Hafez’s poetry and Persian Miniatures come to life: Hafez: Translation: Love’s minstel has wonderful harmony and melody Every song in his repertoire has a path to a place May the world never be empty of the cry of lovers Because it has a sweet and joyful voice Although our dreg-draining Pir has neither gold…
Those who believe are more intense in love…
Quran 2:165 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ يَرَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا إِذْ يَرَوْنَ الْعَذَابَ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ “Translation”: Among the people are some who take peers apart from God, loving them as if loving God….
Hafez in qawwal
This ghazal, attributed to Hafez, is probably not by him, but is still beautiful nonetheless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=44&v=Iz9hU6JjZXk Translation: I saw Beloved in the Stranger I saw a Flower in the Ash The one the Preacher so tried to hide I saw that Beloved in the square. In every direction, the splendor of Beloved, I see In every…
The Wisdom of Khusrau
Translation: Poverty is more pleasant than majesty; depravity, more pleasant than piety. Majesty has its headaches, and when last I looked beggary was more pleasant. Since kings let no one approach them, being indigent among the poor is more pleasant When pride gets into someone’s…
Two Ghazals from Hafez
I’ve quoted from these before, but here are two of my favorite ghazals in their entirety: (If the videos on the other pages on this site don’t appear for you, try emptying your cache and reloading the page) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0CRm37FQr4 Translation: The outward ascetic has no knowledge of our state …
You make me forget myself…
Amir Khusro Translation: I dressed myself up to go see my Love but when I saw him, I forgot myself you robbed me of everything when our eyes met You made me drink love’s elixir and I got drunk when our eyes met My fair arms with green bangles you took by the…
Hafez: Minstrel vs. Philosopher
The minstrel played a melody from the pain of love that covered the philosopher’s eyelashes in blood -Hafez Translation: For years I pawned my book for wine, the rowdiness of the tavern was from my teaching and praying See the goodness of the Magian Pīr: Whatever we drunks did was…
Hafez: the rose began to burn
If you have news of the state of the heart, tell me! or if you have any idea of where He is, tell me! I know death, but until to alley of the Friend if you have a shortcut, tell me! -Rumi Original: گر ز حال دل خبر داری بگو ور نشانی مختصر داری بگو مرگ را…
Drunk eyes…
Amir Khusro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMltaO1tFso Translation: This eternal pain has left me broken One glance of your drunken eyes and I lost my faith My life is now a tale of the past Spent, and sacrificed at the temple of you O wondrous intoxicating eyes, o wondrous long locks O wondrous worshipper of wine, o…
Tonight I learned that you would come
Another poem of Amir Khusrow: Translation: Tonight I heard that you, oh beloved, would come – Be my head sacrificed to the road along which you will come riding! All the gazelles of the desert have put their heads on their hands In the hope that one day you will come to hunt them…. The…