The Historical Periods of Afghanistan Sanai Studies and its Effects on Iran’s Sanai Studies and Vice Versa

Not only was Sanai a literary man and a poet who was praised and imitated by other poets, he was also - as researchers studying his works believe - the one who systematically blended mysticism into poetry and made the chapters of Sufism - up until then articulated in prose - eternal by exposing them in poetry. He gathered all Islamic teachings - which were scattered in other writers’ works until his time - in his works. Sanai has a special place in the history and chronology of literature and mysticism because of his contributions to changing the context and contents of Persian poetry; therefore, acknowledging his place and studying his works and life are a step in understanding the knowledge, wisdom, culture and society of his age i.e. the late 5th century and early 6th century. Sanai was praised and introduced by scholars of his homeland 60 years ago, a time in which the works concerning Sanai and his life were widely recognized by researchers from all over the world, particularly Iran. Later, due to wars, coup d’état, and Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, these studies came to a halt; as a result, the Afghan researchers were influenced by their non-Afghan (especially Iranian) peers. Analyzing the three historical periods of researching Sanai in Afghanistan and the influence of afghan researchers on Iranian ones and vice versa, and the reasons of these influences, by using descriptive analytical method and deploying library means, are the pivot and central concerns of this article.