The Tomb of Hafez is located in Shiraz Iran. Hafez is the most famous son of Shiraz whose works of poetry and philosophy are still studied and debated today.
Here’s why you should visit the Tomb of Hafez and what you can expect to see.
Tomb Of Hafez
Hafez | Background
Khwāje Shams-od-Dīn Moḥammad Ḥāfeẓ-e Shīrāzī (خواجه شمسالدین محمّد حافظ شیرازی) is most commonly known by his literary name Hafez. Hafez lived between 1325 and 1390 in Shiraz Iran.
Hafez’s collected works are lorded in persian society to the current day. And his works are considered the pinnacle of persian literature.
Hafez wrote primarily in the genre of lyric poetry. And he was revered as an ‘Hafiz’. Or someone who has committed the Quran entirely to memory. His poetry and use of the Quran made him a mystic figure.
Hafez was a Sufi Muslim and his works were heavily influenced by the islamic mysticism of his day. It’s these aspects of Hafez that see him treated as a cult like prophetic figure whom bequeathed divine inspiration.
Persian Mysticism
Opening The Divān of Hafez, an anthology likely composed after his death is believed to be a predictor of ones future and fate. And persians and Sufi’s in particular will seek mystic guidance from Hafez.
They will ask a question and open The Divān of Hafez at a random page. Or a bird will pluck a card from the Divān. Whoever posed the question will then consult the page or card. Which they believe reveals a portent of the future.
I did see a lot of questions being put to Hafez during my visit to the tomb. At the Tomb of Hafez there are always devotees circling the tomb asking questions of Hafez.
They will place Hafez’s Divān on top of his marble tomb with a question in mind and open the book. Revealing a poem or proverb said to be their answer. On the day we visited the tomb there were many such individuals. I found it fascinating to watch them in their ritual.
I’ve found an online version of fortune telling with Hafez. For those interested in what they might get from Hafez. Give it a try!
Tomb of Hafez | Tomb and Hāfezieh
As we arrived at the Tomb of Hafez there was a bit of a confusion and a problem arose with a site security guard. The security guard checking tickets took the ticket from me the only foreigner in the group and threw it out. He then began demanding I purchase a second ticket.
It was an obvious attempt to stitch-up the foreign guy. And the only such attempt I encountered in Iran. With the exception of this particular security guard, everyone else in Iran was lovely to me as a foreigner.
I found most people in Iran warm and hospitable. Everyone else I met in Iran were proud of their culture and history. Most wanted to show off their traditions. With that said the ticket guy shouldn’t deter you from visiting the site.
When we got past the ticket box we found the site opens up to a large garden path with stairs leading up to the Hāfezieh or memorial hall. Behind the memorial hall or Hāfezieh there was a second smaller garden.
In the smaller garden behind the Hāfezieh lies the Tomb of Hafez. It’s in the middle of the garden under an octagonal gazebo or pavilion. In the pavilion mid garden lies the etched marble tomb of Hafez surrounded at almost all times by his admirers.
conclusion
I don’t believe a trip to Shiraz would be complete without a trip to the Tomb of Hafez. You simply have to visit Shiraz’s favourite son and perhaps, have your fortune told. With the best days for fortune telling being Wednesday and Thursday.
It was watching how much reverence the population has for Hafez that made a trip to the tomb a highlight for me. A trip I would definitely repeat in the future if I found myself back in Shiraz.
Once we were finished at the Tomb of Hafez we then went to the Tomb of Saadi. Which is relatively close.
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