**Hafez of Shiraz** (full name: Khwāje Shams-od-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī) was a celebrated Persian poet of the 14th century, widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets in Persian literature. He was born in **Shiraz, Iran**, around **1315 CE**, and passed away in **1390 CE**. His poetry is admired for its depth, beauty, and exploration of themes like love, mysticism, and the divine.
### Key Facts about Hafez:
1. **Works**:
Hafez is best known for his collection of poetry called the **"Divan of Hafez"**, which consists of about 500 ghazals (lyric poems), as well as qasidas, masnavis, and rubaiyat. His ghazals are renowned for their complex metaphors, subtle humor, and spiritual undertones.
2. **Themes**:
- **Love and Wine**: Often used as symbols for divine ecstasy and spiritual liberation.
- **Mysticism**: A deep connection to Sufism, emphasizing unity with the divine.
- **Social Critique**: Criticism of hypocrisy and corruption in religious and political institutions.
3. **Sufi Influence**:
Hafez was deeply influenced by Sufi thought and often blurred the lines between physical and spiritual love, making his work accessible to both mystics and secular readers.
4. **Legacy**:
- Hafez’s tomb, known as the **Hāfezieh**, is located in Shiraz and is a popular pilgrimage site for lovers of poetry and mysticism.
- His poetry has been translated into numerous languages and continues to inspire readers worldwide.
- Hafez’s works are often used in **bibliomancy** (a form of divination known as *Fal-e-Hafez*) where a person opens his Divan randomly to seek guidance.
5. **Influence on the West**:
Prominent figures such as Goethe and Ralph Waldo Emerson admired and were influenced by Hafez's poetry, which introduced Persian literary and philosophical ideas to the Western world.
Hafez remains a symbol of Persian culture, embodying the spirit of love, beauty, and freedom.