Shia Authorities in the Age of the Minor Occultation, Part IV: Sheikh Tusi

Sheikh Tusi, known as Sheikh al-Ta’ifah, was a renowned Shi‘a scholar recognized for his hadith compilations Tahdhib al-Ahkam and al-Istibsar, two of the four major works of Shi‘a Islamic traditions. Having closely studied under and associated with prominent Shi‘a leaders and scholars such as Sheikh al-Mufid and Sharif al-Murtadha, Sheikh Tusi became the leading spokesperson of Shi‘ism, one of his greatest roles being the founder of the Seminary of Najaf, which marked the city of Najaf as the leading centre of Shi‘a scholarship. This article studies the status, jurisprudential initiative, and religious authority of Sheikh Tusi, including a list of his teachers, students, and works on subjects such as hadith, exegesis, jurisprudence, supplication, and theology, and a description of the political situation during his time.