FOUR WONDERFUL SUFI ALLEGORIES IN POETRY & PROSE Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi, Obeyd Zakani, Shah Da'i & Parvin Etesami Translation & Introduction Paul Smith Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi (d.1280) is famous for one book, his 'Secret of Birds, Flowers' etc. in prose and poetry. The allegories are easy, yet deep and elegant, with no lack of real Sufi knowledge and experience of the Path through various seekers: the expressions are poetic and pleasant. "It has been said, perhaps with truth, that there is no document of such age to touch this one for a combination of mystical insight and understanding of human psychology." K. Winstone-Hamilton. Mouse & Cat by Obeyd Zakani is a satirical, epic allegory that was influential at the time it was composed (14th c.) and has remained so for the past 600 years. It is more than just a story for children (that some say brought about the cartoon of Tom & Jerry)... it is a story of the stupidity of the false power of those in power and a warning to all that such blind ambition always leads to destruction at the hands of one even more powerful. Sufi poet Shah Da'i (1406-1464) takes his clue from 'Attar and tells the marvellous allegory of the fish who go in search of an answer to their problem from the Ancient Wise Fish. Iran's recent great female poet Parvin Etesami (1907-1941) tells the simple but deep allegory of the lazy man and the hard-working spider in such a clever and engrossing way that her reason for telling it is subtle but truly enlightening. The correct rhymes and meaning are achieved. Illustrated. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 380 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian. Paul Smith (b.1945) is an Australian poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar, Seemab and others and his poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

FIVE FAMOUS ALLEGORIES IN SUFI POETRY Conference of the Birds; Secrets of Birds, Flowers, Nature, Animals & Insects; Cat & Mouse; The Fish; The Spider. Translations & Introductions by Paul Smith Farid al-din 'Attar (d. 1221) was a grear Sufi poet who composed over 5o books. His most loved, apart from his ghazals is 'The Conference of the Birds' in masnavi (rhyming couplets) form (translated here by Edward FitzGerald) that would influence all the following poets in their writing of Sufi philosophy in the way of allegories, using Nature. Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi (d. 1280) is famous for one book, his 'Secret of Birds, Flowers' etc. in prose and poetry. "It has been said, perhaps with truth, that there is no document of such age to touch this one for a combination of mystical insight and understanding of human psychology." K. Winstone-Hamilton. Mouse & Cat by Obeyd Zakani is a satirical, epic allegory that was influential at the time it was composed (14th c.) and has remained so for the past 600 years. It is more than just a story for children (that some say brought about the cartoon of Tom & Jerry)... it is a story of the stupidity of the false power of those in power and a warning to all that such blind ambition always leads to destruction at the hands of one even more powerful. Sufi poet Shah Da'i (1406-1464) takes his clue from 'Attar and tells the marvellous allegory of the fish who go in search of an answer to their problem from the Ancient Wise Fish. Iran's recent great female poet Parvin Etesami (1907-1941) tells the simple but deep allegory of the lazy man and the hard-working spider in such a clever and engrossing way that her reason for telling it is subtle but truly enlightening. The correct rhymes and hpefully, the meanings are achieved. ILLUSTRATED. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 460 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian. Paul Smith (b.1945) is an Australian poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar, Seemab and others and his poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays.

