Attar's Motives in Writing Tazkerat-ol-Owliya (Biographies of the Saints)

Attar himself has penned his motives for authoring Tazkerat-ol-Owliya. The study of these motives reveals his efforts to reach God, to be with his friends, and to achieve salvation. The sublime status of the words of the elders and pioneers of the mystical path created, in Attar’s heart, a clear inclination and enthusiasm. It is very probable that his faith and trust in the efficiency and effectiveness of the words of the mystics has caused his biography to shine among the biographies written in the past 800 years.