Episode 9: Hafez

Professor Seyyed Hossein Nasr joins us to discuss the poetry of Shams al-dīn Muḥammad Shirāzī (1325-1390), better known by his pen-name, Hafez. Widely considered the greatest master of the Persian ghazal, his poetry was acclaimed even during his lifetime, winning him fame as far as Bengal. His Divān, or collection of poetry, is one of the most beloved, studied, and commented upon works of literature in Islamic history, even influencing non-Muslim poets like Goethe and Tagore. Enjoying the patronage of the various rulers of Shiraz during this tumultuous period of its history, Hafez was known for the exceptional musicality and […]