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The prominent poets of Iran
Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz
Badi oz-Zamaan Hamedani
On 11th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 398 AH, the acclaimed Iranian literary figure, author, and poet, Ahmad ibn Hussain, known popularly as Badi oz-Zamaan and Fazel-e Hamedani, passed away in Herat at the age of 40 years. He was born in the western Iranian city of Hamedan and was highly talented in both Arabic and Persian prose and poetry. At the age of 21 years he went to Gorgan, where he remained two years; then journeying through Khorasan and Sistan, he finally settled in Herat under the protection of the vizier of Sultan Mahmoud Ghaznavi. He is best known for his work the “Maqamaat”, a collection of 52 episodic stories of a rogue. Among his works, mention can be made of his Diwan of poems.
The acclaimed Persian poet Mahmoud ibn Amir Yameen od-Din
On 8th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 769 AH, the acclaimed Persian poet Mahmoud ibn Amir Yameen od-Din, popularly known as Ibn Yameen Faryumadi, passed away at the age of 84 years. He was born in Faryumad near Sabzevar in Khorasan, northeastern Iran. He is thought to have been the court poet of the Shi’ite Muslim Sarbedar dynasty. Over 5,000 of his poems, mainly aphorisms, have been preserved, including qasidas and mathnawis of a philosophical and mystical nature.
The acclaimed Persian poet and mystic, Farid od-Din Attar Neyshapouri
On 10th of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 618 AH, the acclaimed Persian poet and mystic, Farid od-Din Attar Neyshapouri, was killed during the Mongol invasion of Khorasan at the age of 78 years. The son of a pharmacist, he followed his father's profession and led a prosperous life before experiencing an inner revolution that made him turn to mysticism and frequent travels that took him to Iraq and Arabia including holy Mecca, as well as to the different cities of Iran and Transoxiana.
One of his valuable prose works is Tazkerat al-Awlia on the status of mystics. His poetical masterpieces manifest the power of imagination as is evident by the versified book “Manteq ot-Tair” or Discourse of the Birds. Attar, who in some of his poems also pays tribute to the peerless personality of Imam Ali (AS), had a profound influence on the great Persian poet, Mowlana Jalal od-Din Balkhi Rumi.
The Persian mystical poet and scholar, Khwajah Abdullah Ansari
On May 4 in 1006 AD, the Persian mystical poet and scholar, Khwajah Abdullah Ansari, was born in Heart, which is now in Afghanistan, but was then an integral part of Khorasan. He was a commentator of the holy Qur'an, a compiler of hadith, and known for his oratory and poetic talents in Arabic and Persian. He wrote several books on Islamic mysticism and philosophy. His most famous work is "Munajat Namah", which is considered a masterpiece of Persian literature. His exegesis on the holy Qur'an is titled "Kashf ul-Asrar", and was compiled in 10 volumes by his disciples after his death. He used to avoid the company of the rich, powerful and the influential. Abdullah Ansari was a direct descendant of the Prophet's companion and host in Medina, Abu Ayyub al-Ansari. He died in 1088 in his hometown Herat.
He is the ancestor of the line of the Heravi Khajavi in Iran, who once dominated Khorasan and eastern Iran. Some of his descendants moved to the Subcontinent. Among them was Hakim Shaikh Ilm ud-din Ansari, better known as Wazir Khan, who was a governor of the Mughal Emperors in Multan, in what is now Pakistan. He is best known for having built the famous Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. His other prominent descendent was Qutb ud-din Ansari who founded the famous Firangi Mahal school of religious thought and education, near Lucknow in India.
Iran’s renowned epic poet, Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi
25th of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht/ May 14 is commemoration day of Iran’s renowned epic poet, Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi, the author of the famous Shahnameh, who was born 1072 solar years ago in Tous, Khorasan, northeastern Iran. His magnum opus written over a thousand years ago deals with ancient Iranian culture, history, and mythology, for which he used various written and oral sources. Its contents are very much alive today in the Persian speaking world, and have been translated into different world languages.
