Hatef Esfehani
Encyclopedia
Seyyed Ahmad Hatef Esfehani (also spelled as Hatef Esfahani or Hatif Isfahani) is a famous Iranian poet
of the 18th century.
, and most likely he died there in 1783. (Some documents also indicate that he died in 1777). Hatef Esfehani's date of birth is unknown. Hatef was contemporary to at least seven rulers of Iran
, namely Shah Rukh of Persia
(ruled 1748-1796), Karim Khan Zand (r. 1760-1779), Abolfath Khan, Mohammad Ali Khan
, Sadiq Khan Zand, and Ali Murad Khan
(all from Zand dynasty
who ruled 1779-1785), and Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of Qajar dynasty
(r.1781-1797). He studied mathematics
, medicine
, philosophy
, literature
, and foreign languages (Turkish
and Arabic). He had a son and a daughter. His daughter, named Beygom, married poet Mirza Ali Akbar Naziri.
(in Persian
: Ghazal). Ode is the poem of complex structure and exalted by lyrical or rhapsodic mood on some stated theme. Another line of his profession was in the writing of Tarji-e-Band. When the linking verse is recurrent, the poem is called a Tarji-e-band (literally: Return-Tie). But when the linking verse is varied, the poem is called a Tarkib-band (literally: Composite-Tie). He was also skillful in the composition of Purposeful Poem (Ghassideh), Elegy
(Soognameh), Quatrains (Rubaiyat) and Fragments (Ghata'at). But his reputation lied in his excellent poems of mystical nature.
Hatef has been considered as one of the great Iranian mystic
poets who taught many peoples about the higher aspects of the human existence and the journey of the soul
. Hatef's poems are smooth, clear and flowing and free of ambiguities. He followed Saadi
and Hafez
especially in the composition of his odes. Due to his excellent odes, Hatef is also very well known in many parts of Europe
and particularly in Italy
.
He has a Tarji-Band, which has made him famous. It is perhaps one of the best single poems in Persian Mystic
poetry. Hatef went to a fire temple
, to a church, and to a pub, and everywhere he found that people worshiped the same One God. In this poem, the part that deals with Christianity
is an attempt to explain the mystery of the Trinity
. The description of a discourse with a beautiful girl in church perhaps reveals the Armenia
n influence in Iran
from the time of Shah Abbas
of Safavid dynasty
onwards. (Shah Abbas ruled Iran from 1588 to 1629). Click http://www.persian.ws/poet/fullnews.php?id=86 to view the Persian
and the English
versions of that part of the poem.
Hatef is also one of those poets who wrote three odes in Arabic language. In two of his odes, he was inspired by the poems attributed to Urvahebn Hazam Ozri, Jamilebn Ozri and Umarebn Abirabia. In third ode, which is in the eulogy
of the prophet, he was inspired by the poems composed by Fallera and Bursiri. It should be also noted that Hatef's Poetry Anthology
(in Persian: Divan-e-Hatef-e-Esfahani) was firstly edited and published by late poet and scholar Hassan Vahid Dastgerdi (Dastjerdi), the founder of Literary Journal of Gift (in Persian: Armaghan), in Tehran
in 1953.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
of the 18th century.
Life
Hatef Esfehani was born in Isfahan (Esfahan), a central province of IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and most likely he died there in 1783. (Some documents also indicate that he died in 1777). Hatef Esfehani's date of birth is unknown. Hatef was contemporary to at least seven rulers of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, namely Shah Rukh of Persia
Shah Rukh of Persia
Shahrukh Shah Afshar, also spelled Shahrokh was a king of the Afsharid dynasty and a contemporary of the Zand kings. He reigned until 1796....
(ruled 1748-1796), Karim Khan Zand (r. 1760-1779), Abolfath Khan, Mohammad Ali Khan
Mohammad Ali Khan
Mohammad Ali Khan Zand , was the second Shah of the Zand dynasty. He ruled Persia from March 6, 1779 until June 19, 1779.After the death of Karim Khan in 1779, Iran disintegrated once again. Karim Khan's brother Zaki Khan declared Mohammad `Ali, the second son of Karim Khan who was also his...
, Sadiq Khan Zand, and Ali Murad Khan
Ali Murad Khan
Ali Murad Khan Zand the sixth Shah of the Zand dynasty, reigned from March 15, 1781 until February 11, 1785.After the death of Karim Khan Zand, Agha Muhammad Khan who was a hostage--in light of preventing an outbreak of war between the Qajar tribes in the northern Persia and the Zands--escaped...