The Secret of Birds, Flowers, Nature, Animals & Insects A Sufi Allegory in Prose & Poetry by Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi Translation & Introduction Paul Smith From the Introduction on the Life of the Author, form of the Qit'a and on Sufi Poetry: There is little to say about the author of these allegories as very little is known about him. His real name is unknown because Azz-eddin is a nickname and al-Muqaddasi means of Jerusalem, in that Azz-eddin was native of that town or territory, or sometime lived there. It is said that Azz-eddin was an Imam (religious leader) and he was erudite and eloquent in Arabic and he imitated the style of Ibn al-Giouzi (historian) and listened to him with much pleasure. It is said that he perished one day near the Kaaba, in the presence of a crowd of the great and learned and he fulfilled his obligation of pilgrimage perfectly and many took an exact copy of his speech, and his death was on Wednesday February the 12th, 1280, caused by a fall from a high place in Mecca. In addition to the allegories here published, Azz-eddin al-Mucaddasi is known for other highly respected works which are all mystical (Sufi) but have not come down to us. It is obvious he was influenced by 'The Conference of the Birds' (see appendix) by 'Attar who died about 60 years before he did. These short poems (qita's) translated in the correct form for the first time, coming after the speech in prose of the flower, bird, natural occurance, herb, animal or insect appear as a continuation or the essence of the prose. The judgment of the work of Azz-eddin has been mostly favorable; but if one leaves oneself to the Middle-Eastern taste, what seems to be defects will soon become real beauties and that what seems odd, are games of the mind. However, in judging this work according to Western taste, it can't be denied the allegories are easy, yet deep and elegant, with no lack of real Sufi knowledge and experience of the Path through various seekers: the expressions are poetic and pleasant. "It has been said, perhaps with truth, that there is no document of such age to touch this one for a combination of mystical insight and understanding of human psychology." K. Winstone-Hamilton. Large Format Paperback 7"x 10" Pages 250. Illustrated. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. " Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of English to Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. Paul Smith (b.1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of great Sufi poets of Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Mansur Hallaj, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mahsati, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

FIVE SUFI ALLEGORIES IN POETRY & PROSE Farid al-din 'Attar, Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi, Obeyd Zakani, Shah Da'i & Parvin Etesami Translations by Paul Smith & Edward FitzGerald Farid al-din 'Attar (d. 1221) was a grear Sufi poet who composed over 5o books. His most loved, apart from his ghazals is 'The Conference of the Birds' in masnavi (rhyming couplets) form that would influence all the following poets in their writing of Sufi philosophy in the way of allegories, using Nature. Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi (d. 1280) is famous for one book, his 'Secret of Birds, Flowers' etc. in prose and poetry. "It has been said, perhaps with truth, that there is no document of such age to touch this one for a combination of mystical insight and understanding of human psychology." K. Winstone-Hamilton. Mouse & Cat by Obeyd Zakani is a satirical, epic allegory that was influential at the time it was composed (14th c.) and has remained so for the past 600 years. It is more than just a story for children (that some say brought about the cartoon of Tom & Jerry)... it is a story of the stupidity of the false power of those in power and a warning to all that such blind ambition always leads to destruction at the hands of one even more powerful. Sufi poet Shah Da'i (1406-1464) takes his clue from 'Attar and tells the marvellous allegory of the fish who go in search of an answer to their problem from the Ancient Wise Fish. Iran's recent great female poet Parvin Etesami (1907-1941) tells the simple but deep allegory of the lazy man and the hard-working spider in such a clever and engrossing way that her reason for telling it is subtle but truly enlightening. The correct rhymes and meaning are achieved. Illustrated. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 460 pages. COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'. "It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished." Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran. "Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian. Paul Smith (b.1945) is an Australian poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar, Seemab and others and his poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and screenplays. www.newhumanitybooks.com

