Iranian Poets
Hafiz (1325-1389)  
Khajeh Shamseddin Mohammad Hafiz-s Shirazi was born sometime between the years 1310-1325 A.D. in Shiraz. Hafiz is a title given to those who had memorized the Koran by heart. Hafiz married in his twenties, even though he continued his love for Shakh-e Nabat, as the manifest symbol of her Creator's beauty. He had memorized the Koran during his teens by listening to his father's recitations of it. He also had memorized many of the works of his beloved poet and "Morad", Saadi, as wells as Rumi and Nizami. He left day school to work. 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 This is when he was 21 (1341 A.D.) Many of his poems are dedicated and 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 to attaining self-consciousness. He became a poet of the court of Abu Isshaq during early twenties to early thirties, and gained much fame and influence in Shiraz. This was the phase of "Spiritual Romanticism" in his poetry. Mubarezzedin Mohammad captured Shiraz, and among his various deeds, he discharged Hafiz (Age 33) from his duty of teaching Koranic studies at a well-known school. His poetry implying protest was composed at this time.
   
At Age 38 He began his phase of subtle spirituality in his poetry. During his early forties he fell out of favor with Shah Shuja. Hafiz is believed to have fled Shiraz for his safety at age 48, leaving for Isfahan, to go into self-imposed exile. His poems mainly talk of his longing for Shiraz, for Shakh-e Nabat, and for his spiritual Master. At the age of 52, by invitation of Shah Shuja, he ended his exile and returned to Shiraz. He was re-instated to his post at the said school. Longing to be united with his Creator at the age of 60, he began a forty day and night vigil, by sitting in a circle that he had drawn himself. On the morn of the fortieth day of his vigil, which was also on the fortieth anniversary of meeting his Master, he went to his Master; he attained Cosmic Consciousness or God-Realization as well as self-consciousness. In this phase, up to the age of 69 when he died, he composed more than half of his lyrics or ghazals, and continued to teach his few disciples. His poetry at this time, are expressed with the authority of a Master who is united with God. Some 500 ghazals, 42 quatrines (Rubaiyees), and a few Ghaseedehs, composed over a period of 50 years. Hafiz only composed his poems while being divinely inspired, and so he averaged only about 10 ghazals per year. His focus was on creating poetry that his Beloved deserved.
   

Hafiz did not compile his poetry. Mohammad Golandaam, who also wrote a preface to his compilation, completed it in 1410 A.D., some 21 years after Hafiz's death. Also another person who compiled Hafiz's poetry was one of his young disciples Seyyed Kasim-e Anvar, who collected 569 Ghazals attributed to Hafiz. He died in 1431 A.D. some 42 years after Hafiz's death. He died either in late 1388 or in early 1389 A.D. at the age of 69, in Shiraz. His tomb is in Musalla Gardens, along the bank of Ruknabad River in Shiraz, which is refered to as Hafezieh. The orthodox clergy who always opposed Hafiz, refused to allow him to have an Islamic burial. Yet his grass roots support among the people of Shiraz created an atmosphere of conflict. To resolve the controversy, they decided to use Hafiz's own poetry, and asking a young boy to draw a couplet. It was agreed that however the couplet directed them, they would all consent to follow.The couplet that was chosen was verse 7 of Ghazal #79, which was a tongue-in-cheek response from Hafiz to the orthodox clergy. It reads: Neither Hafiz's corps, nor his life negate, With all his misdeeds, heavens for him wait. To this day, Hafiz's Divan (Collection of Poetry) is utilized as an Oracle to give guidance to questions, and direction to realize wishes. His Divan to Iranians is what the book of Iching is to the Chinese. In fact his Divan is treated with adulation among countless Iranians, and it is believed that a copy of it is found almost in every home.
  What others say about Hafiz
Goethe: In his poetry Hafiz has inscribed undeniable truth indelibly ... Hafiz has no peer!
Edward Fitzgerald: Hafiz like Attar, Rumi and Jami, sang using Wine and Beauty indeed as Images to illustrate, the Divinity he was celebrating. Hafiz is the best musician of Words.
Emerson: Hafiz defies you to show him or put him in a condition inopportune or ignoble ... He fears nothing. He sees too far; he sees throughout; such is the only man I wish to see or be.
Gertrude Bell: 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.
J. Arberry: ... Hafiz is as highly esteemed by his countrymen as Shakespeare by us, and deserves as serious consideration.