Nizami Ganjavi (Biography, Books, Poems, Quotes)

Persian poetry is a profound and flourishing literary tradition that spans over a millennium and is characterized by its rich imagery, sophisticated symbolism, and musical quality. Persian poetry boasts a rich heritage, with renowned poets such as Rumi, whose mystical verses explore love and spirituality; Hafez celebrated for his ghazals that reflect themes of love, beauty, and divine inspiration; and Ferdowsi, author of the Epic Shahnameh, which chronicles Persian history and mythology. Among the renowned and imposing poets of Persia is Nizami Ganjavi. Stay with us to learn more about the life and masterful works of Nizami Ganjavi.

Is Nizami Ganjavi an Iranian?

Nizami Ganjavi, full name Jamal ad-Dīn Abū Muḥammad Ilyās ibn-Yūsuf ibn-Zakkī, was a famous 12th-century Persian poet celebrated for his narrative poetry and mastery of romantic epic storytelling. Born in Ganja (modern-day Azerbaijan), he is best known for his five major works, collectively referred to as the Khamsa or Panj Ganj, which include Makhzan al-Asrar (Treasury of Secrets), Khosrow and Shirin, Layla and Majnun, Haft Peykar (The Seven Beauties), and Iskandernameh (The Book of Alexander). Nizami Ganjavi’s works are appreciated in many other countries, such as Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kurdistan, and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

His poetry intricately weaves themes of love, philosophy, and mysticism and often incorporates moral lessons and rich allegories in his poems. Nizami’s influence extends beyond Persian literature, inspiring writers and artists across cultures for centuries. He was fully educated in the techniques of wisdom, rational sciences, medicine, mathematics, and music and was considered one of the scholars of philosophy and wisdom of his time. Nizami’s poems include odes, sonnets, pieces, and quatrains.

Nizami Ganjavi’s Personal Life

Nizami was from an Iranian descendant with the given name Ilyas. However, he altered his pen name to Nezami, which in English is known as Nizami. He was born in Ganja, a city in the northwest of Azerbaijan, where he lived all his life and was eventually buried there. Based on the words of De Blois, Ganja was a city hosting a multitude of Iranian citizens.

Layla and Majnun by Nizami Ganjavi

It is said that the compilations of literary memoirs that include maxims of the great poets holding their biographical information and commentary of styles called Tazkerehs have referred to Nizami Ganjavi very briefly. The materials found inside the Tazkerehs about Nizami are only hearsay, legends, and anecdotes. Therefore, history lacks facts regarding this great poet of ancient Persia. Nizami Ganjavi was not a court poet, and so his name cannot be found in the annals of the dynasties. The information left for future generations is merely from his personal works, which sadly he did not pay attention to very much.

Nizami Ganjavi’s Family

Nizami Ganjavi’s parents died when he was a young boy. His mother, Ra’isa, was a Kurdish woman, and his father, Yusuf, was mentioned in his literary works once. Some believe that according to his poetry, his father may have been from Qom, a city in the south of Tehran. His grandfather Zakki was also mentioned in the same verse of the poem. Nizami was orphaned and was later raised by Khwaja Umar who was his uncle. He took good care of Nizami and provided him with the best education in the city.

Nizami Ganjavi had a reclusive spirit and avoided the meetings and ceremonies of the kings and, unlike other poets of that time, did not show any interest in eulogizing. However, it was still popular with the rulers of the era, including Qezel Arsalan.

His Marriage and the Death of His Wives

According to many historians and his literary works, Nizami Ganjavi was married three times. His first wife, an enslaved Kipchak, a Turkic nomad, was sent as a gift by Fakhr al-Din Bahramshah (the ruler of the Darband region in Iran). Nizami claims that his first wife was his true beloved partner. Many modern writers alleged that his wife was named Afaq based on his poetry. He bore a son named Muhammed from his first wife. Nonetheless, when his son was 7, his wife died right after he completed one of his works named Khosrow o Shirin from his Five Treasures. In Nizami’s Leyli o Majnun, there are mentions of his son Muhammed when he was only 14 years old. He also advises his son in “Haft Peykar” or The Seven Beauties, telling him to be a responsible man as Nizami was becoming a more fragile man.

Oddly, Nizami’s other two wives also died promptly after completing his other two works. Each death coincides with one of his poems which leads to Nizami questioning God’s decision in his poem saying “God, why is it that for every Mathnavi, I must sacrifice a wife!”. (Mathnavi is a form of Persian Poetry).

