Jāmī

orig. Mawlānā Nūr al-Dīn ʽAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Aḥmad

born Nov. 7, 1414, district of Jām

died Nov. 9, 1492, Herāt, Timurid Afghanistan

Persian scholar, mystic, and poet.

Despite offers of patronage by many Islamic rulers, he led a simple life, mostly in Herāt. His prose ranges from Qurʾānic commentaries to treatises on Sufism and music. His poetry expresses ethical and philosophical views in fresh, graceful language. His best known poetry collection is The Seven Thrones (or Ursa Major). He is often called the last great mystical poet of Iran.

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▪ Persian poet and scholar

in full  Mowlanā Nūr Od-dīn ʿabd Or-raḥmān Ebn Aḥmad  

born Nov. 7, 1414, district of Jam

died Nov. 9, 1492, Herāt, Timurid Afghanistan

      Persian scholar, mystic, and poet who is often regarded as the last great mystical poet of Iran.

      Jāmī spent his life in Herāt, except for two brief pilgrimages to Meshed (Iran) and the Hejaz. During his lifetime his fame as a scholar resulted in numerous offers of patronage by many of the contemporary Islāmic rulers. He declined most of these offers, preferring the simple life of a mystic and scholar to that of a court poet. His work is notably devoid of panegyrics. His prose deals with a variety of subjects ranging from Qurʾānic commentaries to treatises on Ṣūfism (Islāmic mysticism) and music. Perhaps the most famous is his mystical treatise Lava'iḥ (Flashes of Light), a clear and precise exposition of the Ṣūfī doctrines of waḥdat al-wujūd (the existential unity of Being), together with a commentary on the experiences of other famous mystics.

      Jāmī's poetical works express his ethical and philosophical doctrines. His poetry is fresh and graceful and is not marred by unduly esoteric language. His most famous collection of poetry is a seven-part compendium entitled Haft Awrang (“The Seven Thrones,” or “Ursa Major”), which includes Salmān o-Absāl and Yūsof o-Zalīkhā. Although this collection is modeled on the works of the 13th-century romantic poet Neẓāmī, it bears Jāmī's unmistakable mark of originality and intellectual vigour.

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