The Persian Mystics: Jami

The Persian Mystics: Jami
By F. Hadland Davis

This companion volume to Davis's book on Rumi introduces Jami, the last great classical poet of Persian Sufi literature, active in 15th-century Herat. Jami's poetry and prose synthesized centuries of Sufi thought, and this volume surveys his life and teachings through translated excerpts and commentary.

Published in 1918 as part of the "Wisdom of the East" series, it draws on scholarly translations including E.H. Whinfield's rendering of the Lawa'ih, offering general readers an introduction to a figure often considered the culmination of the classical Persian Sufi tradition.

A public-domain work, offered as a free digital edition by Nile Book Store.

Excerpt

Nur-addín ‘Abd-alrahmán Jámí was born in Jám the 23rd of Sha‘bán, 817, A.H. (Nov. 7, 1414 A.D.), and died at Herát the 18th of Muharram, 898 A.H. (Nov. 9, 1492 A.D.). Dr. Hermann Ethé gives Khasjird, near Jám, as the birthplace of the poet; but as Jámí himself refers more than once to the fact of Jám being his birthplace, we must give the poet the benefit of the doubt and I trust to his good memory in the matter. The fact that Jám and Khasjird are in close proximity has probably given rise to confusion in the matter. It will be evident that the poet took his name from the first-mentioned town.