Diwan of Hafiz
Shamseddin Mohammad was born in 1320 in Shiraz, South-central Iran
Family Pen-Name Hafiz Full Title Khajeh Shamseddin Mohammad Hafiz-s Shirazi The title ‘Hafiz’ was bestowed on Shamsddin as he was able to memorize and recite the Koran.
Baha-ud-Din, His father who was a coal merchant died, leaving him and his mother with much debt. Hafiz left day school to work in a drapery shop and later in a bakery. While still working at the bakery, Hafiz delivered bread to a wealthy quarter of town and saw Shakh-e Nabat, a young woman of incredible beauty. Many of his poems are addressed to Shakh-e Nabat. In pursuit of reaching his beloved, Hafiz kept a forty-day and night vigil at the tomb of Baba Kuhi. Although he married he continued his love for Shakh-e Nabat, as the manifest symbol of her Creator's beauty and many of his poems reflect this love. Hafiz had one child who died of a mysterious illness.
Hafiz lived through turbulent times where power struggles, wars and political intrigue were rife in Iran. He wrote protest poems, which resulted him being sacked from his teaching post and he fled to Isfahan, here his poems mainly talk of his longing for Shiraz. He ended his exile returning to Shiraz where he was re-instated at the College. As the years aged and wearied him, Hafiz poetry and songs became more spiritual as he felt the longing to be united with his Creator, he began a forty day and night vigil by sitting in a circle that he had drawn himself and upon drinking a cup of wine he attained Cosmic Consciousness or God-Realization. He died age 69 and is buried in Shiraz. His Tomb in Musalla Gardens, along the banks of Ruknabad River is referred to as Hafezieh. The orthodox clergy who always opposed Hafiz, refused to allow him to have a Muslim burial, and his grass-roots support among the people of Shiraz said; “Neither Hafiz’s corpse, nor his life negate, With all his misdeeds, heavens for him wait.” Gertrude Bell wrote: “It is as if his mental eye; endowed with wonderful acuteness of vision, had penetrated into those provinces of thought which we of a later age were destined to inhabit”. Professor. A. J. Arberry: Hafiz is as highly esteemed by his countrymen as Shakespeare by us, and deserves as serious consideration.
Shamseddin Mohammad was born in 1320 in Shiraz, South-central Iran
Family Pen-Name Hafiz Full Title Khajeh Shamseddin Mohammad Hafiz-s Shirazi The title ‘Hafiz’ was bestowed on Shamsddin as he was able to memorize and recite the Koran.
Baha-ud-Din, His father who was a coal merchant died, leaving him and his mother with much debt. Hafiz left day school to work in a drapery shop and later in a bakery. While still working at the bakery, Hafiz delivered bread to a wealthy quarter of town and saw Shakh-e Nabat, a young woman of incredible beauty. Many of his poems are addressed to Shakh-e Nabat. In pursuit of reaching his beloved, Hafiz kept a forty-day and night vigil at the tomb of Baba Kuhi. Although he married he continued his love for Shakh-e Nabat, as the manifest symbol of her Creator's beauty and many of his poems reflect this love. Hafiz had one child who died of a mysterious illness.
Hafiz lived through turbulent times where power struggles, wars and political intrigue were rife in Iran. He wrote protest poems, which resulted him being sacked from his teaching post and he fled to Isfahan, here his poems mainly talk of his longing for Shiraz. He ended his exile returning to Shiraz where he was re-instated at the College. As the years aged and wearied him, Hafiz poetry and songs became more spiritual as he felt the longing to be united with his Creator, he began a forty day and night vigil by sitting in a circle that he had drawn himself and upon drinking a cup of wine he attained Cosmic Consciousness or God-Realization. He died age 69 and is buried in Shiraz. His Tomb in Musalla Gardens, along the banks of Ruknabad River is referred to as Hafezieh. The orthodox clergy who always opposed Hafiz, refused to allow him to have a Muslim burial, and his grass-roots support among the people of Shiraz said; “Neither Hafiz’s corpse, nor his life negate, With all his misdeeds, heavens for him wait.” Gertrude Bell wrote: “It is as if his mental eye; endowed with wonderful acuteness of vision, had penetrated into those provinces of thought which we of a later age were destined to inhabit”. Professor. A. J. Arberry: Hafiz is as highly esteemed by his countrymen as Shakespeare by us, and deserves as serious consideration.