Teachings of Hafiz - Introduction by Idries Shah

by Gertrude Bell

This title is also available in paperback with the Biography of Hafiz. Please contact us at ilifeebooks@gmail.com for details. KhwÄ�ja Šamsu d-Dīn Muḥammad HÄ�fez-e ŠīrÄ�zī ( ØÙˆاجÙ شÙ…س“اÙ„دی٠محÙ…د حاÙ�ظ شÛŒرازÛŒ), known by his pen name HÄ�fez (1315“1390) was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works (Divan) are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day. His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis, commentary and interpretation, and have influenced post-Fourteenth Century Persian writing more than anything else has.[1][2]The major themes of his ghazals are love, the celebration of wine and intoxication, and exposing the hypocrisy of those who have set themselves up as guardians, judges and examples of moral rectitude.His presence in the lives of Iranians can be felt through Hafez-reading (fÄ�l-e hÄ�fez, Ù�اÙ„ حاÙ�ظ), frequent use of his poems in Persian traditional music, visual art and Persian calligraphy. His tomb in Shiraz is a masterpiece of Iranian architecture and visited often. Adaptations, imitations and translations of Hafez' poems exist in all major languages.SHEMSUDDIN MAHOMMAD, better known by his poetical surname of Hafiz, was born in Shiraz in the early part of the fourteenth century.[1] His names, being interpreted, signify the Sun of the Faith, the Praiseworthy, and One who can recite the Koran; he is further known to his compatriots under the titles of the Tongue of the Hidden and the Interpreter of Secrets. The better part of his life was spent in Shiraz, and he died in that city towards the close of the century. The exact date either of his birth or of his death is unknown. He fell upon turbulent times. His delicate love-songs were chanted to the rude accompaniment of the clash of arms, and his dreams must have been interrupted often enough by the nip of famine in a beleaguered town, the inrush of conquerors, and the flight of the defeated.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1979

About the author

Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist.