Muslim Saints and Mystics

Muslim Saints and Mystics

Author: Hazrat Farid-ud-Din Attar

Hazrat Farid-ud-Din Attar is considered one of the pre-eminent mystical poets of the Persian literary tradition. The duration of his life is uncertain, though he can be placed in the 12th and 13th centuries C.E. He was born in Nishapur, Iran. Attar was apparently a pharmacist, but little information about his personal life is known. During his lifetime he is believed to have written approximately 9 books, including such famous masterpieces as Manteq al-Tayr (Conference of the Birds) and the Ilahi-Nama (The Book of God).
'Tadhkirat-ul-Auliya' (Memorials of the Saints) is considered the world-famous classical book of Persian literature. It is an abridgment translated by A.J. Arberry of Attar's only known prose work. He devoted a considerable part of his life to Tadhkirat-ul-Auliya and before his death, it was available to the masses. In the most significant chapter of this book, Attar relates the story of the execution of Hallaj, the mystic who had uttered the words “I am the Truth” in a state of ecstatic contemplation. Though Attar wrote many chapters of this book briefly, yet every chapter contains extensive information. Style of his writing is very interesting. Hence readers will always remember all chapters of this unprecedented book. Due to aforementioned reasons, this book is very famous throughout the world and its translations are available in many languages