The prominent Islamic scholar, Ayatollah Mirza Abu Abdullah Zanjani

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 19th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 1360 AH, the prominent Islamic scholar, Ayatollah Mirza Abu Abdullah Zanjani, passed away in his hometown Zanjan in northwestern Iran. He was also known as Shaikh ol-Islam Zanjani. He studied philosophy, theology and literature under Mirza Ibrahim Maleki Zanjani in his hometown, before completing his education in Tehran.
In 1911, he went to holy Najaf for higher religious studies. He also visited Hijaz (for Hajj), Palestine, Egypt, and Syria and met the scholars of these lands. In Egypt the ulema of al-Azhar University appreciated his knowledge and efforts for Islamic unity. Ayatollah Abu Abdullah Zanjani is the first Iranian scholar who was chosen as a member of the "Damascus Academy" and in the ceremony, he presented a treatise on the scientific personality of the great Iranian philosopher "Mullah Sadra Shirazi". On return to Iran, he taught philosophy and exegesis of the holy Qur'an mainly in his hometown, Zanjan. Among his books, mention can be made of “Tarikh al-Qur'an”, and “The Life of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)”.