Attar of Nishapur Poems
Abu Hamid bin Abu Bakr Ibrahim, also well known in the literature world by Farid ud-Din and Attar of Nishapur, was a Persian poet, Sufi theorist, and hagiographer born in Nishapur and had a profound and long-lasting effect on Persian poetry and Sufism. Attar of Nishapur poems are mystical, profound, and heart-touching. Attar authored a collection of lyrical poetry and several lengthy poems in the world view of Islamic mysticism and a prose book including biographies and sayings of great Muslim mystics. He also wrote many short stories. His best-known works are Ilahi-Namah or the Book of Divine, Attar of Nishapur poems, Manṭiq-uṭ-Ṭayr or The Conference of the Birds and Memorial of the Saints, all masterpieces in the literature world. All sources agree that he was from Nishapur, a city in Khorasan and a poet of the Seljuq era. This article will provide you with the top best Attar of Nishapur poems.
Attar of Nishapur Poems in English
With the encouragement of his father, Attar developed a lifelong interest in the Sufis, their teachings, and manner of life and came to see their saints as spiritual mentors. Attar died in the Mongols’ massacre in Nishapur in April 1221 when he was 78 years old. His tomb is at Nishapur, where he was born and raised. Ali-Shir Nava’i constructed his grave in the 16th century and subsequently had a complete repair under the reign of Reza Shah in 1940. Although his Conference of the Birds (Mantiq al-tayr) is his most well-known poem, all Attar of Nishapur poems are famous and loved worldwide. Let’s enjoy Attar of Nishapur poems.
بی تو دل و جان من سیر شد از جان و دل
جان و دل من تویی ای دل و ای جان من
هست دل عاشقت منتظر یک نظر
تا که برآید ز تو حاجت دو جهان من
Transcript:
Bi to de o jaane man sir shod az jaan o del
Jaan o del man toyi ey del o ey jaane man
Hast dele aasheghat montazere yek nazar
Ta ke bar aayad ze to haajat do jahaane man
English Translation:
Without you, my heart and soul became tired of living
You are my heart and soul, O ye who are my heart and soul
My heart is waiting for you to take a look at it
Your eye will make my life valuable!
آنچه می‌جویی تویی و آنچه می‌خواهی تویی
پس ز تو تا آنچه گم کردی ره بسیار نیست
Transcript:
Aancheh mijoyi toyi va aancheh mikhaahi toyi
Pas ze to taa aancheh gom kardi rah besyaar nist!
English Translation:
What you’re searching for is you, yourself!
What you want is you, yourself!
Then the distance from you and what you lost is not much!
دل شناسد که چیست جوهر عشق
عقل را ذره‌ای بصارت نیست
در عبارت همی نگنجد عشق
عشق از عالم عبارت نیست
Transcript:
Del shenaasad ke chist johare eshgh
Aghl ra zarehee besaarat nist
Dar ebaarat hami nagonjad eshgh
Eshgh az aalame ebaarat nist!
English Translation:
The heart knows the essence of love
The brain doesn’t have a clue about love
You can’t put love into words
Love is not in the words’ world!
The Moths and the Flame Poem
The Iranian mystic poet Attar is one of the most well-known figures in the country’s literary history. Attar of Nishapur poems were a significant source of inspiration for many mystic poets, including Rumi. In Rumi’s Sufi beliefs, Attar and Sanai were two of the most influential figures. Rumi has spoken highly of both of them in his poems at various times. Let’s enjoy one of the most well-known Attar of Nishapur poems: The moths and the flame poem.
یک شبی پروانگان جمع آمدند
در مضیفی طالب شمع آمدند
جمله می‌گفتند می‌باید یکی
کو خبر آرد ز مطلوب اندکی
شد یکی پروانه تا قصری ز دور
در فضاء قصر یافت از شمع نور
بازگشت و دفتر خود بازکرد
وصف او بر قدر فهم آغاز کرد
ناقدی کو داشت در جمع مهی
گفت او را نیست از شمع آگهی
شد یکی دیگر گذشت از نور در
خویش را بر شمع زد از دور در
پر زنان در پرتو مطلوب شد
شمع غالب گشت و او مغلوب شد
بازگشت او نیز و مشتی راز گفت
از وصال شمع شرحی باز گفت
ناقدش گفت این نشان نیست ای عزیز
همچو آن یک کی نشان دادی تو نیز
دیگری برخاست می‌شد مست مست
پای کوبان بر سر آتش نشست
دست درکش کرد با آتش به هم
خویشتن گم کرد با او خوش به هم
چون گرفت آتش ز سر تا پای او
سرخ شد چون آتشی اعضای او
ناقد ایشان چو دید او را ز دور
شمع با خود کرده هم رنگش ز نور
گفت این پروانه در کارست و بس
کس چه داند، این خبر دارست و بس
آنک شد هم بی‌خبر هم بی‌اثر
از میان جمله او دارد خبر
تا نگردی بی‌خبر از جسم و جان
کی خبر یابی ز جانان یک زمان
هرکه از مویی نشانت باز داد
صد خط اندر خون جانت باز داد
نیست محرم نفس کس این جایگاه
در نگنجد هیچ کس این جایگاه
English Translation:
One night, moths gathered
To find out the truth about the candle
They decided one of them
Should go and collect news of the flame
One flew to the distance
He watched a burning candle through the palace’s window
He flew back
To tell others what he learned
The great mentor among them interrupted:
He has no knowledge of the flame
Another moth flew to the palace window
He flew around the flame
He then came back to say how much trouble he went in
He told some facts about the flame
The mentor dismissed him and told him
You do not know the signs of the flame
Like the other one, you do not know the truth
Then the other one flew
He sat on the flame
He and the flame mingled
The flame covered his wings, body, and head
The moth became a fierce red
When the mentor saw the blazing moth
and saw the moth was lost in the flames
The mentor said: he is the one who knows the hidden truth
Since the one who knows the truth becomes lost
You can never know the truth
Unless you forget the flesh and outsoar the soul
If even a single hair of you remained
Will drag you in despair
No creature can reach there
Till the identity disappears
Attar Poems in Farsi
Book of Secrets, written by Attar of Nishapur or Asrar Namah, is about Sufi beliefs. Asrar Nameh is the book that the old Shaykh presented Maulana Jalal al-Din Rumi while Rumi’s family rested over at Nishapur on their trip to Konya, Turkey. Another notable work of Attar is the ‘Divine Book’ (Elahi Nameh) regarding asceticism. (zuhd) Attar of Nishapur poems are mainly about Sufism and divine love, so it’s impossible to comprehend his words just by appearance. Let’s enjoy more of Attar of Nishapur poems. So, keep reading!
