New Blog Post: The Forgotten Art of Inshaʾ: Elegant Letter-Writing in Classical Persia
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The Forgotten Art of Inshaʾ: Elegant Letter-Writing in Classical Persia
In the grand halls of medieval Persian courts, the art of inshaʾ (انشاء), or elegant letter-writing, occupied a place …
New Blog Post: When Philosophy Becomes Literature: Exploring the Prose of Avicenna and Suhrawardi
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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 …
New Blog Post: Naser Khosrow’s Safarnameh: A Journey Through the 11th-Century Islamic World
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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 …
New Blog Post: Advice for Kings: The “Mirrors for Princes” Genre (Qābūs-nāma, Sīyāsat-nāma)
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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, …
New Blog Post: Literary Gems in Early Histories: The Narrative Art of Bayhaqi
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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 …
New Blog Post: The Unique Charm of Saadi’s Golestān: Where Prose Meets Poetry
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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”). …
New Blog Post: Whispers Behind the Veil: Erotica in Classical Persian Literature
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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 …
New Blog Post: Signing Off in Style: The Poet’s Signature (Takhallus) in the Ghazal
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Signing Off in Style: The Poet’s Signature (Takhallus) in the Ghazal
In the world of the ghazal—a lyrical form defined by its couplets, rhyme, and refrain—one of the …
New Blog Post: The Music of Words: Appreciating Meter (ʿAruz) in Classical Persian Verse
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The Music of Words: Appreciating Meter (ʿAruz) in Classical Persian Verse
The beauty of classical Persian poetry lies not only in its imagery and philosophical depth but also …
New Blog Post: Stanzas of Splendor: Exploring the Mosammat, Tarkib-band, and Tarji-band
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Stanzas of Splendor: Exploring the Mosammat, Tarkib-band, and Tarji-band
Exploring Stanzas of Persian Poetry Mosammat, Tarkib-band, and Tarji-band. I'll explain each form, starting with: Mosammat: Features repetition of rhyme within …
New Blog Post: More Than Fragments: Understanding the Qetʿeh in Persian Poetry
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More Than Fragments: Understanding the Qetʿeh in Persian Poetry
Exploring the Qet'eh in Persian Poetry Often overshadowed by grand qasidas, ecstatic ghazals, or pithy rubāʿiyyāt, the qetʿeh (also spelled qitʿah) …
New Blog Post: Four Lines, Infinite Wisdom: The Power and Philosophy of the Rubaiʿī
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Four Lines, Infinite Wisdom: The Power and Philosophy of the Rubaiʿī
The rubaiʿī (Arabic: رباعي; Persian: رباعی, plural rubaiyyat) is a deceptively simple poetic form—just four lines, a single …
New Blog Post: Heroic, Romantic, Didactic: The Many Faces of the Masnavi Form
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Heroic, Romantic, Didactic: The Many Faces of the Masnavi Form
The masnavi (mathnawī) is one of the most versatile narrative poetic forms in Persian—and, by extension, Urdu and Ottoman—literature. Defined …
New Blog Post: The Anatomy of the Qasida: Praise, Philosophy, and Poetic Structure
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The Anatomy of the Qasida: Praise, Philosophy, and Poetic Structure
The qasida (قصيدة) is one of the oldest and most versatile forms in Arabic—and by extension Persian and Urdu—poetry. More …
New Blog Post: The Evolution of the Ghazal: From Courtly Love to Divine Longing
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The Evolution of the Ghazal: From Courtly Love to Divine Longing
The ghazal—an exquisite form of lyric poetry built on couplets, rhyme, and refrain—has journeyed across centuries and …
New Blog Post: Omar Khayyam: Reconciling the Scientist and the Poet of the Rubaiyat
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Omar Khayyam: Reconciling the Scientist and the Poet of the Rubaiyat
Omar Khayyam (1048–1131) occupies a rare place in world culture as both a brilliant mathematician‐astronomer and a …
New Blog Post: Jami: The Polymath Poet and the Culmination of the Classical Tradition
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Jami: The Polymath Poet and the Culmination of the Classical Tradition
Thought for a couple of seconds Jami of Herat (1414–1492) stands as the crowning figure of the …
New Blog Post: Sanai of Ghazni: The Poet Who Paved the Way for Rumi
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Sanai of Ghazni: The Poet Who Paved the Way for Rumi
Hakīm Abū al-Majd Majdūd ibn Ādam Sanā’ī Ghaznī (c. 1080–1131) occupies a pivotal place in Persian literary …
New Blog Post: Attar’s Spiritual Allegories: Exploring Worlds Beyond The Conference of the Birds
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Attar’s Spiritual Allegories: Exploring Worlds Beyond The Conference of the Birds
Farīd ud-Dīn ʿAṭṭār of Nishapur (c. 1145–1221) is best known in the West for his profound masterpiece Mantiq …
New Blog Post: Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa: Masterpieces of Persian Romantic and Ethical Storytelling
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Nizami Ganjavi’s Khamsa: Masterpieces of Persian Romantic and Ethical Storytelling
Nizami Ganjavi (c. 1141–1209) stands as one of the greatest poets of classical Persian literature. His five epic masnavī …
New Blog Post: Saadi the Poet: Contemplative Wisdom in the Verse of the Būstān
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Saadi the Poet: Contemplative Wisdom in the Verse of the Būstān
Saadi of Shiraz (c. 1210 – 1291) is celebrated worldwide for his humanistic vision and elegant style. …
New Blog Post: Saadi the Storyteller: Moral Lessons and Human Insights in the Golestān
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Saadi the Storyteller: Moral Lessons and Human Insights in the Golestān
Saadi of Shiraz (c. 1210–1291) stands among the towering figures of Persian literature. His masterpiece, the Golestān (“The …
