Having studied some of ibn Taymiyah’s books...

Having studied some of ibn Taymiyah’s books, he said: If he could understand what I say, I would respond to him (meaning that he is ignorant).[^5] Ibn Hajar also says: Hasan ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Ali Mutahhar, the well-known Rafidi who led the Imamiyyah Shi’ites in his time, was well-versed in rational science. He wrote a commentary on the book entitled Alfa¨ Mukhtasar authored by ibn Hajib of Mosul and a book on ‘Ali’s virtues. Ibn Taymiah wrote a book in its rejection.

Sheikh Taqi al-Din Sabki too expressed his protest to that book in his poems, ibn Hajar says: After studying ibn Taymiyah’s book, I found out that Sabki’s protest was right.[^6] Said About Him Sheikh Khabir Mirza Abdullah Afandi Isfahani says: The honorable Sheikh Jamal al-Din Abu-Mansur Hasan ibn Sadid al-Din, Yusuf ibn ‘Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Mutahhar Hilli, is a great ambitious leader, a practicing scholar, a fully-skilled poet and the most learned of the scholars (Allamah in the full sense of the word).

He has reached the peak of knowledge. He is famous for prudence and judiciousness. He is the nephew of Muhaqqiq Hilli and a divine sign on the earth. He has also a great right on the Twelvers in terms of the explication of Shi’ite knowledge and jurisprudence. He was well-versed in all branches of science on which he authored a book. He was expert in philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, Hadith, fundamental dogmas, and Arabic literature, as well as a capable poet.

In the city of Ardabil, I came to some of his poems indicating his poetic talent.[^7] Khajeh Nasir al-Din Tusi being asked about this great scholar, following his visit to the city of Hillah and its scholars, said: I found a sagacious and expert teacher who will gain superiority over me if he endeavors.[^8] Sheikh al-Hurr al-Amili says: He is Allamah in the full sense of the word and his reputation has spread all over the world.

No Shi’ite scholar has been so far called Allamah ala al-Itlaq.[^9] Amir Mustafa Tafreshi in his book, Naqd al-Rijal, writes: He is Hasan ibn Yusuf ibn ‘Ali ibn Mutahhar, Abu-Mansur Hilli. In his description of Allamah Hilli, he, with apology, writes: I would better not describe him, for my book has no enough room for what he knew of the branches of knowledge, and the virtues he possessed. He is above what people say about his benefaction and virtues.

He has left behind over seventy books on fundamental dogmas, secondary precepts of religion, physics and divinities.