The renowned Iranian Ismaili Shi'ite scientist, philosopher, poet, author and traveler, Naser Khosrow

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
On 9th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa’dah in 394 AH, the renowned Iranian Ismaili Shi'ite scientist, philosopher, poet, author and traveler, Naser Khosrow, was born in Qobadian in northeastern Khorasan, which is now part of modern Tajikistan. He memorized the Holy Qur'an while still a child, and in addition to philosophy, learned a wide variety of natural sciences, such as medicine, mathematics, astronomy and astrology.
He was also fluent in several languages, and besides his native Persian, mastered Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Turkish and the Indian vernaculars of Sindh and Pujab. He joined the Ghaznavid court as secretary, but following a major development in his thoughts, shunned politics, and after a while started on a long journey to Egypt to meet the Fatemid caliph.
During the over six years he spent in travel until his return home, he visited the different cities of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Arabia, and Egypt, and performed the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina four times. He penned his travels in the famous book titled "Zaad al-Musafereen", which is also known as "Safar-Namah" or Travelogue that contains an interesting description of the peoples, the customs, the conditions, and geographical factors of the lands he visited.
Naser Khosrow has composed some very fine odes in Persian in praise of Imam Ali (AS), the First Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He died in 481 AH at the age of 87 years.