Mohammad Ali Movahed

Mohammad Ali Movahed, born 23 May 1923, is a jurist, historian, scholar of mysticism, literary figure, translator, and permanent member of the Academy of Persian Language and Literature. He is one of the rare figures of contemporary Iranian culture; someone who has created enduring works in several distinct fields: oil law, contemporary history, the study of mysticism, textual criticism, and translation.

Movahed began his education in Tabriz and then moved to Tehran. After joining the Abadan Oil Company, he became closely involved with the legal and historical issues of Iranian oil. Concurrently, he continued his legal studies at the University of Tehran, earning a doctorate in private law. He later went to England to further his studies in international law, studying at Cambridge and London under professors such as Jennings and Schwarzenberger.

Movahed's career can be viewed along three main axes:

First, oil law and history. He was among the first to introduce the legal issues of oil into Iranian academic texts. His works in this field have both a legal and a historical dimension, and are important for understanding the nationalization movement of the Iranian oil industry and Iran's disputes with the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

Second, the study of mysticism and Rumi scholarship. Movahed is one of the most important contemporary scholars of Shams. His critical edition of the Discourses of Shams of Tabriz and his writings on Shams and Rumi have solidified his position in mystical studies.

Third, translation and textual criticism. His translation of The Travels of Ibn Battuta was one of the first works that brought his name to the attention of the learned community. His translations of Isaiah Berlin, Ibn Arabi, and Ivan Illich also demonstrate the breadth of his intellectual interests.