Origins & Early Life

Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi (c. 995–1067; AH 385–460), commonly known as Shaykh al-Tusi or Shaykh al-Ta'ifa, was a prominent Persian Shia scholar, jurist, mufassir, theologian, hadith compiler and traditionist, and a major scholar of uṣūl al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence). Born in Ṭūs, from which his name derives, he became one of the most influential figures in the development of Twelver Shia jurisprudence and theology and played an important role in stabilizing Shia religious practice following the occultation of the twelfth Imam. Al-Tusi spent much of his scholarly career in Baghdad.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Among his principal works were Tahdhīb al-Aḥkām ("The Correcting of Judgements") and al-Istibṣār ("The Examination"), collections of Shia traditions that constitute two of the Four Books of authoritative hadith in Twelver Shia Islam. His Kitāb al-Nihāya ("The Book of Method") was even more influential in the development of Shia jurisprudence. It set out the basis of Shia legal procedure and became the foundation of a legal school that endured for centuries after his death. Following riots in Baghdad during which his library was burned, al-Tusi moved to Najaf, where he established a major...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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