After completing preliminary courses at the seminary in Isfahan, he moved to Qom, one of the most important centers of Shiite learning. In Qom, he completed the basic seminary levels and advanced to higher studies known as “external courses,” where students attend lectures by senior scholars and develop independent reasoning. He participated in the lessons of prominent clerics such as Seyyed Hossein Tabatabaei Boroujerdi and Ruhollah Khomeini. During this period, he also attended sessions on ethics and Qur’anic interpretation, deepening both his jurisprudential and spiritual training. Eventually, he attained the level of ijtihad, signifying the ability to derive legal rulings independently within the framework of Islamic jurisprudence.
His political engagement began in the early 1960s, a period of mounting tension between religious activists and the ruling monarchy. He aligned himself with clerical figures who opposed the policies of the Pahlavi state. Through sermons, public speeches, and private gatherings, he criticized the ruling order and encouraged others to follow the path advocated by Ruhollah Khomeini. Within the seminary community, he played an organizational role, helping to coordinate protests, draft statements, and maintain communication between scholars and activists in different cities.
