Naser Khosrow
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Image:Naser Khosrow stamp.jpgNaser Khosrow Qobadiani (1003 – 1088), the Persian traveller, theologian and philosopher, was born to a rich family in the town of Qobadian, near the present day city of Balkh.
He studied various sciences such as Koranic exegesis, mathematics, Greek philosophy, astronomy, geography and theology, and received a position in the “Justice Court” of the Seljuk Empire.
Until 1046, he was a senior secretary and a successful accountant, but a vision during the night changed his life. He sensed that he couldn’t stay home and decided to visit other lands and become acquainted with other peoples. Thus, Naser went to the capital city of Merv and resigned his job to pilgrimage to Mecca. He left Merv and started his 19000- kilometer journey through the Islamic World from Iran to Sudan.
In Egypt he met the Fatimid Caliph Al-Mustansir (ruled 1035 – 1085) and was respected for his science and intelligence. Al-Mustansir was an Ismaili and presented his sect to Naser Khosrow. Naser researched a lot about this Islamic denomination and finally converted to Ismailism.
He came back as a missionary to convert people of Greater Khorasan to Ismailism. Naser was an eloquent man, an expert writer and his mission was too successful in the eyes of some Sunni clerics and the king, who opposed him. Naser had to leave his birthplace again and emigrated to Yamgan Valley near Badakhshan Mountains (now in Afghanistan). He spent his last years there and wrote most of his books.
Books
Safarnameh (The Itinerary) is his most famous work. He visited tens of cities in about seven years (1046, March 6 – 1052, October 23) and wrote comprehensively about them: colleges, caravanserais, mosques, area, population, scientists, kings, usual people and his interesting memories. After 1000 years his “Safarnameh” is still readable for Persian-speaking people.
Among his other books are:
- Divan (the collection of odes and short poems)
- Sa’adat Nameh (The Book of Happiness)
- Zaad al-Mosaferin, written in 1061 about Ismailism beliefs
- Vajh-e Din (The face of religion)
References used
- E.G. Browne. Literary History of Persia. (Four volumes, 2,256 pages, and twenty-five years in the writing). 1998. ISBN 0-700-70406-X
- Jan Rypka, History of Iranian Literature. Reidel Publishing Company. ASIN B-000-6BXVT-K