The Iranian Muslim mathematician, astronomer, and poet, Omar Khayyam
On 23rd of the Islamic month of Jamadi as-Sani in 1048 AD, the Iranian Muslim mathematician, astronomer, and poet, Omar Khayyam, was born in Nishapour, Khorasan, northeastern Iran. Around 1074 AD, he set up an observatory and led work on compiling astronomical tables. To him goes the credit of reforming the Iranian solar hijri calendar on the basis of the Spring Equinox, which is still in use in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Iraq, Anatolia, and the Subcontinent. This calendar is more perfect than the Gregorian Christian calendar that was imposed on Muslim countries by the colonialists after World War 1.
Among Khayyam's works, his book on algebra was until the last century taught as textbook in Iran. In geometry, he reformed the generalities of Euclid and contributed to the theory of parallel lines. His contributions to other fields of science included developing methods for the accurate determination of specific gravity. He is known to English-speaking readers for his "quatrains" or Rubaiyyaat, published in 1859 by Edward Fitzgerald, although in the Islamic world he remains the astronomer and mathematician that he was, rather than a poet, since whatever he composed of poetry were casual expressions during his rare leisure hours after strenuous scientific studies and experiments. He died in 1131 AD at the age of 83 years and was buried in his native Nishapour in the courtyard of the shrine of Imamzadah Mahruq, a descendant of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA)
On 28th of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht, is the day of commemoration of the prominent Iranian Muslim scientist and poet, Omar Khayyam Nishapouri, who was born in the northeastern city of Nishapour in Khorasan in 439 AH. He was an expert on philosophy, mathematics, and astronomy during the Seljuqid era. He wrote both in Arabic and Persian, and to him goes the credit for reforming the solar hijri calendar which begins on the Spring Equinox and is followed to this day in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and parts of Central Asia, the Caucasus, Anatolia, Iraq and the Subcontinent. In the English-speaking world, Khayyam’s fame is because of his rubaiyyat or quatrains, which he composed in Persian during his rare leisure hours after strenuous scientific efforts, and which were translated into English by Fitzgerald.
The Iranian mystic and poet, Najm od-Din Zarkoub Tabrizi
On 15th of the Islamic month of Rajab in 712 AH, the Iranian mystic and poet, Najm od-Din Zarkoub Tabrizi, passed away. He is the author in Persian of the “Futuwwat-Namah”, on the rites of “Jawan-mardi” (chivalry) into which some Sufi combatant orders are initiated for serving the cause of God and humanity.
Iranian philosopher and Sufi writer, Fakhruddin Ibrahim Iraqi
On June 10, 1213 AD, Persian philosopher and Sufi writer, Fakhruddin Ibrahim Iraqi, was born in Hamadan, western Iran. During his lifetime he spent many years in Multan, (present day Pakistan) as well as in Konya and Toqat in present day Turkey. He was highly educated in both theology and literary disciplines and not only knew the Holy Qur'an, hadith and its exegesis, but also Persian and Arabic literature.
He joined a group of wandering dervishes and traveled to Multan where he met Shaikh Baha’uddin Zakariyya who was the head of the Suhrawardi Sufi Order. He married the Shaikh's daughter and was with him for a total of twenty-five years during which time he continued to write poetry. After the Shaikh's death, he left Multan and traveled first to Mecca and Medina and then towards present day Turkey.
While in Konya where he settled for a while he met Sadruddin Qunawi and the famous Persian mystical poet, Mowlana Jalaluddin Rumi. He became a good friend of Rumi, while Qunawi helped to shape him intellectually, as Shaikh Baha’uddin Zakariyya had shaped him spiritually.
After Rumi's death, he moved to Toqat, at a time when there was much upheaval on the Byzantine border. The local ruler did not like him because of the great influence he had over many of the people; so he fled to Cairo in Egypt.
