Seyyed Hossein Nasr was born on April 7, 1933, in Tehran, Iran, into a distinguished family. His father, Seyyed Valiallah Nasr, was a physician to the Iranian royal family and a respected intellectual. His family had deep roots in science, literature, and Sufism. From a young age, he was influenced by philosophical discussions with his father and the intellectually rich environment of his home.
At the age of 12, Nasr moved to the United States and enrolled at Peddie School in New Jersey. There, he learned English and was introduced to Western thought. He excelled academically and graduated as the valedictorian of his class in 1950, receiving the prestigious Wycliffe Award.
Nasr became the first Iranian undergraduate admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), majoring in physics. However, as he delved deeper into his studies, he realized that physics alone could not answer his metaphysical questions. A conversation with Bertrand Russell reinforced his belief that science does not fully explain the nature of reality, which ultimately led him toward philosophy.
After graduating from MIT, Nasr pursued a master’s degree in geology and geophysics at Harvard University. During this period, he developed a strong interest in philosophy, history, and religious studies. His encounter with the works of René Guénon played a key role in shaping his intellectual trajectory, deepening his engagement with traditional philosophy.
At Harvard University, Nasr began his Ph.D. studies in the history and philosophy of science. His dissertation focused on the Islamic worldview and the development of science in the Muslim world. He also continued his studies in classical Arabic, allowing him to engage with original Islamic philosophical texts. During this period, he traveled to Europe and established intellectual ties with Frithjof Schuon and Titus Burckhardt.
Upon earning his Ph.D., Nasr returned to Iran and joined the University of Tehran as a faculty member. He began teaching Islamic philosophy and the history of science while also studying Sufism and classical Islamic philosophy under traditional Iranian scholars.
At the age of 30, Nasr became a full professor, one of the youngest in Iran at the time. He led efforts to reform the philosophy curriculum, emphasizing that Islamic philosophy should be studied on its own terms rather than through a Western lens.
Nasr spent a year as a visiting professor at the American University of Beirut (AUB). During this time, he wrote "Ideals and Realities of Islam," a book that introduced Western readers to Islamic intellectual traditions.
Nasr was appointed President of Aryamehr University (now Sharif University of Technology). He sought to integrate Islamic philosophy and modern science, introducing new programs in the philosophy of science from an Islamic perspective.
Nasr founded the Imperial Iranian Academy of Philosophy, which soon became a leading center for Islamic philosophy. The academy hosted scholars such as Henry Corbin and Toshihiko Izutsu, fostering dialogue between Eastern and Western traditions.
During the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Nasr and his family moved to the United States, where he resumed his academic career. He initially taught at the University of Utah and later at Temple University.
Nasr delivered the prestigious Gifford Lectures at the University of Edinburgh, becoming the first Muslim and non-Westerner to do so. These lectures were later published as Knowledge and the Sacred, a foundational text in religious philosophy.
Nasr joined George Washington University as University Professor of Islamic Studies, where he has since taught Islamic metaphysics, science, and Sufism. That same year, he founded the Foundation for Traditional Studies, promoting traditional wisdom and publishing the journal Sophia.
Nasr edited The Essential Writings of Frithjof Schuon, making the core of perennial philosophy accessible to new audiences. He also mentored scholars involved with the Traditionalist School and deepened his role in its Western reception.
Nasr published The Need for a Sacred Science, critiquing secular scientism and calling for a return to sacred epistemologies rooted in divine order. The work affirmed his commitment to integrating metaphysics with scientific inquiry.
In collaboration with Kazuyoshi Nomachi, Nasr published Mecca the Blessed, Medina the Radiant, blending spiritual reflection with visual storytelling. The book offered a deeply contemplative perspective on Islam’s holiest cities.
As head of the Foundation for Traditional Studies, Nasr supported major academic and public projects exploring the intersection of Islam, tradition, and modernity, including conferences, books, and a television documentary series on Islam and the West.
In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Nasr authored The Heart of Islam: Enduring Values for Humanity, addressing widespread misconceptions about Islam and articulating its core ethical, spiritual, and intellectual teachings in a time of rising Islamophobia.
Nasr released Islamic Art and Spirituality, a work that explored the symbolic and metaphysical dimensions of Islamic aesthetics, including poetry, music, and sacred architecture.
Nasr served as chief editor of The Study Quran, an ambitious English translation and commentary project aimed at both scholarly and general audiences. The work offered deep engagement with classical interpretations and made Quranic teachings accessible to English-speaking readers.
Even in his later years, Nasr continued to write and lecture on environmental ethics, metaphysics, and the crisis of modernity. He emphasized the relevance of traditional wisdom in addressing global challenges, from ecological degradation to spiritual emptiness.
Today, Seyyed Hossein Nasr remains an active intellectual presence at George Washington University and in the global academy. He has authored over 50 books and 500 articles, shaping contemporary understandings of Islamic thought, perennial philosophy, and sacred science. His legacy continues to inspire both academic and spiritual seekers worldwide.
