TEHRAN – The poetry of Hafez who is one of the finest lyric poets of Persian classical literature was discussed in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday evening. 

The session was organized by the Iranian Society of Cultural Works and Luminaries to commemorate Hafez National Day, just two days before its due date.

Several literati, including Mir Jalaleddin Kazzazi, Hassan Bolkhari, Gholamali Haddad-Adel and Asghar Daadbeh, delivered speeches on various aspects of Hafez poetry.

Kazzazi, who is mostly known for his studies on Persian poet Ferdowsi, put the focus of his lecture on divination based on consultation within the Divan of Hafez, which he said is only common among Iranians.

He said that the flexible nature of things makes them eligible to be used as an instrument for divination.

In his view, the Divan of Hafez is the most flexible book in the Persian language. He said that the “watery nature” of Hafez poetry makes the book useful as a source of consultation.

“Water is not solid and hard but is fluid and shapeless so it takes the shape of its container. All the debates that have been ongoing about Hafez and his poetry are rooted in the water nature of Hafez poetry,” he stated.

Kazzazi said that he has followed the guidelines he received based on his consultations with the Divan of Hafez in two important decisions of his life.

In his speech, Bolkhari made a comparison between Hafez and Ibn Arabi, the Arab Andalusian poet who is also the most influential Sunni scholar of Islam, and said that Hafez described the truth in a way that people from intellectuals to ordinary individuals understand it without an intermediary.

“If they were unable to gain a deep understanding of Hafez poetry, at least they would come to a romantic realization of his poems,” he added.

A large number of literati and lovers of Persian literature will come together at Hafezieh, the tomb of Hafez in Shiraz today to celebrate Hafez National Day. 

The Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance and a number of cultural officials are scheduled to attend the celebration. 

Several musical performances have also been arranged.

In addition, Hafez expert Saeid Hamidian will receive a Hafez Medal during a special ceremony to be organized today by the Iranian Center for the Study of Hafez in Shiraz.

He is the author of “A Commentary on a Devotion”, a five-volume treatise containing the author’s 25 years of studies on Hafez.

Photo: People visit the tomb of Hafez in Shiraz in an undated photo.
 
MMS/YAW