HAFIZ SHIRAZI (1315-1390)

Persia, 17th-18th c. MS 045

Perhaps one of the most lavishly illuminated manuscripts in our collection, the University of Oregon is proud to own a complete and illuminated copy of Hafiz’s Diwan (alt. Divan). Hafiz, also known as al-Shirazi from his birthplace of Shirazi, Iran, is considered one of the greatest medieval Persian, Iranian, Sufi poets, and a master of the ghazal (غزل), or lyric poetry. Prior to the twelfth century, the ghazal genre was primarily reserved for erotic and love themes. Hafiz extended the genre to include ethical, philosophical, mystical, homiletic, and political subjects tied to the Quran. Hafiz’s ghazals are usually seven to nine couplets in length, with the shortest being no more than five couplets and the longest being sixteen. The ghazals may have been sung in addition to being read aloud. While still contested amongst scholars and translators, the total amount of ghazals reliably attributed to Hafiz range from 573 to 994.

While it is not currently known how many ghazals are in this current manuscript, it contains twenty-five illuminated miniatures that illustrate the corresponding ghazal. In addition to the miniatures, the text, written in the Nasta’liq script, is framed by gold borders with floral decoration. Some subjects include tea parties, royal court scenes, and hunting parties. The figures are lavishly dressed in richly pigmented garments and pearled Akbar turbans, hijabs, and abayas. The scenes are almost exclusively situated outdoors where the figures sit upon floral carpets. The manuscript’s first figural illumination features a Buraq, a human-headed horse that serves as transport to the Seven Heavens for the prophets of the Book, surrounded by angels (fig. 1).

Bibliography

Hafiz Shirazi. Diwan. Persia, 17th-18th centuries. University of Oregon Special Collections & University Archives, MS 045. https://alliance-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/f/3uoa1r/CP71269051660001451

Birch, Dinah, et al. “Hafiz, Shams ad-din Muhammad of Shiraz” in The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. Oxford University Press, 2013.

Blair, Sheila S. et al. “Islamic Art.” Grove Art Online. Islamic art | Grove Art (uoregon.edu)

De Bruijn, J.T.P. “Hafez – III. HAFEZ’S POETIC ART.” Encyclopedia Iranica. Dec. 15, 2002. HAFEZ iii. HAFEZ’S POETIC ART – Encyclopaedia Iranica (iranicaonline.org)

Esposito, John L. “Hafiz, Shams al-Din Muhammad” in The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford University Press, 2003.