Importance of the Ulema in Shia Islam

According to the Shia faith, in the time of the absence of Imam Mehdi, the responsibility of moral leadership and guidance to the Shia people is given out by the Imams to scholars called ulama. Therefore, they hold an important position of responsibility in the Shia faith. There were many of them learning and teaching in academic establishments and guiding their followers. Within Islam, they have pressed for a more logical and academically researched theology, and increasingly promote and encourage new ideas and scientific thinking.

Family background

The Al-Ansari family was one of the families that has given many scholars in all fields of knowledge and served Islam from the early days of the religion. This family is named after its ancestors who were the first helpers of the Prophet Mohammad; therefore, they were called Ansar (helpers) and were mentioned in the Quran by this name. From this family was the famous companion of the Prophet and five of the Imams and the first Zair (visitor to the holy grave) of Imam Hussein in the Fortieth day (Arbaeen) after his martyrdom, Jabber Bin Abdullah Al-Ansari. Also, the most famous Shia theologian, Sheikh Murtadha AlAnsari known as 'Al-Sheikh Al-A'tham Al-Ansari' (d. 1864) who was one of the greatest scholars of the Shiites of all times. All the knowledge of Fiqh (jurisprudence) and Usul Al-fiqh (principles) are based on his works which were written two hundred years ago. The other one is Ayatollah Sheikh Ahmed AlAnsari known as 'Sheikh Agha' who had many honoured works and deeds; he was Sheikh AlAnsari’s grandfather. The other mentionable scholar of this family was Sheikh’s father, Hujah Sheikh Abdul Ghaffar Alansari who was well known amongst the ulama as well as public for his Iman (faith), goodness and knowledge.

Life

Ayatollah Sheikh Mohammad Hussein Al-Ansari was born in Iraq in 1952. He was brought up into a family known for its religious background and scholarship. He gained much knowledge from his father Hujah Sheikh Abdul Ghaffar AlAnsari during the period of his academic studies. After finishing a degree in Civil Engineering from Baghdad University, Sheikh moved to Najaf Al-Ashraf in the middle of the seventies and started his studies in that well-known university of Islamic knowledge and law until he got the position of Ijtehad. He studied and taught there until the year 1991 when he migrated to the Holy city of Qom in Iran. His lecturers in Annajaf will be mentioned below. In Qum he continued teaching and attending the lectures of his first cousin, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Ahmed Sebt al-Sheikh AlAnsari until the late Marjea died about 1996 were he did not attend any other lectures and continued giving lectures in high levels of Fiqh (jurisprudence), Usool (principles), Aqaed (beliefs) Tafseer(commentaries on the Quran), etc, until he left Qum towards Australia in 1999. He is currently mostly residing in Sydney, Australia serving the rightful and peaceful religion of Islam by his written works and lectures.

Educational Background

Some of his lecturers in An-najaf Al-Ashraf were their eminences:

He is highly appreciated by the Olama and has a special position among them. Some of his degrees and qualifications are mentioned below. He has Ijtehad Degrees from their Eminences (see bottom of the page):

Other Qualifications from their Eminences:

Sheikh Al-Ansari has many books, written works and lectures which are mostly in Arabic language and some have been translated and made available through this website.

Projects

Ayatollah Al-Ansari is supervising a variety of projects both in Australia and overseas, such as: 

Ijtehad Degrees Awarded

The following degree of Ijtehad (Highest Position in Shia Faith) was awarded to Ayatollah Al-Ansari by his lecturer, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir Hussein Al-Najafi (a current major Marjea of Najaf):

The following degree of Ijtehad (Highest Position in Shia Faith) was awarded to Ayatollah Al-Ansari by Grand Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Kadhem Marashi (a major Marjea of Mashhad)

The following degree of Ijtehad (Highest Position in Shia Faith) was awarded to Ayatollah Al-Ansari by Grand Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Mufti al-Shia (a current major Marjea of Qom)