The Book of Ansari

by Abdullah Ansari of Herat, Ansârî, Paul Smith (Translator)

THE BOOK OF ANSARI Translation & Introduction Paul Smith One of the greatest mystical poets and Perfect Masters of all time, Abdullah Ansari... who passed from this world 1089 in Herat now in Afghanistan was most famous for his biographical dictionary on saints and Sufi masters and his much loved collection of inspiring prayers, the Munajat among many works in Persian and Arabic. His ruba'is appear throughout his works and he composed three Divans in which his ghazals are in the majority. Here is a fine selection of them and a qasida. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept and the meaning of these beautiful, powerful, mystical poems. This is the largest translation of his poems into English. Introduction: The Life and Works of Ansari, Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry; The Form, Function & History of the Ruba'i; Ghazal and the Qasida, Selected Bibliography... Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 236 pages COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran."Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart."I was very impressed with the beauty of these books." Dr. R.K. Barz. Faculty of Asian Studies, Australian National University. "Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz." Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, and other languages including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Bedil, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Shah Latif, Bulleh Shah, Iqbal, Ghalib and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. New Humanity Books amazon.com/author/smithpa

262 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2015

About the author

One of the earliest Sufi masters, Ansari was born in the Kohandez, the old citadel of Herat, on 4 May 1006. He was the disciple of Abu al-Hassan al-Kharaqani, and a direct descendant of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, being the ninth in line from him. Ansari excelled in the knowledge of Hadith, history, and ʻilm al-ansāb. He used to avoid the company of the rich, powerful and the influential. His yearly majlis-e wa'az was attended by people from far and wide. Whatever his disciples and followers used to present to him was handed over to the poor and the needy.