Fariduddin Attar

Fariduddin Attar was one of the most influential and celebrated Persian poets and mystics of the medieval period. He was born in Nishapur, a major city of Khorasan (now in northeastern Iran), and practiced the profession of apothecary, from which he derived his pen name Attar, meaning "perfumer" or "druggist". He was well versed in the sciences and arts of his time, and traveled extensively to various lands, such as Egypt, Syria, Arabia, India, and Central Asia. He met many famous Sufis and scholars, and collected their sayings and stories in his prose works. He also composed numerous poems in various forms and genres, expressing his mystical insights and experiences in rich and captivating language. His works are considered among the masterpieces of Persian literature and Sufism, and have influenced many later poets and mystics, such as Rumi, Hafez, Jami, and Nava'i. Some of his most famous works are: - The Conference of the Birds (Mantiq al-Tayr), an allegorical poem describing the journey of the birds (symbolizing the Sufis) in search of the mythical Simurgh (symbolizing God). Along the way, they encounter various trials and tribulations, and only thirty birds reach the end, where they realize that they are the Simurgh themselves. - The Book of God (Ilahi-Nama), another allegorical poem that tells the story of a young prince who renounces his worldly pleasures and embarks on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. He is guided by a wise old man who introduces him to various aspects of Sufi doctrine and practice. - The Book of Affliction (Mosibat-Nama), a shorter allegorical poem that depicts the hardships and sufferings that a Sufi must endure on the path to God. It also contains moral lessons and advice for the seekers. - The Collected Poems (Divan), a collection of lyrical poems that cover various themes and topics, such as love, praise, lamentation, wisdom, mysticism, ethics, and theology. They are written in different meters and rhyme schemes, and display Attar's mastery of poetic expression and imagery. - The Memorial of the Saints (Tadhkirat al-Awliya), a prose work that contains biographies and anecdotes of famous Muslim saints and mystics from the early centuries of Islam. It is an invaluable source of information on the history and development of Sufism, as well as a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom and inspiration. Attar lived a long life of over 70 years (some sources mention 110) and died a violent death in the massacre that the Mongols inflicted on Nishapur in April 1221. His mausoleum, built by Ali-Shir Nava'i in the sixteenth century, is located in Nishapur. He is revered by Muslims as a saint and a master of Sufism, and his works are widely read and appreciated by lovers of Persian poetry and mysticism.