) as a testament to his exceptional pedagogical skills.

He never abandoned teaching, even during his time in the parliament [6] , because he considered teaching his primary occupation and politics as his secondary pursuit. He taught jurisprudence (Fiqh) and the Principles of Islamic law (Uṣūl) in the mornings at the Jadda-e Kuchek School [7] , and logic and Sharḥ-e Manẓūma in the afternoons at the Jadda-e Bozorg School. On Thursdays, he conducted lessons on Nahj al-Balāgha [8] .

Ayatollah Muddaris’ scholarly contributions extended beyond the classroom. He authored works on Islamic jurisprudence and theology [9] , though many of his writings were lost or suppressed during the political upheavals of his time.

His Political Contributions I) The Constitutional Movement Between 1905 and 1911 in Iran, there was a political movement called “The Constitutional Movement” aimed to curb monarchical absolutism and establish a system of governance rooted in constitutional law and accountability.