Khwaja Shamsu d-Din Muhammad Hafez-e Shirazi (Persian: ????? ????????? ???? ???? ???????); known by his pen name Hafez (1325/1326-1389/1390);was a Persian lyric poet. His collected works composed of series of Persian poetry (Divan) are to be found in the homes of most Persian speakers in Iran and Afghanistan; as well as elsewhere in the world; who learn his poems by heart and use them as proverbs and sayings to this day. His life and poems have been the subject of much analysis; commentary and interpretation; influencing post-fourteenth century Persian writing more than any other author.

Themes of his ghazals are the beloved; faith; and exposing hypocrisy. His influence in the lives of Iranians can be found in 'Hafez readings' (fal-e hafez; Persian: ??? ?????); frequent use of his poems in Persian traditional music; visual art and Persian calligraphy. His tomb in Shiraz is visited often. Adaptations; imitations and translations of Hafez' poems exist in all major languages. Pictures From History