He was a great Marja’ and attained Ijtihad at the young age of 28. Some of his students were Imam Khomeini, Ayatullah Wahid Khurasani, Syed Ali Khameini, Syed Ali Sistani and many others. It has been narrated that he had made a vow (nadhr) that if he ever uttered inappropriate words when angry, he would fast for a whole year (to train his soul).