Later he settled in Damascus where he eventually died at the age of 78 years. His writings include “Lama’at” (Divine Flashes). His Divan has been published in Iran under the title of “Kulliyaat-e Iraqi”. Another of his works is the “Ushshaq-Namah” written during his stay in Multan and is dedicated to the vizier Shamsuddin Juwayni.
The Iranian mystic and poet, Abu-Saeed Abi’l-Khair
On 4th of the Islamic month of Sha’ban in 440 AH, the Iranian mystic and poet, Abu-Saeed Abi’l-Khair, passed away at the age of 83 years in his native Khorasan. He was an expert on the exegesis of the Holy Qur’an, in addition to hadith, and jurisprudence, and was very deeply devoted to the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. The important details of his thoughts and life are known from the book “Asrar al-Tawhid” (The Mysteries of Unification) written by his grandson, Mohammad Ibn Munawwar, after his death. He was also an accomplished poet, and mostly composed quatrains.
The acclaimed Persian poet and mystic, Abul-Majd Majd od-Din ibn Adam Sana'i Ghaznavi
On 11th of the Islamic month of Sha’ban in 529 AH, the acclaimed Persian poet and mystic, Abul-Majd Majd od-Din ibn Adam Sana'i Ghaznavi, passed away in Ghazni in what is now Afghanistan at the age of 62 years. He was connected with the court of the Ghaznavid king Bahram Shah who ruled for 35 years. When accompanying the king on a military campaign to India, Sana’i met the Sufi teacher Lai-Khur, and immediately quit Bahram Shah's service as a court poet even though he was promised wealth and the king's daughter in marriage.
He now started serving the people and criticized the unjust and corrupt rulers in his poems. He was a trend-setter in the style of Persian poetry. His most important work is “Hadiqat-al-Haqiqah” or the Walled Garden of Truth which is in the form of odes, reflecting his ethical and Gnostic thoughts. Among his other works, one can mention “Elahi Namah” and “Tariq at-Tahqiq”. He has written some excellent panegyrics in praise of Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the First Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). For the past nine centuries Sana'i has had a tremendous influence on Persian literature, and along with Shaikh Farid od-Din Attar, was regarded by Mowlana Jalal od-Din Roumi as an inspiration.
Amir Ali Shir Navai
On 17th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 844 AH, Amir Ali Shir Navai, the acclaimed Central Asian politician, mystic, linguist, painter, and poet, was born in the Khorasani capital, Herat, which is currently in western Afghanistan. He is considered the Father of Chagatai Turkic literature, and was a prolific author. He also wrote and composed poems in Persian under the penname Fani, and has excellent compilations in this language as well to his credit. He studied in Mashhad, Herat and Samarqand, and when his childhood friend, Sultan Husayn Bayqarah became the principal Timurid ruler of Khorasan, he joined his service and for almost 40 years devoted his efforts to cultural developments including fine arts and the building of public utility works like schools, mosques, caravanserais and hospitals.
In Mashhad, he carried out extensions in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and after his death in Herat at the age of 63 years his body was brought to this holy city and laid to rest in grand mausoleum of the 8th Imam. He is regarded as a national hero in the modern republic of Uzbekistan and is famous all over the Turkic-speaking world.
The prominent Persian poet and literary figure, Abdur-Rahman Jami
On August 18, in 1414 AD, the prominent Persian poet and literary figure, Noureddin Abdur-Rahman Jami was born in the city of Jam, in Khorasan Province. He went to Samarqand to learn Islamic sciences, literature and history, and visited several other lands, before settling in Herat. He has left behind a large number of works in prose and verse, including “Baharestan”. Abdur-Rahman Jami who passed away in 898 AH at the age of 81 years, has also composed beautiful odes in praise of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Ahl al-Bayt.
Junayd Baghdadi
On 6th of the Islamic month of Ramadhan in 253 AH, Junayd Baghdadi, the famous Iranian Muslim Sufi and the central figure in the chain of many Sufi orders, died in Baghdad. He taught in Baghdad most of his life and was an important figure in the development of Sufi doctrine.
