Hafez

Master Persian lyric poet and mystic whose works remain central to Iranian culture.

Chronology: 1325 – 1389

Origins & Early Life

Khajeh Shams-od-Din Mohammad Hafez Shirazi (1325–1390), also known by his pen name Hafez, was a Persian lyric poet whose collected works are regarded by many Iranians as one of the highest pinnacles of Persian literature. His works are often found in the homes of Persian speakers, who learn his poems by heart and use them as everyday proverbs and sayings. His life and poems have become the subjects of much analysis, commentary, and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writing more than any other Persian author. He is also known by his sobriquet Lisan al-Ghayb (Tongue of the Unseen).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Hafez is best known for his Divân, a collection of his surviving poems probably compiled after his death. His works can be described as "antinomian" and with the medieval use of the term "theosophical"; the term "theosophy" in the 13th and 14th centuries was used to indicate mystical work by "authors only inspired by the Islamic holy books" (as distinguished from theology). Hafez primarily wrote in the literary genre of lyric poetry or ghazals, which is the ideal style for expressing the ecstasy of divine inspiration in the mystical form of love poems. He was a Sufi. Themes of his ghazals...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Source: Wikipedia