Baba Taher

This Sufi mystic is still revered amongst Persians, but he is largely unknown outside his homeland.  Very little is known about his life; English scholar Edward Horen-Allen cites evidence that he was born in Hamadan during the Deylamid Dynasty (1000-1050 CE) but was a predecessor of Firdousi.  He was known as Baba Taher Uryan, meaning "the naked one", though this is probably meant in context of his mystical beliefs which involved shunning material possessions.

Baba Taher's Rubaiyat and other poems are still recited today, frequently accompanied by strumming a tar or lute.  He was distinguished among poets for writing not only in Persian, but also in Kurdish and Arabic dialects.  He is said to be considered a prophet among Kurdish peoples.

According to Edward Horen-Allen, one legend associated with Baba Tahir is that "there seemed to be extraordinary heat in his body, so much so that no one could sit near him." Whether one should interpret this literally or consider it a symbol of the Sufi's burning longing for God the beloved will remain a mystery.

Baba Taher's tomb in Hamadan

OCLC
ISBN

Description

Q Price  
9789648279207 Baba Taher. Divan-e Baba Taher.  Poetry, 112 pages, 15.5 cm. This facsimile illuminated manuscript presents a portion of the Sufi mystic's best-known works. 95 pages in Persian with a 17-page introduction in English. Tehran: Payk-e Farhang, 1389. 3rd Edition. Hardcover. 3 $29.99
         

67548331

9646188982

Baba Taher. The Divan of Baba Taher. Poetry, 118 pages, 25 cm. Translated by Edward Heron-Allen (English), Georg Leon Leszcynski (German) and Kolman Howar (French). This facsimile illuminated manuscript presents some of this Sufi mystic's best-loved poems in Persian, English, German and French.  It is as much a work of art as it is literature, complete with beautiful Persian calligraphy and Persian miniature illustrations throughout the text.  An especially interesting feature is in the Persian section of the book:  each page of text has small illustrations down the page, with no two pages exactly alike. Tehran: Payk-e Farhang, 2003. Hardcover with dust jacket. Click here for sample pages. 3 $65.00

67548331

9789646188983

Baba Taher. The Divan of Baba Taher. Poetry, 128 pages, 25 cm. Translated by Edward Heron-Allen (English), Georg Leon Leszcynski (German) and Kolman Howar (French). This facsimile illuminated manuscript presents some of this Sufi mystic's best-loved poems in Persian, English, German and French.  It is as much a work of art as it is literature, complete with beautiful Persian calligraphy and seven Persian miniature illustrations throughout the text.  Tehran: Payk-e Farhang, 2003. Click here for sample pages.

This deluxe edition has a leatherette cover and slipcase.

2 $75.00
         
9648279209 Baba Taher. Divan-e Baba Taher. Poetry, 112 pages, 15.5 cm. This facsimile illuminated manuscript presents a portion of this Sufi mystic’s poems in the original Persian with English translations by Edward Heron-Allen. Tehran: Pek-ye Farhang, 2006. Hardcover. Click here to view sample pages.  Out of Stock 0 $19.99