The famous Iranian Gnostic poets

Compiled By: Syed Ali Shahbaz

The Iranian Muslim mystic, Hussein Mansour al-Hallaj
On 24th of the Islamic month of Zil-Qa'dah in 309 AH, the Iranian Muslim mystic, Hussein Mansour al-Hallaj, was executed at the age of 65 in Baghdad after a lengthy trial and years of imprisonment, on the orders of the Abbasid caliph, Muqtadar, on charges of heresy for uttering such blasphemous remarks as “there is nothing in my turban and cloak except God" and repeating the phrase “an’al-haq (I am the Absolute Truth)”.
He was a student of the two famous Iranian Sufi masters, Sahl bin Abdullah at-Tustari and Junayd Baghdadi, and was expelled by both of them for his weird views. He was born in Fars Province of Iran to a cotton-carder (“Hallaj” in Arabic). As a youngster he memorized the holy Qur’an and would often retreat from worldly pursuits to join other mystics in study.
He was an Ismaili Shi’ite Muslim and performed at least three Hajj pilgrimages to Mecca, where he once stayed for a year, fasting and in total silence. He then traveled widely as far as India and Central Asia, and wrote and taught along the way, gaining many followers, many of whom accompanied him on his second and third trips to Mecca. He later settled in the Abbasid capital Baghdad. Here his weird utterances invited trouble, and after being sentenced to death by the judge for refusing to renounce his beliefs, he was flogged, amputated, and hanged. His remains were burnt and thrown into the River Tigris.

The famous Iranian gnostic and poet, Khwaja Abdullah Ansari
On 22nd of the Islamic month of Zil-Hijjah in 481 AH, the famous Iranian Gnostic and poet, Khwaja Abdullah Ansari, who was known as “Pir-e Herat” or Senior Citizen of the Khorasani city of Herat, passed away at the age of 85 in his hometown – which is currently in Afghanistan. He traced his lineage to Abu Ayyub Ansari, a companion and host in Medina of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
He mastered the sciences of the day, including theology, hadith, and exegesis of the Holy Qur'an. He was a frequent visitor to the city of Naishapour – a centre of science – to meet and confer with prominent figures, and add to his erudite knowledge. He lived a spiritual life and avoided the company of the rich and the politically powerful. He wrote valuable books including an exegesis of the Holy Qur'an in Arabic titled “Kashf al-Asraar”. He also composed excellent poetry in his native Persian, and has left behind several works in both Arabic and Persian, such as "Munajaat-Namah", and “Kitab al-Arba’een", He is the ancestor of the Heravi-Khwajavi line in Iran that once dominated Khorasan and eastern Iran.
Some of his descendants moved to the Subcontinent. Among them was Hakeem Shaikh Ilm ud-din Ansari, better known as Wazir Khan, who was a governor of the Mughal Emperors in Multan, in what is now Pakistan – best known for building the famous Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. His other prominent descendent was Qutb ud-din Ansari who founded the famous Firangi Mahal school of religious education near Lucknow in India.

The Iranian mystic, poet, and literary figure, Abdur-Rahman Jami
On 17th of the Islamic month of Moharram in 898 AH/ November 19, 1492 AD, the Iranian mystic, poet, and literary figure, Noor od-Din Abdur-Rahman Jami, passed away in the Iranian city of Heart at the age of 81. Heart is currently in Afghanistan. He was born in Khajerd in central Khorasan from where his parents moved to Heart, where after basic education, he went to Samarqand, the cultural and scientific centre of the Islamic east, to learn the sciences of the day. Here he honed his skills in Persian prose and verse.
He learned Islamic sciences, literature and history in Samarqand (currently in Uzbekistan), and visited several other lands, before settling in the Khorasani capital Herat (currently in Afghanistan). He has left behind a large number of works in prose and verse, including “Baharestan”. Jami also composed beautiful odes in praise of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Ahl al-Bayt.
He followed the Naqshbandi school of Sufism. With the exception of a few short visits to Baghdad, Damascus, the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, and a few other regions, he remained in Herat for the rest of his life. In view of his mystical beliefs, he never praised kings and rulers, and considered Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) to be the source of all blessings. He has left behind many works in verse and prose, including "Haft Aurang' and "Baharestan". Jami’s poetry highly influenced Central Asia and the Subcontinent. He has composed beautiful odes in praise of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt.

The Iranian Shafei mystic, Shehab od-Din Suhravardi
On 1st of the Islamic month of Moharam in 632 AH, the Iranian Shafei mystic, Shehab od-Din Omar Ibn Mohammad Suhravardi, passed away. Born in the village of Suhravard, near Zanjan, 300 km northwest of Tehran, in a family that traced its descent from the Martyr, Mohammad Ibn Abu Bakr – the adopted son and governor of Egypt of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (AS) – he greatly expanded the Suhravardiyya Sufi order founded by his paternal uncle, Abu Najib Suhravardi. He wrote the mystical work, “Awaref al-Ma’aref” (Gifts of Deep Knowledge) and among his disciples was the famous Iranian poet, Shaikh Sa’di Shirazi.
It is worth noting that the Qamar od-Din Khan Asef Jah Nizam ul-Mulk the Founder of the Asef Jahi Dynasty of Haiderabad-Deccan in India, was a direct descendent of Shehab od-Din Suhravardi the Mystic – who should not be confused with his namesake, compatriot and contemporary, the celebrated philosopher of the Illuminationist School.