Divan-i-Hafiz Volume 3

Title and Authorship

Title: The Divan (or Diwan) of Hafiz
Author: Khwāja Shams-ud-Dīn Muhammad Ḥāfiẓ-e-Shīrāzī (commonly known as Hafiz or Hafez of Shiraz)
Language: Persian (Farsi)
Date: 14th century (Hafiz lived c. 1315–1390 CE)
Genre: Classical Persian lyric poetry (mainly ghazals)
English Translations H. Wilberforce Clarke
Common Format: Modern critical editions and translations are often divided into three volumes to accommodate Hafiz’s complete corpus of ghazals and related poetry.

Background

Hafiz of Shiraz is regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets in Persian literature and one of the most beloved poets in world history. His Divan (collection of poems) gathers his mystical, philosophical, and romantic verses — celebrated for their depth, music, and multiple layers of meaning.

The Divan reflects the fusion of Sufi spirituality, human love, humor, and philosophical reflection. Hafiz’s poetry speaks simultaneously of divine longing and earthly beauty, making it both mystical and universal.

Structure of the Divan

The complete Divan contains around 500–700 ghazals (lyric poems), though the exact number varies depending on manuscript tradition. Modern editors and translators often divide the collection into three volumes for practical and thematic reasons.

Below is a general description of what each volume typically covers in English editions.

Volume 1: Early and Foundational Ghazals

• Themes: Spiritual awakening, love as divine longing, beauty as a reflection of God, the fleeting nature of worldly life.

• Tone: Tender, lyrical, full of yearning and subtle irony.

• Content:

  • The poet’s introduction to mystical love (‘ishq).

  • Praise of wine, tavern, and the beloved — all metaphors for spiritual ecstasy and divine intoxication.

  • Critique of hypocrisy and false piety among religious leaders.

  • Poetic meditations on fate, time, and human mortality.

• Example ideas:

  • “I am the slave of love’s tavern, not the mosque’s pride.”

  • “The Beloved’s beauty reveals the face of truth in every mirror.”

This volume introduces Hafiz’s key motifs: the wine-cup (mey), the cupbearer (saqi), the garden, the nightingale, and the rose — symbols that express both earthly and spiritual joy.

Volume 2: Mature Ghazals and Mystical Depth

• Themes: The unity of love and divinity, the path of the mystic, surrender to fate, and the tension between worldly life and divine truth.

• Tone: Philosophical, paradoxical, and emotionally rich.

• Content:

  • The poet’s dialogue with God and the Beloved.

  • Deeper Sufi metaphors for annihilation of the self (fana) and spiritual union (tawhid).

  • Commentary on the human condition — joy, sorrow, freedom, and divine grace.

  • Poetic criticism of orthodoxy, celebrating tolerance and inner purity.

• Example ideas:

  • “The candle of the heart is lit by the flame of love.”

  • “Only when the self is lost does the lover find the Beloved.”

Volume 2 is often regarded as the core of Hafiz’s mystical vision, expressing his belief that love, beauty, and music are paths to divine truth.

Volume 3: Later Poems and Philosophical Reflections

• Themes: Transience of life, maturity of faith, acceptance of destiny, and the merging of joy and sorrow in divine wisdom.

• Tone: Reflective, serene, and sometimes tinged with melancholy.

• Content:

  • Poems of old age and the poet’s farewell to earthly love.

  • Reflection on mortality and the eternal nature of the soul.

  • Summaries of Hafiz’s worldview — the harmony of the inner and outer worlds.

  • Deep spiritual symbolism using gardens, dawn, wine, and mirrors as allegories for divine truth.

• Example ideas:

  • “The garden fades, but the fragrance of love remains.”

  • “In the cup of mortality, I drink the wine of eternity.”

Volume 3 concludes the poet’s journey from youthful passion to spiritual enlightenment, blending mysticism, love, and philosophical acceptance of life’s impermanence.

Literary Style

• Written primarily in ghazal form — short lyrical poems with rhyme and refrain.

• Uses metaphor and symbolism extensively: wine represents divine love, the tavern symbolizes spiritual gathering, the beloved is often God, and intoxication means transcendence of ego.

• Characterized by musical rhythm, rich imagery, and multiple layers of meaning (both worldly and spiritual).

• Language is ambiguous by design, allowing readers to experience emotional and spiritual interpretations simultaneously.

Spiritual and Cultural Significance

• The Divan of Hafiz is a cornerstone of Persian and Sufi literature.

• It is read not only as poetry but as a spiritual oracle; many Persians and Afghans still practice fal-e-Hafiz — opening the Divan at random for divine guidance.

• Hafiz’s poetry influenced major Western writers and thinkers, including Goethe, Emerson, Nietzsche, and Thoreau.

• It remains central to Persian culture, memorized, recited, and sung to this day.

Philosophical and Mystical Message

Hafiz’s Divan expresses a worldview in which:

• Love is the path to divine truth.

• Beauty reflects the face of God.

• Joy, music, and poetry are sacred forms of worship.

• Hypocrisy and external religiosity veil the truth.

• The heart’s freedom is the essence of faith.

The Divan teaches that the seeker finds God not through fear or rigid practice but through love, selflessness, and joy in creation.

Legacy

The Divan of Hafiz remains one of the most read and quoted poetic works in the Persian-speaking world and beyond.
It bridges the worlds of art, mysticism, and philosophy, continuing to inspire spiritual seekers, poets, and lovers of beauty across cultures.
In modern editions, the three volumes represent a complete journey — from awakening and passion, through mystical understanding, to enlightened peace.