Attar of Nishapur
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Farid od-Din Attar (Persian:فریدالدین عطار; ca. 1142 – ca. 1220) was born in Neishapour, in the Iranian province of Khorasan and died in the same city. Some scholars believe he was killed during the raid and destruction of his city by the Mongol invaders. His tomb is in Neishapour. His death has quite a story: It's said that a Mongol soldier found out who he was and was taking him to his officer when a man offered some money to buy Attar. The soldier wanted to accept but Attar tells the soldier that he is worth more. After they walk more, another man comes and offers more money, again Attar tells the soldier to decline, because he is worth much more. After a while an old man comes along and offers his firewood to buy Attar and Attar tells the soldier to sell him to the old man because "he is not worth more than that". The angry soldier Kills Attar right away.
Attar is one of the most famous mystic poets of Iran. His works were the inspiration of Rumi and many other mystic poets. Attar, along with Sanaiewere two of the greatest influences on Rumi in his Sufi views. Rumi has mentioned both of them with the highest esteem several times in his poetry. Rumi praises Attar as such:
- "Attar roamed the seven cities of love -- We are still just in one alley".
Attar was a pen-name which he took for his occupation. Attar means herbalist, druggist and perfumist, and during his lifetime in Persia, much of medicine and drugs were based on herbs. Therefore, by profession he was similar to a modern-day town doctor and pharmacist.
Works
He is one of the most prolific figures of Persian literature. He wrote over a hundred works of varying lengths from just a few pages to voluminous tomes. About thirty of his works have survived.
In the style of Sufi poets in general, Attar exalts earthly love as a prelude to divine love, and a form which even if not perfect, always has a spiritual aspect because the beloved becomes supreme. One of his favored parables is the love story of the sultan Mahmud of Ghazni for his boy slave Ayaz. In his Elahi Nama he includes eight stories about their mutual love and devotion.
His most well-known and popular work is Mantegh at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds). His other popular works include Asraar-Naameh (The Book of Secrets) and Tazkerat al-Oliyaa, (Biographies of the Saints) which contains biographies of many Sufi mystics. Generally speaking, most of his books are popular and relatively easy to read.
His Mantegh at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds) is one of the definitive masterpieces of all Persian literature. It is a book of poems in Persian of approximately 4,500 lines. The poem is a story about the birds, by the leadership of hoopoe, in search of their king, and is an allegory of a Sufi sheikh or master leading his pupils to enlightenment.
From Six Poems, Southern Iran, 1472
There is solid evidence that Rumi met Attar as a young boy as Rumi's family abandoned the city of Balkh. On their way, Rumi's father came to visit Attar. It is reported that Attar gave a copy of one of his mystic poetry books to the young Jalaleddin (who was not called Rumi or Molana until much later when he became the great mystic and poet as he is known today). Their meeting has been reported by various sources, including by Rumi's own son Hassameddin.
Another of his famous works is "Tazkerat al-Oliyaā" (Biography of the Saints), a text book in which he has described the personality and states of a large number of Sufis, and has reported their stories and sayings. In this book, he has devouted the largest part of his book to Shaikh Abul Hassan Kharaqani, which shows his deep respect and faith for him.
He practiced Hanafi sect, a school of Sunni Islam.
References used
- E.G. Browne. Literary History of Persia. (Four volumes, 2,256 pages, and twenty-five years in the writing). 1998. ISBN 0-7007-0406-X.
- Jan Rypka, History of Iranian Literature. Reidel Publishing Company. ASIN B-000-6BXVT-K
See also
External links
- Attar, Farid al-Din. A biography by Professor Iraj Bashiri, University of Minnesota.
- Poetry by Attar
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