In the Name of God

What is explained in the description of the life of His Holiness Sheikh Ansari is derived from what has been passed on through word of mouth by knowledgeable professors who were his students for many years and carried the Sheikh’s inside light. Also we have made  use of the book ‘Description of the Life of Sheikh Ansari’.
Listen!
We are talking of a character, greatness and magnificence whose thoughts on jurisprudence and principles have for over hundred years attracted all Imamieh (those who believe in the Imams) theology schools in Najaf of Iraq and in Qom of Iran and other scientific and theological schools. Any great scholar who wants to become a Mojtahed (reach the supreme stage of being qualified for religious guidance) which is the highest degree of science and religion and on the other hand is connected to our master, the son of Imam Hassan Askari, the 12th Imam (may our souls be sacrificed for him), and a great number of the supporters of the Imamieh religion who follow this great person in religious commands should make best use of the scientific capacities of this honourable person in principles and jurisprudence; i.e. enjoy the supreme principles in jurisprudence from his book, Farayed ul-Osool and the supreme basics of scientific jurisprudence from his book, Makaseb.
(Apparently, the completion of the science of principles in the schools of theology and science are considered to be the two volumes of Mulla Muhammad Kazem Khorasani’s book, Kefayat ul-Osool, we have no objection as Mulla Muhammad Kazem was one of the prominent students of Sheikh Ansari.)
This great person is no one else but Sheikh Murteza Ansari (May Allah grant him higher degrees).
He is the shining sun who has carried the brilliant scientific rays - which he has achieved from the holy presence of Imam Jaffar Sadegh (Peace Be upon Him), the sixth Imam of the Shiites – to the theology schools.
Oh viewer, keep your eyes and thought clean!
Mulla Morteza entitled Sheikh Ansari was himself a great scholar in jurisprudence and the science of principles and other sciences in the school of theology of Najaf. He went to Najaf at the time of Sheikh Muhammad Hassan, author of the book Javaher (which is regarding religious commands through reasoning) and the great Mirza Shirazi (He was the great person who announced the ban on using tobacco and caused uproar in Islamic countries).
Sheikh Ansari took abode in Najaf at the beginning of the 13th century Hijri (Moslem era).
The first day of his lessons although he had few students, he started teaching in the sanctuary of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (PBUH).
To clarify this issue for you, we will have to reveal this secret to you which was received by the heart of a new comer from a prominent jurisprudent: As mentioned, His Holiness Mirza Hassan Shirazi was considered as one of the greatest Shiite jurisprudents and taught in the school of theology in Najaf and around 400 scholars, scientists, jurisprudents and theologians of that time made use of the lessons he taught. One day while he was teaching, he noticed that a number of clergies had gathered in a corner of the courtyard of the Holy Shrine of Imam Ali (PBUH) and were being taught by a professor, but the number of the students was just a few. Mirza started thinking who this person was.
As Mirza was busy preaching, he announced that he had to leave his students for a few minutes.
Mirza somehow, not revealing who he was, joined Sheikh Ansari’s class and sat in a corner. He listened for a few minutes to what Sheikh Ansari was teaching. Mirza realized Sheikh Ansari was speaking scientifically. He got up and returned to the place where he was preaching and announced, at the presence of all his students that he would not teach from the next day.
Everyone asked: Why.
His Holiness replied: I want to be a student, not a professor!
“I have decided not to confine myself to my own self only. Yes, I am a Mojtahed (qualified for religious guidance), but the person I found over there (he points out with his hand) is more learned and has more perfection than me. I want to be his student. You my students, can decide yourselves whether you want to be with me or not”.
(If you pay attention, you will see that this event means surrendering all one’s titles in one place to Sheikh Ansari. He bestowed upon that unknown companion whatever title, perfection and supreme scientific position he had, and this is the greatest sacrifice any person can make in the path of Allah.)
Therefore, the next day, Mirza joined Sheikh’s class. A few people accompanied him. Soon after joining the class, Mirza brought up some philosophical questions relating to one of the secondary issues in Sheikh’s lesson. Sheikh said: Your question is incomplete. Sheikh completed Mirza’s question and gave three responses from three aspects to Mirza Shirazi’s philosophical questions. Mirza was convinced that Sheikh was one of the most prominent scholars of his time, but saw that his clothes were worn out and very old!
That day’s class got over. Mirza got up to clean the dust on Sheikh’s shoes with the fold of his turban which was round his neck. He saw that Mirza’s shoes had a top part but no bottom!
(This was a sign of Sheikh Ansari’s piety and chastity.)
The next day the lessons became more heated and the Sheikh started becoming more and more famous.
But as for the issue of leadership of the schools of theology: Skeikh Muhammad Hassan, author of the book Javaher (which is regarding religious commands through reasoning) before his death, while many scholars who were at the level of religious guidance of people had gathered around his bed and everyone was waiting to see to whom he will assign the leadership of the schools of theology, turned his eyes to Sheikh Murteza Ansari and said: Sheikh Murteza, I ask you to take over the leadership.
However, Sheikh, after some explanations, said: While I was studying with one of my professors, there was a gentleman in my class who read the lessons better than I did. If someone has to lead the schools of theology, it has to be him, not me!
(This shows the highest degree of Sheikh Ansari’s generous disposition and sanctity.)
He continued: His name is Saeed ul-Ulama Mazandarani who lives in Iran. After Sheikh Muhammad Hassan, the author of the book Javaher insisted that Sheikh Ansari himself and no other person should take over the leadership, Sheikh Ansari wrote a letter to Saeed ul-Ulama Mazandarani.
He wrote in his letter: Oh my professor, my master, supreme jurisprudent, I was asked to lead the schools of theology including mainly the Najaf school of theology which is filled with scholars. But I find you more learned than me since when our professor would throw upon you and us his scientific insight, your understanding was stronger than mine.
But he wrote in response to Sheikh’s letter: Oh my master, my lord, my holiness, it is true that when we were studying in the school of theology, I understood better and read the lessons better, but I have come to a spring and you have joined the sea. My spring is this small place and people who do not benefit from knowledge and science, to whom I have not been able to reveal my knowledge well, but you have joined the sea (gone to Najaf), you have entered the sea of knowledge of Imam Ali (PBUH). I am certain that you are more learned and more superior compared to me. Therefore, you deserve more to take over the leadership of the schools of theology. And you deserve more to have the position of leadership for others to follow you in their religious customs.
I request you to take on the leadership of the schools of theology and the 12th Imam will support you.
Be prepared for the continuation of the explanation of the life of Sheikh Ansari!