encouraged by the light ... HAFIZ



ENCOURAGED BY THE LIGHT - HAFIZ

How did the rose ever open its heart and give this world all of its beauty?
It felt the encouragement of light against its being;
otherwise we all remain too frightened

Hafiz (real name: Khwaja Samsu d-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Sirazi), one of the most celebrated Persian poet was born around 1310 in Shiraz, Persia (modern-day Iran). 

I first came across his name twice while watching Discovery Asia channel : A Glimpse of Paradise - Garden Culture in the Islamic World and Monty Don's Paradise Gardens. Actually, they mentioned two poets, Hafiz and Saadi. I decided to read up on Hafiz first. 

Shiraz is also known as The City of Gardens and Poets, and it is no surprise that Hafiz talked a lot about the beautiful gardens of Shiraz. He was laid to rest in one of the gardens featured in his poems. The tomb of Hafez, commonly known as Hafizieh, is in Mussalla Garden, in the northern edge of Shiraz, Iran.

the tomb of Hafez
image from google

references:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Hafez
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/hafez
https://www.philipchircop.com/post/71646659976/encouraged-by-the-light-hafiz-once-wrote-how-did



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