With the clear water of wine, a mystic performed ablutions, Ghazal 132 by Hafez
With the clear water of wine, a mystic performed ablutions, Ghazal 132 by Hafez
By
@hamed | poet: Hafez Shirazi
به آبِ روشنِ می عارفی طهارت کرد
عَلَی الصَّباح، که میخانه را زیارت کرد
***
همین که ساغرِ زَرّینِ خور، نهان گردید
هِلال عید به دورِ قدح اشارت کرد
***
خوشا نماز و نیازِ کسی که از سرِ درد
به آبِ دیده و خونِ جگر طهارت کرد
***
امام خواجه، که بودش سرِ نمازِ دراز
به خونِ دخترِ رَز خرقه را قِصارت کرد
***
دلم ز حلقهٔ زلفش به جان خرید آشوب
چه سود دید ندانم که این تجارت کرد
***
اگر امامِ جماعت طلب کند امروز
خبر دهید که حافظ به می طهارت کرد
***
Description:
English Translation:
With the clear water of wine, a mystic performed ablutions,
At dawn, when he visited the tavern.
As soon as the golden cup of the sun was hidden,
The crescent moon beckoned to the goblet.
Blessed is the prayer and supplication of one who, out of pain,
Performed ablutions with tears and the blood of his liver.
The Imam, the master, whose prayers were long,
Shortened his robe with the blood of his daughter, the rose.
My heart bought turmoil from the ring of her curls,
I don't know what profit I gained from this trade.
If the Imam of the congregation asks today,
Tell him that Hafez purified himself with wine.
Explanation of the Ghazal
In this ghazal, Hafez continues his exploration of the themes of love, spirituality, and the hypocrisy of religious practices.
Key Themes:
The Tavern as a Place of Spiritual Purification: The tavern is again presented as a place of spiritual purification and enlightenment, contrasting with the hypocrisy of traditional religious practices.
The Love of Wine and the Beloved: The poet equates the love of wine with the love of the beloved, suggesting a deep spiritual connection.
Criticism of Religious Hypocrisy: Hafez criticizes the hypocrisy of religious leaders who demand outward conformity without understanding the true meaning of spirituality.
Key Persian terms and nuances:
عیان الصباح: Literally "the eye of the morning," meaning dawn
خرقه: A Sufi's robe, symbolizing spiritual purity
This ghazal is a bold statement about the nature of spirituality and the limitations of traditional religious practices. Hafez suggests that true spiritual fulfillment can be found through love, ecstasy, and direct experience, rather than through rigid adherence to external rituals.