The renowned Persian poet and mystic, Sana'i Ghaznavi
On 28th of the Islamic month of Shawwal in 467 AH, the renowned Persian poet and mystic, Majd od-Din ibn Adam Sana'i Ghaznavi, was born in Ghazni in what is now Afghanistan. He was connected with the court of the Ghaznavid king, Bahram Shah, who ruled for 35 years.
When accompanying the king on a military campaign to India, Sana'i met the Sufi teacher Lai-Khur, and immediately quit royal service as a court poet even though he was promised wealth and the king's daughter in marriage. He now started serving the people and criticized the unjust and corrupt rulers in his poems. He was a trend-setter in the style of Persian poetry.
His most important work is “Hadiqat-al-Haqiqah” (Walled Garden of Truth), which is in the form of odes, reflecting his ethical and Gnostic thoughts. Among his other works, one can mention “Ilahi Namah” and “Tariq at-Tahqiq”. He has written some excellent panegyrics in praise of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), the First Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). For the past nine centuries Sana'i has had a tremendous influence on Persian literature, and along with Shaikh Farid od-Din Attar, was regarded by Mowlana Jalal od-Din Roumi as an inspiration.
The famous Iranian poet, Muhammad Hussein Shahriyar
On September 17, 1988 AD, the famous Iranian poet, Mohammad Hussein Shahriyar, passed away at the age of 84. Born in the northwestern Iranian city of Tabriz, he completed his studies at Tehran’s Dar ul-Fonoun Academy, and took up the study of medicine, which he did not complete. He published his first collection of poems at the age of 23.
His poems are in a variety of styles, including lyrics, odes and quatrains. His poetry was often critical of the British-installed and US-backed Pahlavi regime. He stood by the Iranian nation during the Islamic Revolution, and also composed moving panegyrics in praise of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt.
Among his famous poems is the one titled “Haydar Baba” in Azeri language, in addition to the beautiful Persian masterpiece in praise of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (AS). Shahriyar was deeply attached to the Holy Qur'an.
The renowned Iranian Ismaili Shi'ite scientist, philosopher, poet, author and traveler, Naser Khosrow
On 9th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa’dah in 394 AH, the renowned Iranian Ismaili Shi'ite scientist, philosopher, poet, author and traveler, Naser Khosrow, was born in Qobadian in northeastern Khorasan, which is now part of modern Tajikistan. He memorized the Holy Qur'an while still a child, and in addition to philosophy, learned a wide variety of natural sciences, such as medicine, mathematics, astronomy and astrology. He was also fluent in several languages, and besides his native Persian, mastered Arabic, Hebrew, Greek, Turkish and the Indian vernaculars of Sindh and Pujab. He joined the Ghaznavid court as secretary, but following a major development in his thoughts, shunned politics, and after a while started on a long journey to Egypt to meet the Fatemid caliph. During the over six years he spent in travel until his return home, he visited the different cities of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Arabia, and Egypt, and performed the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina four times. He penned his travels in the famous book titled "Zaad al-Musafereen", which is also known as "Safar-Namah" or Travelogue that contains an interesting description of the peoples, the customs, the conditions, and geographical factors of the lands he visited. Naser Khosrow has composed some very fine odes in Persian in praise of Imam Ali (AS), the First Infallible Successor of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). He died in 481 AH at the age of 87 years.
The famous Iranian poet and scholar, Anvari Abiverdi
On 13th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 583 AH, the famous Iranian poet and scholar, Mohammad Ibn Mohammad Anvari Abiverdi, passed away. His Diwan of poetry is currently available and consists of several odes, which have been reprinted on several occasions. Among his famous poems is the one depicting the sorry state of Syria and Palestine at the hands of the Crusader occupiers, and his appeal to the Muslims to unite and rise against the usurpers of Islamic lands.
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