Iran (IMNA) - Hafez, born in Shiraz between 1315 and 1390, is revered as one of the greatest poets in Persian history. Known for his ghazals —short lyrical poems rich with imagery and layered meaning—his works explore love, faith, nature, and the human pursuit of truth. His collection, Divan-e Hafez, remains a sacred text in Iranian households, often recited during cultural festivities such as Nowruz and Yalda Night.
Each year on October 12, admirers, scholars, and visitors from around the world gather at Hafez’s tomb in Shiraz to commemorate his legacy. The ceremony includes poetry readings, cultural events, and tributes to his enduring influence. The poet’s mausoleum, designed in 1935 by French architect and archaeologist André Godard, stands amid beautifully landscaped gardens that rank among Shiraz’s most-visited tourist attractions.
Hafez’s life, though celebrated, remains wrapped in mystery. He earned the title “Hafez” for memorizing the Quran and was later called Lisan al-Ghaib —“the tongue of the unseen”—for his profound spiritual insight. Scholars note his inspiration from earlier Persian poets such as Omar Khayyam, though his unique voice transformed mystical and philosophical concepts into a universal language of love.
One of Hafez’s most famous ghazals reads:
That beautiful Shirazi Turk, took control and my heart stole,
I’ll give Samarkand & Bukhara, for her Hindu beauty mole.
O wine-bearer bring me wine, such wine not found in Heavens...
This poem, like many of his works, reflects his mastery of metaphor and emotional intensity, blending sensuality with spirituality.
Hafez’s Divan was compiled posthumously by Mohammad Golandaam around 1410, some two decades after the poet’s death. Today, nearly every Iranian home contains a copy, and many Iranians practice fal-e Hafez, the custom of divination by randomly opening the Divan to seek guidance or inspiration.
Hafez’s Influence Beyond Iran
Hafez’s influence has reached far beyond Persian borders, most notably inspiring German literary giant Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Encountering a translation of Hafez’s poetry at age 65, Goethe became deeply moved by the mystical beauty of his verses.
He later composed West-Eastern Divan —a monumental collection of poems reflecting the spiritual dialogue between East and West. Goethe’s admiration for Hafez led him to blend Persian mysticism with Western poetic forms, fostering cross-cultural understanding through art.
According to Professor Bosse of the University of Klagenfurt, Austria, “Goethe would not have written West-Eastern Divan without Hafez’s inspiration. Hafez’s mystic language and poetic wisdom profoundly shaped Goethe’s vision.”
Even today, Goethe’s reverence for Hafez symbolizes a bridge between civilizations—uniting Western humanism with Eastern mysticism.
As Iranians gather once again at the poet’s tomb in Shiraz, Hafez’s timeless words continue to echo across centuries, reminding the world of the eternal dialogue between love, wisdom, and the divine.
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