SECRET OF BIRDS, FLOWERS, NATURE, ANIMALS & INSECTS A Sufi Allegory in Prose & Poetry (Large Print & Large Format Edition) by Azz-eddin al-Muqaddasi Translation & Introduction Paul Smith From the Introduction: There is little to say about the author of these allegories as very little is known about him. His real name is unknown because Azz-eddin is a nickname and al-Muqaddasi means of Jerusalem, in that Azz-eddin was native of that town or territory, or sometime lived there. It is said that Azz-eddin was an Imam (religious leader) and he was erudite and eloquent in Arabic and he imitated the style of Ibn al-Giouzi (historian) and listened to him with much pleasure. It is said that he perished one day near the Kaaba, in the presence of a crowd of the great and learned and he fulfilled his obligation of pilgrimage perfectly and many took an exact copy of his speech, and his death was on Wednesday February the 12th, 1280, caused by a fall from a high place in Mecca. In addition to the allegories here published, Azz-eddin al-Mucaddasi is known for other highly respected works which are all mystical (Sufi) but have not come down to us. It is obvious he was influenced by 'The Conference of the Birds' (see appendix) by 'Attar who died about 60 years before he did. These short poems (qita's) translated in the correct form for the first time, coming after the speech in prose of the flower, bird, natural occurrence, herb, animal or insect appear as a continuation or the essence of the prose... However, in judging this work according to Western taste, it can't be denied the allegories are easy, yet deep and elegant, with no lack of real Sufi knowledge and experience of the Path through various seekers: the expressions are poetic and pleasant. "It has been said, perhaps with truth, that there is no document of such age to touch this one for a combination of mystical insight and understanding of human psychology." K. Winstone-Hamilton. Large Print (18pt) Large Format (8"x 10") Pages 313. Illustrated.

Farid-ud din Affar occupies a prominent place in the roll of distinguished Persian Poets. His most famous work, the manti-ul-Tayr, or the colloquy of birds is an allegorical poem in which this gated Sufi describes the quest of the Birds (symbolizing the seekers) to reach the Simurg (the Lord of Creation) This abridged edition of the above is a translation of the poem is the one of the first works published to the common English reader. It was a very illumination introduction on Persian Mysticism which is full of anecdotes of famous Sufis such as Hallaj Byazid, Rumi and Jami. The translation of the poem is in four parts: (1) The parliament of the birds, (II) On, to the city of god, (III) Through the seven valleys, (IV) the reception at the royal count. The book and with a short memoir on the poet, Farid-ud-din Affar.

An allegorical poem by twelfth-century Sufi poet Farid Ud-Din Attar in which a gathering of birds embark upon a quest for Simurgh, the lord of creation.

RUBA'IYATS OF FIVE GREAT SUFI POETS OF INDIASarmad, Dara Shikoh, Bedil, Hali, IqbalTranslation and Introduction Paul SmithThe ruba'i is perhaps the oldest form in Persian Sufi Poetry. In its four lines, most rhyming, can be found the deep wisdom, suffering, love and mysticism of its greatest earlier and later exponents of Sufi Spirituality and human love, despair and grief, in Persia and India. The correct rhyme-structure has been kept as well as the beauty and meaning of these magical four-line poems. Sarmad (1590-1659) was a famous and infamous Persian dervish poet of Jewish and Armenian origin. As a merchant he gathered his wares and travelled to India to sell them. In India he renounced Judaism for Sufism. He wrote beautiful poetry in the form of rubai's. He wandered the streets and the courts as a naked dervish. He was beheaded by Emperor Aurangzeb for his perceived heretical poetry. Dara Shikoh (1615-1659) was the oldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan of Mughal India. He was a fine poet, his poems having the influence of Sufism to which he was dedicated. He used 'Qadiri' as his takhallus or pen-name. He cpmposed mainly ruba'is and was a friend of Sarmad. He was defeated and executed after leading an uprising against his cruel, fundamentalist brother Emperor Aurangzeb. Bedil (1644-1721) was born and educated near Patna in India. In later life he travelled. His writings in Persian are extensive, being one of the creators of the 'Indian style'. He had complicated views on God, influenced by the Sufis. His 16 books of poetry contain 0ver 3600 ruba'is. He is now considered a great later master of this form. Hali (1837-1914) has a special place in Urdu Sufi literature. He was poet, critic, teacher, reformer and prose-writer. He acquired through his own efforts Urdu, Persian and Arabic and English. As a poet he was a mater of the ruba'i. He wrote biographies of Ghalib and Sadi. Iqbal (1873-1938) graduated from Government College, Lahore with a master's degree in philosophy. He taught there while he established his reputation as an Urdu poet. He turned to Islam and Sufism for inspiration and rejected nationalism as a disease of the West. Becoming convinced that Muslims were in danger from the Hindu majority if India should become independent, he gave his support to Jinnah as the leader of India's Muslims. He is perhaps the last great master of the famous four-line ruba'i form of poetry, having composed over 550 of them in Persian & Urdu. Life and Selected Bibliographies on all Poets. Introduction: Sufis: Their Art and Use of Poetry; Form, Function & History of the Ruba'i. All poems are in the correct poetic form. Large Format Paperback 7" x 10" 589 pages.Paul Smith (b. 1945) is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Lalla Ded, Mahasti, Iqbal, Ghalib, Rahman Baba, Ibn al-Farid, 'Iraqi, Aatish, Seemab, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, children's books, biographies and a dozen screenplays.www.newhumanitybooks.com

