Háfiz is honored as the greatest lyric poet of Iran and the D'ván-i Háfiz, his collected poetry, is without doubt one of the world's greatest literary achievements. Translated here from the edition of Parv'z Nát'l Khánlar', the 486 poems have been rendered as literally as possible while trying to convey some sense of the original poetry to the reader who lacks knowledge of Persian. The ghazals are introduced and presented with extensive annotation by one of today's most eminent scholars of Persian literature.

Despite his towering presence in premodern Persian letters, Shams al-Din Muhammad Hafiz of Shiraz (d. 1390) remains an elusive and opaque character for many. In order to look behind the hyperbole that surrounds Hafiz's poetry and penetrate the quasi-hagiographical film that obscures the poet himself, this book attempts a contextualisation of Hafiz that is at once socio-political, historical, and literary. Here, Hafiz's ghazals (short, monorhyme, broadly amorous lyric poems) are read comparatively against similar texts composed by his less-studied rivals in the hyper competitive, imitative, and profoundly intertextual environment of fourteenth-century Shiraz. By bringing Hafiz's lyric poetry into productive, detailed dialogue with that of the counterhegemonic satirist, 'Ubayd Zakani (d. 1371), and the marginalised Jahan-Malik Khatun (d. after 1391; the most prolific female poet of premodern Iran), our received understanding of this most iconic of stages in the development of the Persian ghazal is disrupted, and new avenues for literary exploration open up. Looking beyond the particular milieu of Shiraz, this study re-assesses Hafiz's place in the Persian poetic canon through reading his poems alongside those produced by professional poets in other major centres of Persian literary activity who enjoyed comparable fame in the fourteenth century. Recognising the aesthetic achievements of his contemporaries does not diminish the splendour of Hafiz's, rather it forces us to accept that Hafiz was but one member of a band of poets who jostled for the limelight in competing, often intersecting, patronage and reception networks that facilitated intense cultural exchange between the cities of post-Mongol Iran and Iraq. Hafiz's ghazals, characterised as they are by conscious and deliberate hybridity, ambiguity, and polysemy, are products of a creative mind bent on experimenting with genre. While in no way seeking to deny the mystical stratum of the Persian ghazal in its fourteenth-century manifestation, this study emphasises the courtly and profane dimensions of the form, and regards Hafiz through a sober lens with keen attention to his dynamic role at the heart of a vibrant poetic community that was at once both fiercely local and boldly cosmopolitan.

Life lessons from one of the greatest poets of all time in all new translations by a master poet and translator. This is the perfect introduction to Hafiz for all lovers of poetry and seekers of love, spirituality, and meaning. "Hafiz's poetry aims to close the gap between mortal humans and the divine and this book opens a door to the poet's gardens. From the first page, you are invited to settle into a sublime sanctuary and partake in enchantment until you feel the Beloved inside your beating heart and running through your veins."--Ari Honarvar, author of A Girl Called Rumi I have this gem And it's looking for a beholder Hafiz's Little Book of Life is a lush collection of more than 250 poems by Hafiz, commonly known as the Tongue of the Hidden. In Iran, ordinary people memorize poetry of Hafiz. Lines from his poems are quoted as proverbs in everyday life. Stars can be heard singing his poetry on the radio. A copy of his collected work (divan) can be found in any average household. Translated by native Persian speaker, Erfan Mojib and the award-winning translator Gary Gach, this collection will be sure to strike a chord with Hafiz lovers everywhere. Let the unforgettable words of Hafiz shine through you with their love, depth, and celebration of life. This collection of mystical poetry focuses on the issues we encounter in everyday life. The book unfolds as Garden of the World, Garden of Love, and The Garden of Bliss. These encompass a range of experiences a person is likely to encounter in a lifetime. World includes personal and social themes, such as solitude, hypocrisy, and hope. Love spans separation, longing, and union. Bliss, the capper, is the briefest. Also included is a small biography of Hafiz, translators' notes, and a section on using Hafiz's work for divination. A typical Hafiz Oracle occurs every year at a Yalda celebration (the longest night of the year). During the evening, someone might make a wish and open a book of Hafiz and read a poem out loud. They then pass the book to the next person.

Islam today is a truly global faith, yet it remains somewhat of an enigma to many of us. Each and every day our newspapers are saturated with references to Islam; Quran, Taliban, Hijab, Fatwa, Allah, Sunni, Jihad, Shia, the list goes on. But how much do we really understand? Are we, in fact, misunderstanding? The Penguin Dictionary of Islam provides complete, impartial answers. It includes extensive coverage of the historical formations of the worldwide Muslim community and highlights key modern Muslim figures and events. Understanding Islam is vital to understanding our world and this text is the definitive authority, designed for both general and academic readers.

This volume contains ten chapters on Persian metaphors, tropes, rhetorical figures, and poetic forms and genres, by some of the world's foremost scholars in the field of classical Persian poetry.

This expansive four-volume encyclopedia presents a broad introduction to Islam that enables learning about the fundamental role of Islam in world history and promotes greater respect for cultural diversity. One of the most popular and widespread religions in the world, Islam has attracted a great deal of attention in recent times, particularly in the Western world. With the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and a pervasive sense of hostility toward Arab Americans, there is ever increasing need to examine and understand Islam as a religion and historical force. Islam: A Worldwide Encyclopedia provides some 700 entries on Islam written by expert contributors that cover the religion from the birth of Islam to the present time. The set also includes 16 pages of color images per volume that serve to illustrate the diverse expressions of this important religious tradition. Each entry begins with a basic introduction, followed by a general discussion of the subject and a conclusion. Each entry also features a further readings list for readers. In addition to supplying a comprehensive, authoritative overview of Islam, this work also specifically addresses many controversial related issues, including jihad, violence in Islam, polygamy, and apostasy.

This two-volume reset edition draws together a selection of Anglo-Indian poetry from the Romantic era and the nineteenth century.