House of Sufism – Boston

Master of Nimatullahi Sufi Order

Dr. Alireza Nurbakhsh is the present Master of the Nimatullahi Order. With the passing of his father, Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, he assumed the position of leadership of the Nimatullahi Order on October 10, 2008, according to the wishes and written request of his father. His Sufi sobriquet is Reza Ali Shah. Under his leadership, the Order has expanded its charitable initiatives, establishing programs in each center to support the social and economic needs of their communities. He currently resides in London, England.

Alireza Nurbakhsh was born in August 12, 1955 in a small town near Bam, Iran. He moved to Tehran with his parents when he was two years old and lived in Tehran khaniqah until he left Iran in 1977. He graduated from Alborz high school in 1973 and after completing his BA in philosophy at Melli University, went to University of Wisconsin, Madison for post graduate studies and received his PhD in philosophy in 1988.

Growing up in Tehran khaniqah, Alireza Nurbakhsh learned the ways and etiquettes of Khorasanian Chivalry (Javanmardi) under the direction of his father and the supervision of Mr. Kobari, one of his father’s devoted disciples. He was formally initiated into the order when he was eighteen years old.

After completing his PhD, Alireza Nurbakhsh moved to the London khaniqah upon his father’s request and started the publication of SUFI journal in English and Farsi. In addition to his editorial positions, Alireza was gradually assuming more responsibilities in London khaniqah and by the time his father moved to the Old Windmill near Banbury UK, he was appointed the Shaykh of the London khaniqah. During this time Alireza Nurbakhsh went back to school and received his degree in law.

“Time and again [My father Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh] defined Sufism as a journey from one’s ego towards the Truth with the aid of love and loving-kindness. Sufism for him [was] a way for human beings to transform their gross material nature into a higher, spiritual form of being, thereby manifesting loving-kindness towards all. He never considered Sufism as an intellectual activity confined to elaborating esoteric concepts such as ‘annihilation’ or ‘detachment from the world.’ For him such concepts could be ‘understood’ only when one embarks on the spiritual journey towards God.”