در دلم افتاد آتش ساقیا
ساقیا آخر کجائی هین بیا
هین بیا کز آرزوی روی تو
بر سر آتش بماندم ساقیا
Transcript:
Dar delam oftaad aatash saaghiya
Saaghiya aakhar kojaayi hin biyaa
Hin biyaa kaz aarezoye roye to
Bar sare aatash bemaandam saaghiyaa
English Translation:
My heart is on fire, O’ cupbearer
O’ cupbearer, where are you?! Come soon
I am still on fire, O’ cupbearer
Because I am still desiring to see you!
جان و دل پر درد دارم هم تو در من می‌نگر
چون تو پیدا کرده‌ای این راز پنهان مرا
ز آرزوی روی تو در خون گرفتم روی از آنک
نیست جز روی تو درمان چشم گریان مرا
Transcript:
Jaan O dele pur dard daram ham to dar man mi negar
Chon to peyda kardehee in raze penhane maraa
Ze aarezoye roye todar khun gereftam roy az anke
Nist joz roye to darmaane cheshme geryaane maraa
English Translation:
Oh, my heart is full of pain; look at it
Because you’ve found my hidden secret
Because of my desire to see you, I cried days and nights
It is only you who can cure my in- pain heart!
Attar of Nishapur This Too Shall Pass
You may have heard or used “This too shall pass” frequently, but do you know the story behind it in Attar of Nishapur poems? It’s a Persian saying translated and used in numerous languages. It reflects on the transient aspect, or changeability, of the human experience. In wisdom literature, this attitude is commonly prevalent.
The Story behind Attar of Nishapur Poems: This Too Shall Pass!
There was a dervish in East whose wisdom was evident to all. People traveled from all over the world to hear him speak and profit from his experience. He eventually gained the attention of the king’s great advisor, who happened to be on the lookout for someone with great intelligence at the time.However, the king had specifically requested that a ring be designed for him.
The ring was supposed to be unique in that it would have an inscription that would allow the king to look at it and make him happy, and if he was happy, he could look at it and make him sad. A ring to remind him, either good or bad, wouldn’t last. When it came to the ring, several men and women offered their ideas, but the king was dissatisfied with any of them. As a result, the adviser wrote to the dervish, begging for help. The dervish made an emerald ring a few days later and delivered it to the king. The king, who had been gloomy for some days, unwillingly placed the ring on his finger. Then he felt better. The words “This, too, shall pass” were on the ring. “This too shall pass” is among the best Attar of Nishapur poems.
Fariduddin Attar Quotes
So far, we have provided Attar of Nishapur poems for you; now, let’s enjoy some valuable quotes from him. Besides Attar of Nishapur poems, his quotes are valuable to read.
تو چو شمعی و جهان از تو چو روز
من چو پروانهٔ جانباز امشب
همچو پروانه به پای افتادم
سر ازین بیش میفراز امشب
عمر من بیش شبی نیست چو شمع
عمر شد، چند کنی ناز امشب
Transcript:
To cho shame o jahaan az to cho ruz
Man cho parvaane jaanbaaz emshab
Hamcho parvaaneh be pay oftaadam
Sar az in bish mayafzaar emshab
More man bish shabi nist cho sha’m
Omr shof chand koni naaz emshab
English Translation:
You are like a burning candle, and the world is bright because of you
And I am like a moth flying around you tonight
I fell at your feet like a moth
Don’t keep your head higher than me tonight
My life is no longer lasts than a candle
My life is going to end soon
Why are you staying away from me tonight?
Conclusion
When your life is not passing as you wish, remember one of Attar of Nishapur poems: This too shall pass! In this article, we provided some of the best Attar of Nishapur poems and quotes. Enjoy!
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