The Intellectual and Doctrinal Foundations of Hafiz-e Shirazi

Historically, even according to some historical traditions, in the days of Khajeh Hafez Shirazi, there were some who, for various purposes and by having recourse to some ambiguous versus, introduced the 8th century much-loved eloquent poet of Shiraz as a blasphemer and heretic who was alien to the doctrinal principles of Islam. Extracting the intellectual foundations of Khajeh Hafiz-e Shirazi from his only remaining source, the collection of his poetry, this study seeks to find a reasonable answer to this fundamental question as to whether the doctrinal attitude of Iran’s man of lyric poetry is truly divine. Should he be considered as being in the state of spiritual retreat to the Qibla of people of faith? Is it right to consider the ragged cloak of atheism as fitting the stature of the genius of Shiraz and regard and introduce him as being in harmony with the residents of the tribe of darkness? The findings of this research work indicate clear evidence that Hafiz-e Shirazi shows unaffected and strong attachment to the intellectual and doctrinal principles and foundations of Islam in the realms of ontology, anthropology and eschatology.