Omar Khayyam and rubaiyat poetry: Omar Khayyam, or Ghiyath al-Din Abu’l-Fath Umar ibn Ibrahim al-Khayyami, was a 11th- and 12th-century Persian poet, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. He is best known for his rubaiyat, or quatrains, which are short poems that consist of four lines with a specific rhyme scheme. Omar …
Nizami and romantic literature: Nizami, or Nizami Ganjavi, was a 12th-century Persian poet and one of the greatest representatives of the Khamseh, or the Quintet, a genre of five epic poems that each deal with a different theme. Nizami’s Khamseh consists of the Makhzan al-Asrar, or the Treasury of Mysteries, …
Saadi and moral literature: Saadi, or Abu-Muhammad Muslih al-Din bin Abdallah Shirazi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, writer, and traveler. He is best known for his two major works, the Bustan, or the Orchard, and the Gulistan, or the Rose Garden, which are collections of stories, anecdotes, and aphorisms that …
Hafez and ghazal poetry: Hafez, or Khwaja Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi, was a 14th-century Persian poet who is widely admired for his mastery of the ghazal, a poetic form that consists of a series of couplets that share a common rhyme and meter. Hafez’s ghazals are renowned for their …
Rumi and Sufi poetry: Rumi, or Jalal al-Din Rumi, was a 13th-century Persian poet, mystic, and founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest poets of all time, and his works have been translated into many languages and influenced many literary and …
The Shahnameh: The Shahnameh, or the Book of Kings, is the epic masterpiece of the poet Ferdowsi, who composed it in the 10th and 11th centuries CE. It is the longest poem ever written by a single author, and contains over 50,000 verses that narrate the history and legends of …
I have been delving into the Persian literature of the Sasanian era, which preceded the Islamic conquest of Iran and marked the peak of the pre-Islamic Iranian civilization. The Sasanian literature is mostly preserved in the Middle Persian language, and it includes religious texts, historical chronicles, legal codes, and epic …
I have been exploring the contemporary Persian literature of Iran, which reflects the social and political changes and challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries. Many Iranian writers have experimented with new forms and styles, and have addressed issues such as identity, censorship, revolution, war, exile, and human rights. Some …
I have been learning about the Persian literature of the Indian subcontinent, which flourished under the patronage of the Mughal emperors and the local rulers. Many Persian poets and writers migrated to India and contributed to the development of a rich and diverse literary culture that blended Persian and Indian …
I am amazed by the works of Nizami Ganjavi, a 12th-century Persian poet who wrote five epic poems known as the Khamsa, or the Quintet. Each poem is a masterpiece of storytelling, characterization, and imagery, and they cover themes such as love, heroism, history, and spirituality. The most famous of …
I have been reading the Divan of Hafez, the 14th-century Persian poet who is widely regarded as the master of the ghazal, a poetic form that consists of rhyming couplets with a common refrain. Hafez's poems are complex and multilayered, and they can be interpreted in various ways, such as …
I am fascinated by the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, a collection of quatrains attributed to the 11th-century Persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet. The Rubaiyat are full of philosophical reflections on life, death, fate, and free will, and they also celebrate the joys of wine, love, and nature. They have a …
I have been enjoying the stories of Nasreddin, a legendary character in Persian literature and folklore who is known for his witty and humorous anecdotes. He is often portrayed as a wise fool, a trickster, or a simpleton, who uses his wit and irony to expose the hypocrisy and injustice …
I recently discovered the works of Forugh Farrokhzad, a modern Iranian poet and filmmaker who broke many social and literary taboos in her short but influential life. She wrote about her personal experiences as a woman, a lover, a mother, and a rebel, and expressed her views on feminism, sexuality, …
One of my favorite Persian poets is Rumi, the 13th-century mystic and founder of the Mevlevi order of Sufism. His poems are full of love, wisdom, and spirituality, and they have inspired millions of people around the world. I especially love his Mathnawi, a collection of six books of stories …
I just finished reading the Shahnameh, the epic poem by Ferdowsi that tells the history of Iran from the creation of the world to the Islamic conquest. It is a masterpiece of Persian literature and culture, full of heroic stories, mythical creatures, and moral lessons. I highly recommend it to …
