The Tomb of Hafez and its associated memorial hall, the Hāfezieh, are two memorial structures erected in the Musalla Gardens of Shiraz, Iran, in memory of the celebrated Persian poet Hafez.

Themes of his ghazals are the beloved, faith, and exposing hypocrisy. His influence in the lives of Iranians can be found in Hafez-readings frequent use of his poems in Persian traditional music, visual art and Persian calligraphy.

It is said that by listening to his father's recitations Hāfez had accomplished the task of learning the Qur'an by heart at an early age (that is in fact the meaning of the word Hafez).

At the same time Hāfez is said to have known by heart, the works of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, Saadi, Farid ud-Din and Nezami.

Shiraz was invaded by the Scourge of God, Tamerlane (1336-1405).  Legend has it that there occurred a meeting between this man of the sword and the man of the pen, Hafiz, to defend his poetry against charges of blasphemy

In his memory, a small, dome-like structure was erected in Shiraz in 1452. A much more substantial memorial was constructed in the gardens in 1773 during the reign of Karim Khan Zand.

The current Mausoleum was designed by André Godard, French archeologist and architect, in the late 1930s. Inside, Hafez's alabaster tombstone bore one of his poems inscribed upon it.

Khwaja Samsu d-Din Muḥammad Hafez-e Shirazi (1325/26–1389/90), the Persian poet, is known by his pen name Hāfez. His tomb in Shiraz, a masterpiece of Iranian architecture, is visited often. The tomb, its gardens, the library containing 10,000 volumes dedicated to Hafez scholarship are a focus of tourism in Shiraz.

“We arePeople who need to love, because

Love is the soul's life,Love is simply creation's greatest joy”

(Hafez)

"The Earth would die If the sun stopped kissing her." -Hafiz (The Gift)

Today, he is the most popular poet in Iran; even libraries without the Qur’an contain his Diwan

His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry (Divan) 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. Hafez is a major—probably the pre-eminent—medieval Persian mystic and poet.

In the Persian tradition, whenever one faces a difficulty or a fork in the road, or even if one has a general question in mind, one would hold that question in mind, and then ask the Oracle of Shiraz Hafiz for guidance. Traditionally, the first line upon which the eyes of the reader fall, would give the answer to the direct question, and the rest of the Ghazal would give further clarification.

“The small manBuilds cages for everyone

HeKnows.

While the sage,Who has to duck his head

When the moon is low,Keeps dropping keys all night long

For theBeautifulRowdy

Prisoners.” (Hafiz) 

Sound: Abdol Vahab Shahidi - Bahar Ghamangiz

Pictures and arangement:

Sanda Foişoreanu

www.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Iran