Naim Frasheri was born on May 25, 1846, in Frasher, Permet (Albania). As a humanist, a distinguished poet, author, publicist, translator, student of many foreign languages, he was one of the most prominent writers and initiators of the revival of the Albanian language and literature. He finished elementary school in his hometown, where he learned old Persian language in the Bektash school. He graduated in the Greek high school "Zosimea" in 1865 in Ioannina, where he moved with his family. He was very proficient in classical, Greek and Roman literature, culture and philosophy. He was familiar with the ideas of the French Enlightenment and the French Bourgeois Revolution. He learned many foreign languages such as Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Greek and French.
As an official and intellectual of the Ottoman Empire, with high position in the Ottoman administration, he was the first to receive permission for the establishment of the First Albanian School and for the grammar of Constantin Christoforidi. He participated in the events of the Albanian League in Prizren, at the meeting of the southern branches of the Albanian League in Frasher (1878). He is the author of twenty-two works: four in the Ottoman language, two in Persian, two in Greek and fifteen in Albanian. He was the first translator of the Qur'an into the Albanian language. His works are very rich in phraseology and vocabulary of the pure vernacular language. He paid special attention to the human consciousness, the moral elevation and the spiritual happiness. His works promote the faith and the love for God, the love for country, the people and the humanity, the industrial and intellectual development, the emancipation of women, the democratic governance, the peace and friendship with other countries. He respected and admired the progressive qualities and culture of other nations. He also raised the values of Albanians and national traditions: faith (besa), courage and generosity.
Naim Frasheri died on 20 October 1900 in Istanbul at the age of 54, saddened by nostalgia for the homeland that he could not see free. His remains were brought to Albania in the honour of the 25th anniversary of independence, on June 2, 1937.
In recognition of his activity, many schools and institutions in Albania and abroad bear his name. The Iranian state also honored him for his contribution to the Persian language and literature, issuing postage stamps with his image.