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Naser Khosrow Qobadiani (1003 – 1088), the Persian theologian and philosopher, was born in a rich family of Qobadian town near Balkh City.
He studied various sciences like Koranic exegesis, mathematics, Greek philosophy, astronomy, geography and theology, and could received position in “Justice Court” of Seljuk Empire.
Until 1046, he was a senior secretary and a successful accountant, but a night vision changed his life actually and made him attended. He sensed that he couldn’t stay home and decided to visit other lands and know other people. So 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 converted Ismailism finally.
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 so some Sunni clerics and the king opposed him. Naser had to leave his birthplace again and immigrated 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 5 – 1052, October 23) and wrote anything 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-language 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)
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