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Muslim / Sufi

12th Century

Iran/Per
(Middle East)

Farid ud-Din Attar

Timeline (1120? - 1220?)

Poems by Farid ud-Din Attar
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Farid ud-Din Attar, Farid ud-Din Attar poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry, poetry, poetry, poetry

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Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishapur, in north-east Iran. There is disagreement over the exact dates of his birth and death but several sources confirm that he lived about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have been killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen today in Nishapur.

As a younger man, Attar went on pilgrimage to Mecca and traveled extensively throughout the region, seeking wisdom in Egypt, Damascus, India, and other areas, before finally returning to his home city of Nishapur.

The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which was his profession. It is said that he saw as many as 500 patients a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies which he prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while attending to his patients.

About thirty works by Attar survive, but his masterpiece is the Mantic at-Tayr (The Conference of the Birds). In this collection, he describes a group of birds (individual human souls) under the leadership of a hoopoe (spiritual master) who determine to search for the legendary Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront their own individual limitations and fears while journeying through seven valleys before they ultimately find the Simurgh and complete their quest. The 30 birds who ultimately complete the quest discover that they themselves are the Simurgh they sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh can translate as 30 birds) while giving us an esoteric teaching on the presence of the Divine within us.

Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other Sufi poets. It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when Attar was an old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars dispute this possibility.

Farid ud-Din Attar was apparently tried at one point for heresy and exiled from Nishapur, but he eventually returned to his home city and that is where he died.

A traditional story is told about Attar's death. He was taken prisoner by a Mongol during the invasion of Nishapur. Someone soon came and tried to ransom Attar with a thousand pieces of silver. Attar advised the Mongol not to sell him for that price. The Mongol, thinking to gain an even greater sum of money, refused the silver. Later, another person came, this time offering only a sack of straw to free Attar. Attar then told the Mongol to sell him for that was all he was worth. Outraged at being made a fool, the Mongol cut off Attar's head.

Whether or not this is literally true isn't the point. This story is used to teach the mystical insight that the personal self isn't of much real worth. What is valuable is the Beloved's presence within us -- and that presence isn't threatened by the death of the body.

Poems by Farid ud-Din Attar

	A slave's freedom
	The Dullard Sage
	The moths and the flame
	The Valley of the Quest
	The pilgrim sees no form but His and knows (from Bou Ali and the Old Woman)
	Invocation
	The Simurgh
	God Speaks to Moses
	God Speaks to David
	The Pupil asks; the Master answers
	The Nightingale
	A dervish in ecstasy
	How long then will you seek for beauty here?
	Look -- I do nothing; He performs all deeds
	The Hawk
	The Lover
	The peacock's excuse
	The Vain Bird
	All who, reflecting as reflected see
	I shall grasp the soul's skirt with my hand
	Looking for your own face
	Mysticism
	The angels have bowed down to you and drowned
	The Birds Find Their King
	The Eternal Mirror

Recommended Books

	The Conference of the Birds, Translated by Afkham Darbandi / Translated by Dick Davis Amazon.com
	Conference of the Birds: A Seeker's Journey to God, Translated by Rustom Pestonji Masani Amazon.com
	The Conference of the Birds: The Selected Sufi Poetry of Farid ud-Din Attar, Translated by Raficq Abdulla Amazon.com
	The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry, Translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson / Translated by Nasrollah Pourjavady Amazon.com
	The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman Barks Amazon.com
	Music of a Distant Drum: Classical Arabic, Persian, Turkish & Hebrew Poems, Translated by Bernard Lewis Amazon.com
	Muslim Saints and Mystics: Episodes from the Tadhkirat Al-Auliya (Memorial of the Saints), by Farid Al-Din Attar Amazon.com
	Perfume of the Desert: Inspirations from the Sufi Wisdom, by Andrew Harvey / Eryk Hanut Amazon.com
	Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, Edited by Alan Jacobs Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Poet: Farid al-Din Attar - All poems of Farid al-Din Attar http://www.poemhunter.com/farid-al-din-attar/poet-34401/ The Conference of the Birds and Ilahi Nama on-line, but you have to sign up to read it.
	Central Asia and Iran http://www.angelfire.com/rnb/bashiri/Poets/Attar.html A brief biography of Attar, and a few selected poems.
	Attar - Persian Poetry and Iranian Poetry at Best Iran Travel.com http://www.bestirantravel.com/culture/poetry/attar.html Brief biography of Attar, samples of his poetry, photos of his tomb in Iran.
	Forum: Farid al- Din Attar Neishaburi-Remembered http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=1768 A fascinating article posted to the Poetry Chaikhana Forum about how Attar is remembered and celebrated in Iran today.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Farid ud-Din Attar

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