Divan of Abdullah Ansari

by Abdullah Ansari of Herat, Paul Smith (Translation)

DIVAN OF ABDULLAH ANSARI Translation & Introduction Paul Smith One of the greatest of the early mystical (Sufi) poets and Perfect Masters of all time, Abdullah Ansari… who passed from this world 1089 in Heart, 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 (much here translated) among many works in Persian and in 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 all and a qasida. Prayers, Sayings & Adice are also here with the largest selection of his poetry in English ever translated. The correct rhyme-structures have been kept and the meaning of these beautiful, powerful, mystical poems. This is the largest translation of his poems into English. The Life and Works of Ansari, Sufis & 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” 307 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.” 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 (b. 1945) 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, Khayyam, Bedil, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Shah Latif, Bulleh Shah, Iqbal, Ghalib Jigar, Seemab, Baba Farid, Abu Nuwas Ibn ‘Arabi and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children’s books and screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa

309 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2018

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.