Sic Semper Tyrannis

The Divine Young Boys

"there wait on them immortal young boys (in heaven)" (Quran 56:17).

"round about them will serve, (devoted) to them, young male servants (handsome) as pearls well-guarded." (Quran 52:24)

No need to mention that these heavenly youths will be serving the ones destined for heaven. And no need to mention also who is going to be @ 24/7 service of 'the IC's sick mentals' in hell, GOD's willing! Not to worry much, it will be one of their own, i.e. THE DEVIL!

PS: Ghajaress will be all over this blog after reading Angophile's remarks! Thanks much Afsaneh for your profund explanations.

Personally ,,,

I believe Hafez given his stature and sprituality could not have had any   attachment to this earthly life let alone carnal or otherwise. He used such notions symbolically and as metaphors in his poetry.

But remember that until late in the Qajar period women were considered as private and personal parts of a family life. For instance if you would run into a friend in a gathering or on the street and as part of the customary pleasantaries that one would exchnage when meeting a friend, asked how his wife or daughter were, it would have been regarded as a "naamoosi" insult. While it was perfectly acceptable if you asked "how is agha pesar". Now you may imagine the climate at the time of Hafez.

"Who Cares"

I congratulate you on bringing more Hafez to this site: Although, from my understanding of Hafez - he usually says that if we hate something, it's best to leave it alone. He might pass the occasional comment, but his world is far more about accentuating what he does believe in - and he doesn't have a single poem that spends the entire poem bad-mouthing someone, without pointing to something positive that he's learned, or taken from the experience. Even if someone has hurt him, the zealots often did,  it is used as a lesson to elevate himself to another plane. In other words, posting a Blog whose gyst is to say: "I knew it, Hafez was always a peadophile" isn't in keeping with the spirit of the man. Still, I do think it is better to bring Hafez to this site than not

I did put together 3 points to help with the discourse. I wish I was as cool as Hafez and able to just leave this alone - I honestly think that's what he would do to someone calling him a paedophile - he would just walk away

Documented - Firstly,  not a single of Hafez's poems were documented and filed away by him. They were compiled after his death - by his students, followers etc. Yes, he "signed" his name at the bottom - but it is a fact that it was others who documented the poems - and to this day the "Hafez Shenassan" argue over whether a poem was his or not, whether a line was with one word or another

Earthly Love -  2ndly the poem cited here is most often translated with a "she" and a "her."  In fact the majority of earthly love images are women - they have long hair, long curls, that Hafez loves getting entangled in. In your poem, he even brings up her Nargess - her bewitching eyes, and usually the eyes, ruby red lips and long hair,  are all together. Maybe the men had long hair, huge (and most likely made up) eyes, and ruby red lips - but somehow, I doubt it

The few Ghazals that possibly reference a "man" - well, I would like to challenge you here, to finding a poem that is definitely a "he."  Hands down a "he" - because "He" and "She" are translated as "Ou" which is gender free, in Persian. The one you chose here doesn't qualify, and translated as  "she" in many of the translations. But maybe you can find one, that is unquestionably a man, a HE

Who Cares - 3rdly - "Who cares" would be a response many would have - That's Hafez's response to those hurling abuse and accusations at him. He had to survive at a time with much hate and zealotry around him. If one's understanding of Hafez is confined to his quest for "sex on earth" - then I recommend looking up his poem on "Nazar Bazi." There, he reminds us that to many, he's a seeming letch, a lecherous gazer, a "Nazar Baz" as they, the zealots, understand it. Hafez  goes on to mock those who don't "get" him

I'd check out the below poem

در نظر بازی ما بیخبران حیرانند

من چنینم که نمودم دگر ایشان دانند

It ends beautifully. Hafez mocks the accusers - and says

زاهد ار رندی حافط نکند فهم چه باک 

دیو بگریزد از آن قوم که قرآن خوانند

If the zealots and hypocrits don't get me (and think of me as a letch) so be it - God protects those who follow the Koran - translated literally: The Monster/Div flies over the homes that read the Koran

the reference is similar to the old testament story of the Monster/ Div passing over the homes that have faithful inhabitants inside

I think it is constructive to have Blogs dedicated to Hafez and although am not in agreement with the post, thank you for it

Anglophile has a good point

The fact that there are words such as "shirin pesar" in Hafez's poems is not proof of his homosexuality or pedophilia.  But it could be a reference to a literary tradition of writing love poems for boys.

Dr. Zarinkoob talks about this tradition in the Islamic society in his book about Hafez "Az Koocheh Rendaan".   In addition, the carnal love is often so intricately woven with the love of the divine in Hafez that any literal translation of his words on this topic can be misleading.

Dr Zarinkoob does mention that Homosexuality was probably practiced in Shiraz of that time.  However, the mere mention of boys in Hafez's poetry is not proof of Hafez's own tendencies.

Jenabaan-e AO, Faramarz, Frashogar, & Demo

We may not know about the accurate history of "Bacheh Baazi" in Iran. But we may know something about the history of "Dakal Baazi" which may trace back to Zandieh era! You may like to view this

//iranian.com/main/blog/all-iranians-15

Sick, Sick, Sick!

