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Biography
of Hafez/Hafiz
We
know a little information about Hafez/Hafiz life. What we do know
that he
wasn’t welcome by some orthodox Islamic clergy. That was the reason
that some of the orthodox Islamic clergy refused to allow him to have an Islamic
traditional burial (Muslim burial).
He was born in the
thirteenth century (1310-1325 A.D.). We don’t know his exact birthday.
It could be in either 1320 or 1325 A.D. He was born in Shiraz in the
central southern part of Iran. His full name was Khajeh Shamseddin
Mohammad Hafiz-s Shirazi, Khwajeh Shams al-din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi,
or Khwaje Shams ud-din Mohammed Hafiz-e Shirazi. His father’s name was
Baha-ud-din. Shams ud-din means “Sun of Faith.”
He
had memorized the Koran and many of the works of poets such as Saadi,
Attar, Rumi and Nizami ud-din. His father died when Hafez was young and
left his mother and him with a lot of debt. He had to leave school to
work in a drapery shop and bakery to support his mom.
At
age 21, he fell in love with Shakh-e Nabat, a young beautiful woman.
Many of his poems are addressed to Shakh-e Nabat. It was at the same age
that he met Attar who becomes his disciple. In his early thirties, he
became a poet of the court of Abu Ishak. He became a popular
person in Shiraz. Some believe that this was the cause of his
“Spiritual Romanticism” in his poetry.
He
was about 33 years old when he wrote protest poems and was teaching at
the college. That was about the time when Mubariz Muzaffar captured
Shiraz.
At
age 38, Shah Shuja took his tyrant father
as prisoner and promoted Hafiz/Hafez. It was at that time that Hafez
began his phase of subtle spirituality in his poetry. But it didn’t
take too long until Shah Shuja became an enemy of Hafez. Hafez left
Shiraz to save his life and went to Isfahan. It was in Isfahan where his
poems mainly talk about his love for Shiraz, Shakh-e Nabat, and his
spiritual master, Attar. He was 52 years when Shah Shuja asked him to
return to Shiraz and start teaching at the college.
From
age 60 up to the age of 69, he wrote more than half of his ghazals. His
poetry at this time talks about his creature and his unity with God. He
died at age 69. His tomb is in Musalla Gardens (Hafezieh) along the
banks of Ruknabad river in Shiraz. He wrote about 500 Ghazals, 42
Rubaiyees, and maybe a few Ghaseedehs. Hafiz/Hafez did not collect his
poetry. After Hafez’s/Hafiz’s
death, Mohammad Golandaam and Sayyid Kasim-e Anvar compiled and
collected hafez’s/hafiz’s poetry.
To
this day, Hafiz’s/Hafez’s lovers used his Divan (Poetry) as an
Oracle to give guidance to their questions, and direction.
Goethe
said “In his poetry Hafiz/Hafez has inscribed undeniable truth
indelibly … Hafez has no peer!”
Emerson
said “Hafez/Hafiz defies you to show him or put him in a condition
inopportune or ignoble… He fears nothing. He sees too far; he sees
throughout; such is the only man I wish to see or be.”
A.
J. Arberry said “Hafiz/Hafez is as highly esteemed by his
countrymen as Shakespeare by us, and deserves as serious
consideration.”
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