Born in Aceh, Nasution became an attorney after finishing his studies at the Higher Law School in Batavia.

He was born as the son of Muhammad Taif, an Acehnese, and Siti Madinah, a Batak Mandailing.

[1] In 1921, Nasution went to study at the Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (MULO, Junior High School).

By mid-1927, he graduated from the AMS with a good score and continued his studies at the Rechtschoogeschool (Higher Law School) in Batavia.

[3][4] After his graduation, he finally obtained the Meester in de Rechten (Mr., Master of Laws) degree, and on 16 July 1934, he began his career as an attorney in Kutaraja, Aceh.

He went against his father, who wanted him to work as a civil employee in the Dutch East Indies government.

Sometime later, Siantar was occupied by the Dutch army, so the government of the sub-province decided to move the capital to Kutaraja, Aceh.

He was put on house arrest under heavy surveillance in a home owned by a man named Yusuf.

[7] On 17 January 1948, he was temporarily relieved from his position as the Junior Governor of North Sumatra, was appointed as a member of the Supreme Army Court, and was given a nominal rank of major general, despite having no military experience.

[7] His inauguration began at 8 PM and was attended by the Daud Beureu'eh, Military Governor for Aceh, Langkat, and Karo.

This policy was implemented to repair the war-torn economy, and the money was officially released on 1 March 1949 with Nasution's signature on it.

The committee main task was to integrate the State of East Sumatra to the Republic of Indonesia.

[18] After his term as the Governor of North Sumatra ended on 12 March 1956, he moved again to Jakarta and worked under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

[3] During his time working in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Amin became a major proponent for the concept of regional autonomy.

[19] The Government of North Sumatra has campaigned to make Nasution a National Hero of Indonesia.