I replied “For forty years we have wanted to pray one set of prayers behind you...

I replied “For forty years we have wanted to pray one set of prayers behind you, but it has not yet happened. Please accept”. With a charming smile he said “Then it is not much to add one year in addition to those forty years”. I said “I am your servant and your follower. If you order me I will carry out your order!” [to lead the prayers] He said “I am not giving an order, this is just my request”. ‘Allāmah Tehrānī Story n. 6 ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī was a world of greatness.

Like a regular seminary ( hawza ) student he would sit on the ground near the courtyard of the school, and when it was nearly sunset, he would enter Madrasa Fayziyya. When it was prayer time, he would pray in congregation behind the Late Ayatullah Āghā Hājj Sayyid Muhammad Taqī Khānsārī as if he was just another one of the students.

He was so humble and well-mannered and made such an effort to maintain his etiquette that I repeatedly told him that in comparison to your level of propriety ( adab ) and consideration we look ill-mannered! Never once in almost forty years was he seen resting his back against a pillow. Rather, in front of guests he would always maintain his etiquette and sit a little distance in front of the wall.

I was his student and often went to his house and in observance of etiquette, I wanted to sit slightly lower than him, but it was impossible. ‘Allāmah would rise and say “If that is the case, then I must sit either at the entrance or outside the room!” ‘Allāmah Tehrānī Story n.

7 I used to participate in the higher level ( darse khārij ), jurisprudence ( fiqh ) and principles of jurisprudence ( usūl ) classes of Hazrat Imām Khumaynī (qs) and the philosophy classes of ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī and was very attached to and loved both of these pious teachers very much. One day I invited both teachers to my room in Madrasa Hujjatiyya for lunch. They accepted my invitation and arrived at my room.

I wanted to coerce the two teachers into a philosophical debate, but however much I tried I was not successful because they were completely free of any personal desire and thus avoided all types of academic argumentation. In that session, if I addressed Imām Khumaynī and asked him something, he would reply and ‘Allāmah Tabātabā’ī would remain quiet and listen carefully. And if I asked ‘Allāmah a question, he would reply and Imām (r) would remain quiet and listen carefully.

Ayatullah Ibrāhīm Amīnī Story n.