Nizami Ganjavi Poems

Like his other characteristics, Nizami’s profession is in the shadow of ambiguity, but his works undoubtedly show extensive knowledge in literary sciences, astronomy, philosophy, and jurisprudence. Although this poet avoided using the technical terms of these sciences, the traces of many philosophical ideas, such as the transience of the world and the appreciation of time, can be easily found in his poems. Also, Nizami Ganjavi’s religious beliefs, such as the importance of obligations and prohibitions, have a strong presence in different parts of his poems.

Nizami Ganjavi Books

Nizami Ganjavi is, without any doubt, one of the strong foundations of classical Persian literature. With complete mastery, he is placed next to great poets such as Saadi and Ferdowsi, who were able to create their own style and methods in Persian Poetry.

Tragically, only a small portion of Nizami Ganjavi’s odes Ghaside and love lyrics Ghazals have survived. A selection of ten of his quatrains is included in the anthology Nozhat al-Majales, which was assembled around 1250 by Jamal Khalil Shirvani, along with contributions from 23 other poets from the city of Ganja. One of his most popular poetry is about altruism which is the path to reaching the ultimate spiritual goal.

A Diwan written by Nizami has been compiled in three sections: Ahwal, Arti, and Nizami’s Diwan, which was also compiled by the efforts of Saeed Nafisi. The Diwan section alone includes four other sections, such as poems, sonnets, fragments, and scattered verses.

Nizami Ganjavi Books

Nizami Ganjavi’s books have been very influential for many artists throughout history. Many poets have lived in Iran’s rich and art-loving culture and have become renowned poets, but if you are looking for a poet whose name and characters in his works have taken part in people’s everyday literature, this person is none other than Hakim Nizami Ganjavi.

What are the Five Poems of Nizami?

The Khamsa or Panj Ganj is Nizami’s main poetical work, for which he is best known, is a set of five long narrative poems known as the Khamsa (Quintet or Quinary) or Panj Ganj (Five Treasures):

Makhzan-ol-Asrâr (The Treasury or Storehouse of Mysteries), 1163 (some date it 1176) was first inspired by The Garden of Truth written by Sanai (Persian Poet)

Khosrow o Shirin (Khosrow and Shirin), 1177–1180

Nizami Ganjavi Poetry

Leyli o Majnun (Layla and Majnun), 1192 – The story of the two lovers similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. However, Nizami uses Persian elements and a unique story to convey his message regarding unconditional love.

Haft Peykar (The Seven Beauties), 1197

Eskandar-Nâmeh (The Book of Alexander), 1194 or 1196–1202

The last four poems of Nizami are regarded as medieval romances.

Nizami Ganjavi Quotes

Nizami Ganjavi has many thoughtful quotes, some of which are more well-known than the other. Here are some of Ganjavi’s famous quotes for you to read:

“Free is a man who has no desires.”

― Nizami Ganjavi

“He who searches for his beloved is not afraid of the world.”

― Nizami, Layla and Majnun

“Thus; many a melody passed to and from between the two nightingales, drunk with their passion. Those who heard them listened in delight, and so similar were the two voices that they sounded like a single chant. Born of pain and longing, their song had the power to break the unhappiness of the world.”

― Nizami Ganjavi, Layla and Majnun

“Fill this cup with that love that never changes, never! Fill this cup with the love that goes on living forever! To the love that has been purified by earthly woes and at last with everlasting bliss… divinely glows!”

― Nizami Ganjavi, Nizami: Layla & Majnun

“From now on you and I, and I and you,

May one heartbeat for us although we’re two”

― Nizami Ganjavi, Layla and Majnun

Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum

Nizami spent his whole life in Ganja in asceticism and seclusion, and only in 1203 he went on a short trip about 18 kilometers outside of Ganja at the invitation of Sultan Qezel Arslan and was honored by the king. Nizami died in Ganja in 1209 (during the Shirvanshah Dynasty in Azerbaijan), and a tomb was attributed to him in the same city.

Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum

Nizami’s mausoleum was originally built in 1947 in Ganja, Azerbaijan, in place of an old collapsed mausoleum and was rebuilt in its present form in 1991.

Final Word

Although Nizami was not a famous poet in those years, he was related to several contemporary rulers. In his poems, Nizami expressed bits of his personal information in order, which made it possible for his readers to grasp information about his personal life. Nizami had a very unique personality, and perhaps this led to his reputation and his works becoming popular and lasting throughout history.

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