PESHAWAR, Dec 21: Speakers at a seminar described the great Iranian poet Hafiz Shirazi as “a blend of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi’s mysticism and Saadi’s platonic love,” who left an indelible mark on the Persian literature.

The seminar was organised here by the Khana Farhang-i-Iran, Peshawar.

Iran’s director general for Pacific, Agha Aleemi, read out a message by Iranian culture minister Aga Mehmud Mohammadi Iraqi on Hafiz’s status in the Iranian history and society.

He termed the existentialist poet a shining star in the literary firmament.

He said that Hafiz made a great influence on the Iranian literary and mystic circles and set a trend which could be noticed in both the mystic and poetic streams running in Iranian culture and life.

He is an eternal poet, whose works feel refreshingly fresh centuries after, the minister added.

The two main pillars of Hafiz’s poetic edifice were his diction and his understanding of Quran. He introduced a language studded with new terms and metaphors to express his multi-dimensional and towering personality, he added.

He observed that Hafiz held a cosmopolitan vision, which made him a universal poet who covered intricacies of mysticism in his verses.

During his lifetime, Hafiz earned great respect and honour in the subcontinent of India. After his death, he grew in popularity even in central Asia, south-east Asia and Europe, he said.

Prof Ghaur Hussain said Abdur Rehman Jami, Saib Tabraizi and German poet Goethe had paid rich tributes to Hafiz for his universalism and humanism. “His poetry knows no frontiers,” he said.

Aga Saeedi of Iranian Consulate, Dr Nasir Ahmed of University of Punjab, Dr Mohammad Iqbal Saquib of Lahore College, Mohammad Yousuf Rija Chishti and others read out their papers.