The Forgotten Art of Inshaʾ: Elegant Letter-Writing in Classical Persia
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In the grand halls of medieval Persian courts, the art of inshaʾ (انشاء), or elegant letter-writing, occupied a place of honor alongside poetry and calligraphy. More than mere correspondence, inshaʾ was a refined genre combining rhetoric, style, and social grace—an indispensable skill for statesmen, scholars, and poets alike. Today, its …
When Philosophy Becomes Literature: Exploring the Prose of Avicenna and Suhrawardi
From the disciplined dialectic of early Islamic philosophy to the luminous allegories of Illuminationism, two towering figures—Avicenna (Ibn Sīnā, d. 1037) and Shihāb al-Dīn al-Suhrawardī (d. 1191)—transformed abstract thought into living prose. Their works do more than argue fine points of metaphysics; they tell stories, paint images, and guide the …
Naser Khosrow’s Safarnameh: A Journey Through the 11th-Century Islamic World
From the dusty caravan routes of Greater Khorasan to the bustling markets of Cairo and the sacred precincts of Mecca, Naser Khosrow’s Safarnameh stands as one of the medieval Islamic world’s most vivid travelogues. Equal parts pilgrimage narrative, cultural survey, and philosophical reflection, it offers modern readers a window into …
Wisdom Through Animals: The Journey and Impact of Kalila wa Dimna in Persian
From the crowded courts of ancient India to the flourishing literary salons of medieval Persia, the tales of Kalila wa Dimna have traveled centuries and continents, carried on the backs of jackals and the voices of translators. This blog post unravels that journey and explores how these animal fables shaped …
Advice for Kings: The “Mirrors for Princes” Genre (Qābūs-nāma, Sīyāsat-nāma)
Since antiquity, rulers and statesmen have turned to a special literary genre—often called “Mirrors for Princes”—for guidance on governance, ethics, and personal conduct. In the Persianate world, two landmark works stand out: the 11th-century Qābūs-nāma by Keikāvus of Tabaristan and the Sīyāsat-nāma (“Book of Governance”) of Nizām al-Mulk. Though …
Literary Gems in Early Histories: The Narrative Art of Bayhaqi
Abū’l-Fażl Aḥmad b. Ḥājjāj b. Maḥmūd al-Bayhaqī (c. 995–1077 CE) stands among the premier Persian historians of the Ghaznavid era. His Tarikh-i Mas‘udi (often called Tarikh-e Bayhaqi) transcends mere chronicling of events—Bayhaqi’s vivid storytelling, rich characterization, and elegant prose elevate his work into a literary masterpiece. In this post, …
The Unique Charm of Saadi’s Golestān: Where Prose Meets Poetry
Saadi of Shiraz (c. 1210–1291) is celebrated for blending warmth, wit, and wisdom in his masterwork Golestān (“The Rose Garden”). Unlike conventional treatises or purely lyrical collections, the Golestān interweaves terse prose narratives with lyrical couplets, creating a seamless tapestry that delights readers with both story and song. In this …
Whispers Behind the Veil: Erotica in Classical Persian Literature
Classical Persian literature brims with sensual imagery and erotic undertones—yet its “eroticism” transcends mere titillation. From the ghazals of the medieval courts to the Masnavi’s allegories, erotic motifs serve as a language of longing, a bridge between human desire and divine union. In this post, we’ll explore how Persian poets …