Abbas Kiarostami: He was a pioneer of the Iranian New Wave cinema, who directed acclaimed films such as Close-Up, Taste of Cherry, and Certified Copy. He won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and many other awards.

Simin Behbahani: She was a poet and activist who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature twice. She wrote in the classical Persian form of ghazal, but with a modern and critical perspective. She wrote about topics such as women’s rights, democracy, and war. She wrote poems such as “My Country, I Will Build You Again” and “Stop Throwing My Country to the Wind”

Homayoun Shajarian: He is the son of Mohammad Reza Shajarian and a prominent singer and musician in his own right. He has followed his father’s footsteps and sung many classical poems by Persian poets, such as Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, and Baba Taher.

Parisa: She is another Ostad of traditional Persian music and a master of the Avaz vocal style. She has performed many classical poems by Persian poets, such as Khayyam, Attar, Nezami, and Roudaki.

Simin Ghanem: She is one of the most popular female singers in Iran, who started her career in the 1960s. She has sung many poems by contemporary Persian poets, such as Forough Farrokhzad, Ahmad Shamlou, and Sohrab Sepehri.

Shahram Nazeri: He is a Kurdish-Iranian singer and composer who is known as the “Pavarotti of Iran”. He is famous for his interpretations of Rumi’s poems, which he sings in Kurdish and Persian languages.

Mohammad Reza Shajarian: He was one of the most renowned Iranian musicians and an Ostad of traditional Persian music. He sang many poems by Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, Ferdowsi, and other Persian poets in his unique vocal style.

These are just a few examples of the many Persian songs that draw inspiration from Persian literature. The rich and vibrant tradition of Persian poetry has provided a wealth of material for composers and lyricists over the centuries, ensuring that Persian music continues to be a source of beauty, meaning, and inspiration.

Sorkhi-ye Do Ghadam ("The Redness of Two Steps") by Shajarian: This evocative song, performed by Shajarian, is based on a poem by Rumi. The lyrics express the yearning for spiritual transformation and the desire to transcend the limitations of the physical world.

Donyaye Man ("My World") by Googoosh: This introspective song, performed by Googoosh, is set to a poem by Rumi. The lyrics explore the complexities of the human experience, including love, loss, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment.

Ey Sareh-ye Khayyam ("O Wine Cup of Khayyam") by Hooshang Ebtehaj: This lively song, performed by the Iranian singer Hooshang Ebtehaj, is based on a poem by Omar Khayyam. The lyrics describe the enjoyment of life's pleasures and the transient nature of human existence.

Behesht-e Aashiyan ("Paradise of Love") by Shadmehr Aghili: This romantic song, performed by the Iranian pop singer Shadmehr Aghili, is set to a poem by Hafez. The lyrics celebrate the joys of love and the hope for a blissful afterlife.

Ghasseh ("Song") by Siavash Shams: This melancholic song, performed by the Iranian singer Siavash Shams, is based on a poem by Rumi. The lyrics lament the fleeting nature of love and the pain of separation.

Heydar Baba Eynan ("Heydar Baba, Eye of the Spring") by Shajarian: This beloved song, deeply rooted in Persian folk tradition, is attributed to Shahriar, a 20th-century Iranian poet. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for his homeland and the beauty of the natural world.

Eshgh-e Atish ("Fire of Love") by Shajarian: This passionate song, set to a poem by Rumi, captures the intensity and transformative power of love. Rumi's lyrics describe love as a burning flame that consumes all worldly attachments and leads to spiritual liberation.

Chaharshanbe Suri ("Fire Festival") by Shajarian: This lively song celebrates the ancient Iranian tradition of Chaharshanbe Suri, a New Year's Eve bonfire festival marked by singing, dancing, and the throwing of seeds over the flames. The song's lyrics, attributed to the Persian poet Omar Khayyam, evoke the joy and excitement of the celebration.

Ey Sare Gol ("Oh, Crown of Flowers") by Googoosh: This enchanting song, performed by the legendary Iranian singer Googoosh, is set to a poem by Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet often regarded as the father of Sufism. The lyrics express Rumi's deep love for God and his yearning for spiritual union.

Gol Tappeh ("Rosebud") by Mohammad Reza Shajarian: This mesmerizing song is based on a poem by Hafez, the 14th-century Persian poet known for his profound philosophical and spiritual verses. The song's lyrics speak of the beauty and fragility of life, as well as the fleeting nature of love and happiness.

One of the most original and innovative works of Persian literature is the Akhlaq-e Nasiri, or the Nasirean Ethics, by Nasir al-Din Tusi. It is a philosophical treatise that deals with the principles and practices of ethics, politics, and economics. It is based on the Aristotelian and Islamic traditions, but also incorporates elements from other cultures and religions. It is a masterpiece of rational and universal thought. #Akhlaq #Tusi #Philosophy

If you are interested in the history and culture of Iran, you should read the Tarikh-e Beyhaghi, or the History of Beyhaqi, by Abu’l-Fazl Beyhaqi. It is a historical chronicle that covers the events of the Ghaznavid dynasty from 1030 to 1041. It is written in a lively and elegant style, with vivid descriptions, dialogues, and anecdotes. It is one of the finest examples of Persian prose. #Tarikh #Beyhaqi #Ghaznavid

One of the most influential works of Persian literature is the Masnavi, or the Spiritual Couplets, by Rumi. It is a long poem that consists of six books and more than 25,000 verses. It is a comprehensive and profound exposition of the Sufi philosophy and practice, covering topics such as ethics, theology, cosmology, psychology, and mysticism. It is considered the Quran in the Persian language. #Masnavi #Rumi #Sufi

Hafez was a 14th-century Persian poet who is widely admired for his lyrical and mystical poems. He is said to have memorized the Quran, the works of Rumi, and other Persian classics, hence his name Hafez, which means “the memorizer”. His poems are often used for divination and guidance, as he is believed to have a connection with the unseen world. #Hafez #Lyrical #Mystical

Saadi was a 13th-century Persian poet and prose writer who is known for his moral and ethical teachings. He wrote two famous books: the Bustan, or the Orchard, which is a collection of stories and poems on various subjects, and the Gulistan, or the Rose Garden, which is a collection of anecdotes and fables. He is regarded as one of the greatest Persian classical authors. #Saadi #Bustan #Gulistan

Have you ever heard of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam? It is a collection of quatrains, or four-line poems, attributed to the 11th-century Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet Omar Khayyam. The poems deal with themes such as fate, free will, happiness, and mortality. They have been translated into many languages and have inspired many artists and writers. #Rubaiyat #Khayyam #Quatrain