A celebrated figure in poetry and mysticism in Iran, Hafez has brought honor and glory to the rich history of Iranian literature as well as other prominent literati and poets, said Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ali Jannati, in Shiraz on Monday.
October 12 is observed as Hafez Day in Iran, when hundreds of his fans and scholars gather at his mausoleum to pay tributes to him.
Jannati, who was addressing the commemoration day of the renowned 14th-century Persian poet, held at his resting place in his hometown, Shiraz, Fars Province, said Hafez’s ghazals (a type of poetry) are eternal. “His book is not just a literary treasure, but a sea of moral and spiritual gems.”
The Divan-e Hafez (collection of his poems) is regarded as a pinnacle of Persian literature and can be found in the homes of most Iranian families. His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis, commentary and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writings more than any other author. His numerous ghazals are mostly about love and spirituality.
“The impact of the holy Qur’an on Hafez’s poems is clear. Hafez has either directly borrowed from the verses of the divine book or in some parts Qur’anic stories, as he was thorough with it. In fact he knew the Qur’an by heart,” Jannati said.
Bahman Namvar-Motlaq, deputy head of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) said Iran’s largest museum will open near Hafezieh (tomb of Hafez). “Its first phase will be launched next Iranian year (starts March 21).”
Stressing that no translation would be able to convey the eloquence of Hafez’s poetry, the official added: “While Goethe is celebrated in German-speaking countries and Pushkin is famous in Russian-speaking nations, Hafez is famous the world over due to the depth of human philosophical concepts he used in his poems.”
Scholars agree that Divan-e Hafez has exerted a singularly important influence on Middle Eastern culture, akin to Shakespeare’s role in the sphere of western literature.
Hamavayan ensemble, led by renowned musician Hossein Alizadeh, performed a music concert at the end of the ceremony.
A day earlier, art and culture figures along with a large crowd of people gathered at Hafezieh and laid wreaths of flowers on the tomb.
Hafez (1325–1389) was born and grew up in Shiraz. He memorized the Qur’an at an early age. His influence in the lives of Persian speakers can be found in the frequent use of his poems in Persian traditional music, visual arts and Persian calligraphy and many of his poems are used as proverbs or sayings.
