Teaching position Zakariyya al-Ansari held a number of teaching positions, where he taught in
Cairo for eighty years, during which he moved between different schools over his long career, educating in the different Islamic sciences. He was appointed the most prestigious position such as teaching the shrine of Imam
al-Shafi'i, and there was no higher position in Egypt than this job. He originally refused this post until
Sultan Qaitbay insisted to accept his request, and the dignitaries of the state came to him seeking his approval. Zakariyya had no choice but to agree to this after all the urgency, so that Al-Ashraf Qaytbay said to him: “If you want, I will walk in front of you until I take you to your house.” He agreed and stipulated some things which were privately discussed, and both had to discuss their terms to come to the middle ground. He proceeded with his work with complete integrity and apparent chastity, and he was not afraid encourage good and forbid evil, and he often burdened the advice of
Sultan Qaitbay, He continued in this position for twenty years throughout the reign of Sultan Qaitbay, which is a remarkable phenomenon in his era, as it is considered a very long period for other judges. Najm al-Din al-Ghazi said: “He was the ruler of the regions and positions, and Sultan Qaytbay appointed him to judge the judges, and he did not accept him except after a complete review, then he was dismissed from the judiciary because of his insult to the sultan with injustice, and he rebuked him for it explicitly and exposure.” In the year 906 AH, Zakariya al-Ansari was dismissed from the judiciary, and this was during the time of Sultan
Al-Ashraf Qansuh al-Ghuri. This is because he used to rebuke al-Ghawri for injustice a lot, and the words were heavy on him, but it did not take long until he returned to the judiciary after the strong insistence of the princes, and he continued in it for five months, then he isolated himself when he felt that he was unable to carry out the burdens of the judiciary, due to his old age, His eyesight weakened, and his body atrophied, and this was in the same year (906 AH).
Students Zakariya al-Ansari was renown in his era. Students came to him from all sides, studying under him, and benefiting from his knowledge. He reached a stage in his era and was distinguished for the shortest chain of the
isnad, so a large number of people took from him. •
Shihab al-Din al-Ramli •
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami •
Al-Sha'rani •
Al-Khatib al-Shirbini •
Shams al-Din al-Ramli • Nasir al-Din al-Tablawi ==Death==