Iranians in Uganda together with their friends gathered at the Cultural Consulate in Kololo, Kampala to celebrate and remember the famous Iranian Heroic Poet Khwaja Shams-ud-Din Mohammad Hafez.
Born in 1325 and died on October 12, 1389, in Shirazi, Hafez was a great poet whose works secured him recognition in Iranian history, every October 12, is celebrated as the Hafez National Day.
Speaking at the function, Muhamad Rezor Ghezhelsofla, the Cultural Chancellor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran said that the secret of Hafez’s success throughout centuries lies in the fact that he brought a kind of innovation in different discourses of mysticism, love, philosophy, and criticism.
“His works impact on the development of Iran and the entire Universe because he is up to now being emulated by great poets across the world.”
Ghezelsofla said that Hafez’s poems are a source of knowledge that can help in promoting development if adopted by all people in the World since they are educative.
Hafez’s book of sonnets or Ghazals are in Persian and they have been translated into many languages, influencing many famous poets in human history, including the 18th-century prominent German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
English poet and writer Edward FitzGerald called Hafez “the best musician of words.”
Many literature experts consider Hafez as the greatest voice in the Persian culture and mysticism and the indisputable master of the sonnet.
The theme of his sonnets is spiritual, humanistic, and understandable for the readers.
Although the poet’s full name is Shamseddin Mohammad, he is known with his pen-name Hafez, which means the one who memorizes.
Hafez was given the title because he could recite the Holy Quran completely by heart and believed that his own interpretation would naturally bring justice and freedom into people’s everyday life and reduce depression, chaos, and unhappiness.
Hafez, he said memorized the Holy Qur’an at an early age which earned him the nickname ‘Hafez’ (meaning memorizer or ‘keeper’).
“Divan-e Hafez — a collection of his poems — is regarded as a pinnacle of Persian literature. The collection of his sonnets in Divan-e Hafez is very popular in the Persian-speaking world,” he said
“His strong influence on the lives of Persian speakers can be found in the frequent use of his poems in Persian traditional music, visual arts, and Persian calligraphy and in proverbs or sayings.
His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis, commentary, and interpretation, influencing post-14th century Persian writing more than any other author,” he added.
The national commemoration on a national day for prominent poet Hafez was also held in the southern city of Shiraz, where the prominent poet was born.
“Thousands of fans and enthusiasts visit the poet’s tomb, Hafezyeh, in Shiraz on October 12 each year to pay tribute to the poet whose works are widely considered as the essence of the Iranian culture,” Ghezesofla said
There are also similar events in Tehran and other cities, where officials and fans discuss Hazef poems.
