Diwan of Hafiz

Diwan of Hafiz, completed by Pir Hussain of Shiraz on 1st Rajab, AH945/ 23 November 1538. Written in nasta 'liq, Persian. Signed on fly-leaf: 'William Tweedie, Haidarabad, 1864'.

Shams al-Din Hafiz (c.1321-1389) is regarded as the greatest Persian lyrical poet, for his multi-layered ghazals. He was born in Isfahan, now in Iran, and moved with his family to Shiraz at an early age. Despite living in poverty after the death of his father, he gained a good education, and memorised the Qur'an while still at school, gaining him the name 'Hafez' or 'Hafiz'. He became a disciple of the spiritual master, Attar of Shiraz. He did various menial jobs until he gained the favour of the court of Abu Ishak where he became a resident poet.The inspirartion for his love poems was a young woman in Shiraz known as Shakh-e Nabat (meaning 'Branch of Sugar-cane') whom he thought emboddied the perfect beauty given by her Creator. Hafiz was also appointed professor of Koranic studies at a college in Shiraz. He was ousted from this post when Mubariz Muzaffar captured Shiraz, but restored Muzaffar's son Shah Shuja. He later fell out with this ruler and fled to Isfahan, his poetry at this time being dominated by his longing to end his exile. However he was invited back to Shiraz and continued to teach and to compose ghazals there until his death.

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Tweedie collection. Catalogued by DM Dunlop.

Call number used to be msPK6465.D5

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Description compiled by Maia Sheridan, Archives Hub project archivist, based on material from the Manuscripts Database

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