First was the big lie of 70 virgins in heaven (GOD forbid) awaiting martyrs, then came Prophet's child molestation story (GOD forbid), then Bin Laden watching porno magazine (GOD forbid) while being murdered by the US marines invaders, now here comes Hafez into little Boys (GOD forbid). The only problem Hafez that, of course, he was a dedicated Moslem & a stern believer in GOD (Praising GOD for that). In conclusion: YOU GUYS ARE SICK, SICK, SICK!!! VERY VERY VERY SICK!!! 

Arabs never really conquered Iran

They were a temporary nuisance which merely brought down an empire and dynasty which had already lived past its prime, but Iran they never really conquered. I'll let our illustrious anglophile figure out what that all really means.

Iranian literature, other than in one notable case during the Seljuq period, has never endorsed or given lip service to paedophilia as something to emulate. However you will find plenty of explicitly casted "boy love" in 17th-19th century English literature. 

I forgot to add one "minor" incident!

As our friend Frashogar felt insulted that the great and glorious Persians should be mistaken for "paedos", I must add that a tiny little incident in the course of our glorious hostory changed everything, and I mean EVERYTING. That incident is endearlingly known as: Islamic conquest of Persia!

 Although I have not seen anywhere that the paedphilic practice being endorsed in the Islamic faith, it was somehow cosidered Khosher (oops! I meant makrooh : tings that are better not done than done) in Islamic shariah. I am sure my friend Demo should correct me. One suc makrooh things were/is caressing the teenage boy!

Pity that Samsam left us.......

He could give us some vital information about this. Samsam was one of the very knowledgeable members of this site unfortunately, he did ghahr and never came back.

Here, I had posted a blog where Samsam left an interesting comment. This is very relevant. You can read his comment here below:

 //iranian.com/main/blog/souri/bacheh-baazi-afghanistan

Anglophile

I believe you have confused the general historical disinterest of English men for women with that of Iranians. The female as divine mirror has been a trope in Persian thinking and literature for the past 3500+ years. Even the Prophet Zarathushtra first beheld the call of the divine in the form of a woman. This image of the spiritual call embodied in the female has been part of the Persian soul ever since and has never left us.

Greek Influence!

Ancient Greeks gave us philosophy, democracy, Plato, Socrates, Archimedes and few other things! 

Don't have a problem with him if he was gay

I do, however, if he was a pedophile.  

I think Anglophile's explanations are spot on.  That culture still exists in some parts of the world, close to Iran, and even within Iran itself to some extent, and in some areas.  Just look at the "bacheh bazi" culture in Afghanistan.  

TS-9, that's a fascinating video.  You should blog it. 

For AO

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmsTRyg6NtU

Wonder if this is accurate ...  I don't have problem with gays either but paedophilia and sexual slavery.

Touche! dear AO

Before our highly esteemed resident Hafezologist enlighten us, I wonder if I could offer an explanation. Before, during and for quite a long time after Hafez's era women were not regarded as sex or romantic symbols but merely motherly figures and the other half of the reproductive process. Young boys, on the other hand were safe to be admired and adored as such symbols - of course no paedophilic intentions intended - or so we are told :)

Oh come on AO Are you saying Hafez is gay too?

Baba  I can't take it anymore seeing yet another ' hot ' man turning gay!!!!

On more serious note, I agree with Mehrban with one exception that the sex was basically known. Hafez was madly in love with a girl called ' Shakhe Nabat '.   Yes he was in love  and because of that he wrote the most  passionate love poems ever.   I think this sensual love pave the road for his spiritual love and poetry as well.   

: )  

ای مگس حضرت سیمرغ نه جولانگه توست

عرض خود می‌بری و زحمت ما می‌داری

AO jaan

Without a doubt this is one of Hafez's best Ghazals, specially the first couplet.  The gender of his counterparty is unknown in Persian.  The site you are quoting from has translated it in masculine.  However, there are other Ghazals of Hafez that specifically mention boys as objects of desire.  I, personally don't care,  

زلف آشفته و خوی کرده و خندان لب و مست

پیرهن چاک و غزل خوان و صراحی در دست 
نرگسـش عربده جوی و لبش افسوس کنان 
نیم شب دوش به بالین من آمد بنشسـت 
سر فرا گوش مـن آورد بـه آواز حزین 
گفـت ای عاشق دیرینه من خوابت هست 
عاشـقی را کـه چنین باده شبگیر دهـند 
کافر عـشـق بود گر نـشود باده پرسـت 
برو ای زاهد و بر دردکـشان خرده مـگیر 
کـه ندادند جز این تحفه به ما روز السـت 
آن چـه او ریخت بـه پیمانـه ما نوشیدیم 
اگر از خمر بهشت است وگر باده مـسـت 
خـنده جام می و زلـف گره گیر نـگار 
ای بسا توبه که چون توبه حافظ بشکسـت