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.