Saadi
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Saadi (سعدی in Persian) (Real name: Mushrif-ud-Din Abdullah) (1184 - 1283/1291?) was an Iranian poet, a native of Shiraz. He wrote "The Orchard" (Bustan) in 1257 ,"The Rose Garden" (Golistan) in 1258 and a collection of lyrics (Divan). There is some discrepancy about the date of his death, but he may have died a centenarian.
When he was very young, Saadi left Shiraz for Baghdad to study Arabic literature and Islamic sciences at Nizamiah University (1195-1226)
Saadi liked to travel and after Iraq he visited many Islamic countries: Iran, Shamat (Syria), Palestine, Hijaz (Arabia), Yeman, Rum (Turkey), and Egypt for almost thirty years. He wrote short stories and poems about his adventurous life in Golistan and Bustan.
"Andre du Ryer" was the first European to present Saadi to the West, by means of a partial French translation of Golistan in 1634. Adam Olearius followed soon with a complete translation of the Bustan and the Golistan into German in 1654.
Saadi died in his hometown of Shiraz. His tomb was greatly elaborated in 1952 and has since became a tourist attraction.
One of his more famous quotes is, "Whatever is produced in haste goes easily to waste."
Another famous poem focuses on the kinship of all humans:
- "All human beings are in truth akin; All in creation share one origin.
- When fate allots a member pangs and pains, No ease for other members then remains.
- If, unperturbed, another's grief canst scan, Thou are not worthy of the name of man."
External links
- The Gulistan of Sa'di http://classics.mit.edu/Sadi/gulistan.html
fa:سعدی