New Blog Post: Jashn-e Ordibeheshtgân
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Jashn-e Ordibeheshtgân
Jashn-e Ordibeheshtgân is one of the twelve Zoroastrian “monthly feasts” (Jashn) that occur when a day and its corresponding month share the same name—in this case, the 3rd day of the 2nd month, Ordibehesht. Rooted …
New Blog Post: The Enigmatic Hafez: Decoding the Layers of Meaning in His Ghazals
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The Enigmatic Hafez: Decoding the Layers of Meaning in His Ghazals
Introduction Khwāja Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī (c. 1315–1390 CE), universally known as Hafez, remains one of Persia’s most …
New Blog Post: Ferdowsi's Craft: How the Shahnameh Preserved Pre-Islamic Myths and Histories
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Ferdowsi's Craft: How the Shahnameh Preserved Pre-Islamic Myths and Histories
Introduction Abu’l-Qasem Ferdowsi Tusi (c. 940–1020 CE) stands as one of the most monumental figures in Persian literature. His magnum …
New Blog Post: What Makes Persian Literature Unique? Defining Characteristics
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What Makes Persian Literature Unique? Defining Characteristics
Persian literature stands as one of the oldest and richest literary traditions in the world, with a history spanning over a millennium. Known for its …
New Blog Post: The Role of Humor in Persian Literature: Wit, Satire, and Storytelling
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The Role of Humor in Persian Literature: Wit, Satire, and Storytelling
Persian literature is renowned for its profound philosophical insights, exquisite lyricism, and mystical depth, but it is …
New Blog Post: Contemporary Iranian Voices: Key Authors Writing Today (Available in English)
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Contemporary Iranian Voices: Key Authors Writing Today (Available in English)
Persian literature has long been celebrated for its lyrical beauty, philosophical depth, and spiritual richness. But while classical poets …
New Blog Post: Words Made Visible: How Persian Literature Inspired Miniature Painting
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Words Made Visible: How Persian Literature Inspired Miniature Painting
For centuries, Persian literature has dazzled the world with its lyrical depth, spiritual symbolism, and storytelling brilliance. But Persian culture didn’t …
New Blog Post: Universal Mysticism: Comparing Sufi Themes with Other Spiritual Traditions
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Universal Mysticism: Comparing Sufi Themes with Other Spiritual Traditions
Throughout history, mystics from various spiritual traditions have explored a common inner terrain—seeking union with the Divine, transcending the ego, and …
New Blog Post: Epic Heroes Compared: Rostam, Achilles, and Arjuna
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Epic Heroes Compared: Rostam, Achilles, and Arjuna
Across cultures and centuries, epic poetry has preserved the larger-than-life figures who embody the ideals, conflicts, and spiritual yearnings of their civilizations. In Iran, Greece, …
New Blog Post: Lost in Translation? The Challenges and Triumphs of Translating Persian Poetry
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Lost in Translation? The Challenges and Triumphs of Translating Persian Poetry
Persian poetry, with its lush metaphors, intricate rhyme schemes, and layered meanings, is one of the world’s …
New Blog Post: Echoes of Rumi and Hafez in Western Thought and Literature
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Echoes of Rumi and Hafez in Western Thought and Literature
In the last two centuries, few voices from the East have resonated so deeply in the West as those …
New Blog Post: How Persian Literature Shaped Ottoman and Mughal Court Cultures
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How Persian Literature Shaped Ottoman and Mughal Court Cultures
When we think of Persian literature, we often envision the rose-scented verses of Hafez, the mystical couplets of Rumi, or the …
New Blog Post: Persian Short Stories: A Window into Contemporary Life and Thought
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Persian Short Stories: A Window into Contemporary Life and Thought
In the grand tradition of Persian literature—famed for its mystical poetry and epic verse—the short story is a relatively …
New Blog Post: The Development of the Modern Persian Novel: From Jamalzadeh Onward
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The Development of the Modern Persian Novel: From Jamalzadeh Onward
Persian literature, long celebrated for its dazzling poetry, began a bold new chapter in the 20th century: the era …
New Blog Post: Tazkireh: The Art of Persian Biographical Dictionaries and Literary History
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Tazkireh: The Art of Persian Biographical Dictionaries and Literary History
In the vast literary landscape of Persian culture, one fascinating genre serves as both a mirror of the literary …
New Blog Post: Kalīla wa Dimna: Ancient Fables with Enduring Moral Lessons
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Kalīla wa Dimna: Ancient Fables with Enduring Moral Lessons
Few works of world literature have traveled as far or taught as timelessly as Kalīla wa Dimna. Originating in ancient India as …
New Blog Post: Beyond Poetry: An Introduction to Classical Persian Prose
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Beyond Poetry: An Introduction to Classical Persian Prose
While Persian poetry often takes center stage in discussions of Iran’s literary heritage, classical Persian prose boasts its own golden lineage of wisdom, storytelling, …
New Blog Post: From Oral Tales to Written Epics: The Roots of Persian Literature
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From Oral Tales to Written Epics: The Roots of Persian Literature
Long before ink met paper in the courts of Shiraz and Herat, the land we now know …
New Blog Post: Sadegh Hedayat and The Blind Owl: Introducing Persian Modernism
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Sadegh Hedayat and The Blind Owl: Introducing Persian Modernism
Sadegh Hedayat’s The Blind Owl (Boof-e koor), first published in 1937, stands as the watershed moment when Persian literature entered the modernist …
