| Background: |
|
| Abu al-Hasan Isfahani | |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Location: | Najaf, Iraq |
| Grand Ayatollah | |
| Period: | 1937–1946 |
| Predecessor: | Muhammad Hossein Naini |
| Successor: | Hossein Borujerdi |
| Post: | Grand Ayatollah |
| Birth Place: | Isfahan, Sublime State of Persia |
| Death Place: | Kadhimiya, Kingdom of Iraq |
| Honorific Prefix: | Grand Ayatollah Sayyid |
| Native Name: | Persian: ابوالحسن موسوی اصفهانی |
| Madh'hab: | Twelver Shia Islam |
| Nationality: | Iranian |
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Abu al-Hasan Musawi Isfahani (fa|ابوالحسن موسوی اصفهانی) (ar|أبوالحسن الموسوي الأصفهاني); 1861 – November 4, 1946) was an Iranian Shia marja'.[1]
Isfahani became the leading marja' of the Shia world after the death of Muhammad-Hussein Naini.
Isfahani was born in Madiseh to Sayyid Muhammad Isfahani, a renowned alim of Isfahan.
Isfahani passed his preliminary training in Nimarud School in Isfahan and travelled to Najaf in 1890. He joined the lessons of Akhund Khorasani, who soon recognized the talents of his disciple. Isfahani received his degree of Ijtihad from Khorasani. After the death of his contemporary scholar, Ayatollah Mirza Hussein Naini, he became the sole Marja' for most of Shia Muslims. Isfahani was banished to Iran for protecting Iraqi Muslims against colonial policies. Also, he had a strong position about the incidents at the Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad.[2] [3]
Isfahani had a grandson named Musa Musawi who studied with him for 17 years. Musa Musawi was a renowned academic and philosopher, who wrote a revisionist text on Shia Islam where he sought to purify schism from innovation and bring it closer to the majority of Muslims.
In Fiqh, Wasila al-Naja which due to its comprehensive nature, has been elucidated by many Fuqaha including Ruhollah Khomeini.
He died in Kadhimiya in 1946.