Mulla Ali Tihrani
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mulla Ali Tihrani |
| Well-Known Relatives | Hajj Mirza Husayn Khalili (his brother) |
| Birth | 1226/1811-2 |
| Residence | Najaf |
| Studied in | Najaf |
| Death | 1297/1880 |
| Burial Place | Najaf |
| Scholarly Information | |
| Professors | Muhammad Husayn Isfahani Ha'iri, Shaykh 'Ali Kashif al-Ghita', Muhammad Hasan Najafi, ... |
Hājj Mullā ʿAlī Tihrānī (Persian: حاج ملا علی تهرانی) (b. 1226/1811-2 - d. 1297/1880) was a twelver jurist, narrator and expert in Rijal of 13/19 century. He studied under great scholars such as Sahib Fusul, Kashif al-Ghita' and Sahib Jawahir. He got expert in various fields so that it was said that he is the A'lam (the most knowledgeable) after Shaykh Ansari passed away. Mulla Muhammad baqir Tustari, Shaykh 'Ali b. Husayn al-Khaqani and others are listed among his students.
Birth
He was born in 1226/1811-2 in Najaf. His father, Hajj Mirza Khalil Tihhrani (d. 1280/1863-4) was the patriarch of Khalili family and was one of the most famous doctors in his time. Mirza Khalil had passed religious studies and was respected by scholars like: Shaykh Ja'far Kashif al-Ghita' and Sayyid Muhammad Mujahid. Mulla 'Ali's brother, Mirza Husayn was a famous jurist in the Constitutional Revolution (Mashruta) era and his other three brothers, Mirza Hasan, Mirza Muhammad and Mirza Baqir, were famous doctors in Najaf.
Education and Teachers
Hajj Mulla 'Ali Tihrani studied:
Principle of jurisprudence under: Muhammad Husayn Isfahani Ha'iri (Sahib Fusul), Sharif al-'Ulama' Mazandarani, Mirza Ja'far Tuserkani and Sa'id al-'Ulama' Mazandarani
Jurisprudence under: Muhammad Ja'far Astarabadi (in Rijal), Shaykh Isam'il Burujidi,Abu Turab Hamadani and Muhammad Taqi Khurasani (in mathematics), Sahib Fusul, Shaykh 'Ali Kashif al-Ghita' and Muhammad Hasan Najafi (Sahib Jawahir)
Philosophy under: Mulla Isma'il Ardakani, Mulla Karim Kirmani and Mulla 'Abd al- 'Azim Tihrani
He had narration certificate form scholars such as: Sahib Jawahir,Mulla Ahmad Naraqi and Sayyid Jawad Husayni 'Amili. Also his brother (Mirza Husayn), Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Mamaqani, Sayyid Hasan Sadr and Mirza Husayn Nuri (Sahib Mustadrak) received narration certificate from him.
Students
He trained several students, like: Mulla Muhammad Baqir Tustari, Shaykh 'Ali b. Husayn Khaqani and 'Abd al-Husayn Hirz al-Din.
His scholarly position was admired very much that a famous jurist believed that he is A'lam (the most knowledgeable) after Shaykh Ansari passed away. Mieza Husayn Nuri (Sahib Mustadrak) called him by "Shi'a's pride" and "Shari'a's reserve". Aqa Buzurg Tihrani said that he was the chief shayikh of certificate-giver shayikhs (Shaykh Mashyikh al-Ijaza).
Religious Activities
He had preaching sessions in courtyard of holy shrine of Imam 'Ali (a), two days a week. He talked about moral issues and virtues of Ahlulbayt (a).
Moral Virtues
There are stories about his pity and ascesis and also about his humility and virtuous traits. He was very determined to perform Ziyara of Imam al-Husayn (a) frequently. Many acts of wonder have been reported form him.
Various Fields of Knowledge
He knew occult sciences (al-'Ulum al-Ghariba) and history. He had memorized Quran, Bible (the Old and New Testament) and many supplications. He was also familiar with Hebrew language.
Demise
He passed away in Safar 1297 /January-February 1880 in Najaf. Various memorial sessions were held and many poems were composed in his honor.
Works
His important works are mainly in jurisprudence and Hadith (narration). Some of his works are:
- Khza'in al-Ahkam, commentary on Talkhis al-Maram (written by 'Allama Hilli)
- Persian translation of Talkhis Hidayat al-Nasikin min al-Hujjaj wa al-Mu'tamirin (written by Muhammad Hasan Najafi) by the request of the author.
- Ghusun al-Aykat al-Gharawiya fi al-Usul al-Fiqhiyya.
- Commentary on the chapter of Wassiyah form Shara'i' al-Islam (written by Muhaqqiq al-Hilli)
- Islamic laws (from Tahara (purification) to the end of Salat al-Jama'a (congregational prayer)) under the title Al-Nubdha min al-Ahkam al-Shar'iyyah.
- Al-Fawa'id al-Rijaliyyah (in Hadith and Rijal) Muhammad Baqir Tustari glossed it.
- Subul al-Hidayah fi 'Ilm al-Dirayyah
- Hisab al-'Uqud, commentary on the narration of Abu Talib's faith.
- Commentary and glosses on al-Ta'liqat al-Bihbahaniyyah (written by Wahid Bihbahani d. 1205/1791)
- Glosses on Muntaha al-Maqal (written by Abu Ali Ha'iri d. 1216/1801-2) in Rijal.
References
- Āgā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, Muḥammad Muḥsin. Al-Dharīʿa ilā taṣānīf al-shīʿa. Beirut: Dār al-Aḍwāʾ, 1403 AH.
- Āgā Buzurg al-Tihrānī, Muḥammad Muḥsin. Maṣfā l-maqāl fī muṣannifī ʿilm al-rijāl. Tehran: 1337 Sa.
- Āl Maḥbūba, Jaʿfar b. Bāqir. Māḍī l-Najaf wa ḥādiruhā. Beirut: 1406 AH.
- Amīnī, Muḥammad Ḥadī. Muʿjam rijāl al-fikr wa l-adab fī l-Najaf khilāl alf ʿām. Najaf: 1413 AH.
- Ḥirz al-Dīn, Muḥammad b. ʿAlī. Maʿārif al-rijāl fī tarījum al-ʿulamā wa l-udabāʾ. Qom: 1405 AH.
- Iʿtimād al-Salṭana, Muḥammad Ḥasan b. ʿAlī. Al-Maāthir wa l-āthar. Tehran: Asāṭīr, 1363 Sh.
- Nūrī, Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad Taqī. Mustadrak al-wasāʾil wa mustanbiṭ al-masāʾil. Qom: 1407 AH.
- Qummī, ʿAbbās. Fawāʾid al-raḍawīyya: zindigānī-yi ʿulamā-yi madhhab-i shīʿa. Tehran:1327 Sh.
- Tihrānī, Aqā Buzurg. Ṭabaqāt aʿlām al-Shīʿa. Mashhad: [n.p.], 1404 AH.