Unveiling of ‘Romoz-ol-Asheqin’ in Shiraz / A New Reading of an Ancient Mystical Masnavi

According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Shiraz, coinciding with the start of the 33rd Book Week of the Islamic Republic of Iran (November 14-20), the Ghazal Hall of Hafez Hall at the Fars Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance hosted the unveiling ceremony of the book ‘Romoz-ol-Asheqin’; a cultural event organized by Seyvand Publications in cooperation with the Shiraz Tyavangar Kar-Afarin Blind Institute and the Cultural Deputy of the Fars Department of Guidance.

At this ceremony, Afsoun Hamidi, a blind literary researcher from Shiraz and the commentator of this ancient Masnavi, spoke about the importance of the work, stating: ‘The anonymous poet of this Masnavi has been attributed to a philosopher from Tus; a work that, in addition to its literary value, holds a special place in our mystical tradition.’ Appreciating the efforts of Najeeb Mayel Heravi, a prominent researcher of mysticism and Persian literature, for compiling and literary editing this text, she added: ‘This 349-couplet Masnavi, utilizing difficult vocabulary and profound mystical concepts, has introduced new terms into the language and literature of mysticism; terms that have been thoroughly examined at the end of the book.’

Hamidi enumerated the characteristics of the work as follows: ‘The versification of some Quranic verses and Hadiths, opening new perspectives on true and metaphorical love, addressing topics such as the unity of existence, etc., are among the distinctive features of this Masnavi.’ She concluded by dedicating the book to the Fourteen Infallibles (AS).

Subsequently, Mehdi Mirazimi, a writer and literary critic, emphasizing the inspiring role of the blind in the world of thought, said: ‘The blind have transformed not seeing into an opportunity for thinking and better hearing. We, too, sometimes have no choice but to close our eyes for a deeper understanding of some phenomena.’

Parhizgar, another critic of this cultural program, while referring to Sana’i’s historical role in changing the function of Masnavi from praising kings to expressing mystical knowledge, stated: ‘Afsoun Hamidi has strived to explain the text of Romoz-ol-Asheqin in such a way that even those encountering Iranian Islamic mysticism for the first time can benefit from it.’

He added, stating that this Masnavi is rich in literary devices such as allusion and quotation: ‘Extensive research and identification of numerous sources indicate that this book is not merely a fluent rendition of the text, but a credible source for researchers in the field of mysticism.’

According to IBNA; at the end of the ceremony, both the Persian print version of the book by Seyvand Publications and the Braille version by the Shiraz Tyavangar Kar-Afarin Blind Institute were unveiled.