Pervasive And Universal

By IBNA Editor, *Battling against hypocrisy and pretense was Hafez ideal* - Iran Book News Agency - Tehran, Iran
Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Hafez, from the viewpoint of Lewisohn:

Iranian mysticism and Sufism expert, Leonard Lewisohn recognizes Hafiz as a poet who has battled hypocrisy and pretense.

According to his belief, none of the poets of the past and today in Persian or European countries have been able to reflect Hafez poetries' features as professional as him.

Leonard Lewisohn said: "None of the poets has fought against hypocrisy and pretense as Hafiz did. These features are what in fact make the political and social dimensions of Hafiz personality".

He considered Hafiz as the poet who was affected by all the previous poets, and explained: "It is impossible to find even a line of Hafiz poetry which does not remind us, the precious point views of Khaghani, Attar, Sanae’i, and neither Rumi, nor it does reflect an image of Khajooy-e- Kermani and Salman Savoji in it."

Calling Hafiz as a pervasive and universal poet, Lewisohn specified: "In Persian literature we have the tradition of similar writing, scholarism and replying, all of which are employed in his lyrics in a best way."

He continued: "After him, there were a lot of poets who tried to answer Hafiz lyrics, but none of the great poets, like Sa’eb Tabrizi or Bidel Dehlavi, could reflect the rhymes and imaginative pictures of Hafiz in their poems, as professional as Hafiz could."

The Sufism expert reminded: "Among the modern vanguard poets no poet was able to compete with Hafiz. Even in other Persian language countries like Afghanistan and Tadzhikistan.

Referring to the theosophic aspect of Hafiz poems, he specified: "The theosophic aspect of Hafiz lyrics are admirable. In fact, the gnostic concepts of Quran, Bible, and Sufis’ texts and epistles are deeply and stylistically, expressed in his poems."

In relation to Hafiz position among Europeans, Lewisohn stated: "In the 19th century, Hafiz obtained a special place in Germany, when Goethe translated Hafiz Divan in 1813. The German scholar has composed his West-Eastern Divan in adulation of Hafiz; and dedicated to him Goethe calls himself “Hafiz's apprentice”."

He then talked about Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American philosopher, lecturer and essayist, as the one who has introduced Hafiz in America, through translating more than 400 lines of Hafiz verses and explained: "Emerson was really fond of Saa'di and resembled his words with those of the Bible and other holy texts. He is the father of American literature, and one of the most famous essayists who has written several essays in admiration of Hafiz, in which he pointed out to Hafiz school freedom."

The Sufi literature expert pointed out to the book “Hafiz; the master of Persian poem”, written by Parvin LowLowei, and said: "This book was published about 5 years ago. It introduced all the translators of Hafiz verses since 250 years ago up to now. For example there are 35 translators, who have rendered Hafiz Divan first lyric. This figures show the high special position of Hafiz in the west and western literature."

He added:"Despite such a background, Hafizology is not as popular in the west as it deserves, because his language is too difficult to be understood easily, and is full of complicated allegories and allusions."

The Persian literature expert talked about publishing the first volume “Mollana Roomi” journal and continued: "2 months ago, the magazine's debut was celebrated in the presence of representatives from Afghanistan, Tadzhikistan, Turkey and the Cultural Adviser of Iran."

Lewisohn finally added: "This is the first time that an English journal is published on an Iranian poet. Of’ course, efforts have been made for the journal, to be both completely academic and attractive, in order to encourage the young readers to read it."