FOUR IMPORTANT SUFI TEACHING POEMS The Walled Garden of the Truth, Treasury of Mysteries, Rose Garden of Mystery & Book of Ecstasy by Sana'i, Nizami, Shabistari & 'Arifi Translation & Introduction Paul Smith The Walled Garden of the Truth of Sana'i is a poem of mystical teachings intermingled with proverbs, fables, anecdotes and even obscene stories. The uncommon manner in which Sana'i introduced and explained the esoteric teachings of Sufism through the medium of poetry was the key to its popularity and lasting value. It is still widely considered by scholars to be the first great mystical poem in Persian. Rumi said, " 'Attar is the soul and Sana'i the eyes and I came after them'." The Treasury of the Mysteries, the most beautiful mystic poem in the Persian language, has both perfection of language and grandeur of thought. Every line of his Treasury of the Mysteries is a living witness to his absolute certainty that piety, devotion, humility and self-forgetfulness are the corner stones of total annihilation, which in turn is necessary for unification with God and the foundation of the edifice of eternal life." G. H. Darab. Senior lecturer in Persian. University of London. The Rose Garden of Mystery was composed as a 1000 couplet long masnavi poem in the form of questions and answers on spiritual matters by Mahmud Shabistari of Tabriz in 1317 at the request of his Spiritual Master. Since then it has been regarded as one of the finest books on Sufism. E.G. Browne in his classic work, 'History of Persian Literature' calls this book "On the whole, one of the best manuals of Sufi theosophy that exists." Written by 'Arifi (1389 - 1449) one of the last great Sufi poets of the Classical Period of Persian Poetry the Hal-nama or Book of Ecstasy often referred to as 'The Ball & Polo-stick' is an allegory in which the ball and the polo-stick are personified as types of Sufi mystical love and all the images are from the game of polo or as it was known at the time in Persia as chaugan. 'Arifi composed it, as he states in the epilogue of the 513 couplets masnavi... in two weeks. The correct form of the masnavi has been kept in all three long poems and each has an informative Introduction on the poet's life and times and poetry. Chapter on Sufis & Dervishes: Their Art and Use of Poetry, Glossary. Large format paperback 7" x 10" Pages 653. Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa

Robert Irwin's authoritative introduction to the fourth volume of The New Cambridge History of Islam offers a panoramic vision of Islamic culture from its origins to around 1800. The introductory chapter, which highlights key developments and introduces some of Islam's most famous protagonists, paves the way for an extraordinarily varied collection of essays. The themes treated include religion and law, conversion, Islam's relationship with the natural world, governance and politics, caliphs and kings, philosophy, science, medicine, language, art, architecture, literature, music and even cookery. What emerges from this rich collection, written by an international team of experts, is the diversity and dynamism of the societies which created this flourishing civilization. Volume four of The New Cambridge History of Islam serves as a thematic companion to the three preceding, politically oriented volumes, and in coverage extends across the pre-modern Islamic world.