Mohammad Javad Mashkour Information

Biography of Mohammad Javad Mashkur

Mohammad Javad Mashkur (February 24, 1919 –  April 14, 1995), was an Iranian university professor, historian of ancient Iran, literary scholar, and linguist. He was well-versed in ancient Semitic and Iranian languages, and fluent in several modern languages including English, French, and Arabic. His research interests encompassed the history of Iran, particularly ancient Iranian history, literary texts, Persian grammar, Semitic languages, Islamic sects, theology, and various social sciences, leaving behind numerous scholarly works. 

Born in Esfand 1297 in the Dabaghkhaneh neighborhood of Tehran, Mashkur was raised in a religious family. His father, Alaa al-Din Mashkur, was of Azerbaijani descent and completed his religious studies in Najaf. He was the second child in a family of five, with older brother Mohammad Reza and younger brother Mohammad Hossein. His mother, Masoumeh Khanom, hailed from a prominent clerical family. 

Mashkur began his education at the Primordial School and continued through high school at the wealthier schools of Tehran. He pursued his undergraduate studies in Arabic literature and Persian language at the University of Tehran. In 1953, he earned a doctorate in Islamic history from the Sorbonne in Paris, focusing his thesis on the translation and analysis of the book “Farq al-Shi’a” by Noubakht, which significantly influenced European Islamic studies. 

In addition to his academic achievements, Mashkur was involved in teaching at various educational institutions. He taught at high schools, then moved to universities such as Tabriz University and the University of Tehran, where he eventually became head of the history department. Mashkur also worked in the Ministry of Culture and the Iranian cultural attaché in Syria, contributing to cultural publications and establishing Persian language chairs in Damascus. 

Mashkur remained active in academia well into his retirement, mentoring graduate students until 1993. He was involved in various scholarly publications and contributed to numerous journals and newspapers, including founding the magazine “Al-Akhā” which focused on cultural and religious relations between Iran and Arab countries. 

He passed away on Farvardin 25, 1374 (April 14, 1995) after a stroke, leaving a significant impact on Iranian studies and a personal library of approximately 4,000 volumes, which he donated to the Encyclopedia of Islam.