Islamic Poetry & Literature

Ferdowsis classic poem Shahnameh is part myth, part history?beginning with the legend of the birth of the Persian nation and its tumultuous history, it contains magical birds and superhuman heroes and centuries-long battles.

Considered by Rumi to be "the master" of Sufi mystic poetry, Attar (who died, in 1220, when Rumi was 12 years old) is best known for his epic poem The Conference of the Birds, a magnificent allegorical tale about the soul's search for meaning.

The definitive translation by Dick Davis of the great national epic of Iran—now newly revised and expanded to be the most complete English-language edition

Edward FitzGerald's much-loved, often-quoted, bestselling 1859 translation of the RUBAIYAT, with Attar's charming narrative poem, BIRD PARLIAMENT. Also featuring an extensive new introduction with notes and chronology.

Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that put the Stars to Flight:

For anyone interested in Sufism in particular, or mystical understanding in general, Attar’s works are indispensable. His influence on later giants, such as the mystic poet Jalaleddin Rumi, is well documented.

Together, Hafez, a giant of world literature; Jahan Malek Khatun, an eloquent princess; and Obayd-e Zakani, a dissolute satirist, represent one of the most remarkable literary flowerings of any era.