Associate Professorial Lecturer in Religion Mohammad Faghfoory first met Nasr in 1965, as a student at Tehran University. At that time, Nasr taught an Islamic culture and civilization class, and since then, Nasr has continued to mentor Faghfoory.
Faghfoory described Nasr as "a first-rank teacher, supportive of students, and a trainer of mind and soul ... He is an extremely gifted author and poet, both in English and in Persian, his mother tongue."
He added that Nasr, "has introduced many Islamic intellectuals to the Western world that were totally unknown (here) a generation ago."
Nasr said when studying Islam one cannot count out the influences of the Western world.
"The Islamic world is going through a period of very great tension and very often contradictory forces. Its destiny is ultimately tied up with the West."
Faghfoory added that Nasr has always been his teacher and a source of his inspiration.
"(Nasr) offers the best kind of education that one can get ... in my view, he is second to none. His books are a constant source of reference for scholars and students alike. His macro-perspective offers many windows before one's eyes in regards to religion, spirituality, tolerance, understanding, patience and love," Faghfoory said.
Faghfoory also said that in all Nasr's writing and lectures he constantly tries to show "the universality of truth, that all men are children of one God." By doing, Faghfoory said, Nasr "has narrowed the gap that separates East and West."
While previously teaching at the University of Edinburgh, Temple University and now GW, Nasr has also helped shape the Islamic studies programs at Princeton University, the University of Utah and the University of Southern California to reflect what he calls "the point of view of Islam and not just the Western (view of Islam)."
Faghfoory described Nasr as "a first-rank teacher, supportive of students, and a trainer of mind and soul ... He is an extremely gifted author and poet, both in English and in Persian, his mother tongue."
He added that Nasr, "has introduced many Islamic intellectuals to the Western world that were totally unknown (here) a generation ago."
Nasr said when studying Islam one cannot count out the influences of the Western world.
"The Islamic world is going through a period of very great tension and very often contradictory forces. Its destiny is ultimately tied up with the West."
Faghfoory added that Nasr has always been his teacher and a source of his inspiration.
"(Nasr) offers the best kind of education that one can get ... in my view, he is second to none. His books are a constant source of reference for scholars and students alike. His macro-perspective offers many windows before one's eyes in regards to religion, spirituality, tolerance, understanding, patience and love," Faghfoory said.
Faghfoory also said that in all Nasr's writing and lectures he constantly tries to show "the universality of truth, that all men are children of one God." By doing, Faghfoory said, Nasr "has narrowed the gap that separates East and West."
While previously teaching at the University of Edinburgh, Temple University and now GW, Nasr has also helped shape the Islamic studies programs at Princeton University, the University of Utah and the University of Southern California to reflect what he calls "the point of view of Islam and not just the Western (view of Islam)."
