 His mother was the daughter of Iran's first modern physicist and astronomer, Mirza Abdulqaffar Nadjm ol-Molk.Abdulqaffar, who taught mathematics and physics at Dar ul-Funun, took Abolqasem under his custody after Abolqasem was orphaned.Abolqasem received his basic education from his grandfather and later inherited his grandfather's title of 'Nadjm ol-Molk' (star of the nation) after Mirza Abdulqaffar's retirement.