(all from Zand dynasty
Zand dynasty
The Zand dynasty ruled southern and central Iran in the 18th century.- Karim Khan Zand :The dynasty was founded by Karim Khan, chief of the Zand tribe which was Lur or Lak deportees. Modern scholarships such as Wadie Jwaideh suggested his Kurdishness. He became one of Nader Shah's generals...
who ruled 1779-1785), and Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of Qajar dynasty
Qajar dynasty
The Qajar dynasty was an Iranian royal family of Turkic descent who ruled Persia from 1785 to 1925....
(r.1781-1797). He studied mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
, medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
, and foreign languages (Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
and Arabic). He had a son and a daughter. His daughter, named Beygom, married poet Mirza Ali Akbar Naziri.
Poems
Hatef was an expert in the composition of odeOde
Ode is a type of lyrical verse. A classic ode is structured in three major parts: the strophe, the antistrophe, and the epode. Different forms such as the homostrophic ode and the irregular ode also exist...
(in Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: Ghazal). Ode is the poem of complex structure and exalted by lyrical or rhapsodic mood on some stated theme. Another line of his profession was in the writing of Tarji-e-Band. When the linking verse is recurrent, the poem is called a Tarji-e-band (literally: Return-Tie). But when the linking verse is varied, the poem is called a Tarkib-band (literally: Composite-Tie). He was also skillful in the composition of Purposeful Poem (Ghassideh), Elegy
Elegy
In literature, an elegy is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.-History:The Greek term elegeia originally referred to any verse written in elegiac couplets and covering a wide range of subject matter, including epitaphs for tombs...
(Soognameh), Quatrains (Rubaiyat) and Fragments (Ghata'at). But his reputation lied in his excellent poems of mystical nature.
Hatef has been considered as one of the great Iranian mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
poets who taught many peoples about the higher aspects of the human existence and the journey of the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
. Hatef's poems are smooth, clear and flowing and free of ambiguities. He followed Saadi
Saadi (poet)
Abū-Muḥammad Muṣliḥ al-Dīn bin Abdallāh Shīrāzī better known by his pen-name as Saʿdī or, simply, Saadi, was one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is not only famous in Persian-speaking countries, but he has also been quoted in western sources...
and Hafez
Hafez
Khwāja Shamsu d-Dīn Muhammad Hāfez-e Shīrāzī , known by his pen name Hāfez , was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry are to be found in the homes of most Iranians, who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day...
especially in the composition of his odes. Due to his excellent odes, Hatef is also very well known in many parts of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and particularly in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
He has a Tarji-Band, which has made him famous. It is perhaps one of the best single poems in Persian Mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
poetry. Hatef went to a fire temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
, to a church, and to a pub, and everywhere he found that people worshiped the same One God. In this poem, the part that deals with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
is an attempt to explain the mystery of the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
. The description of a discourse with a beautiful girl in church perhaps reveals the Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n influence in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
from the time of Shah Abbas
Abbas I of Persia
Shāh ‘Abbās the Great was Shah of Iran, and generally considered the greatest ruler of the Safavid dynasty. He was the third son of Shah Mohammad....
of Safavid dynasty
Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty was one of the most significant ruling dynasties of Iran. They ruled one of the greatest Persian empires since the Muslim conquest of Persia and established the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning...
onwards. (Shah Abbas ruled Iran from 1588 to 1629). Click http://www.persian.ws/poet/fullnews.php?id=86 to view the Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
and the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
versions of that part of the poem.
Hatef is also one of those poets who wrote three odes in Arabic language. In two of his odes, he was inspired by the poems attributed to Urvahebn Hazam Ozri, Jamilebn Ozri and Umarebn Abirabia. In third ode, which is in the eulogy
Eulogy
A eulogy is a speech or writing in praise of a person or thing, especially one recently deceased or retired. Eulogies may be given as part of funeral services. However, some denominations either discourage or do not permit eulogies at services to maintain respect for traditions...
of the prophet, he was inspired by the poems composed by Fallera and Bursiri. It should be also noted that Hatef's Poetry Anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
(in Persian: Divan-e-Hatef-e-Esfahani) was firstly edited and published by late poet and scholar Hassan Vahid Dastgerdi (Dastjerdi), the founder of Literary Journal of Gift (in Persian: Armaghan), in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
in 1953.