JAMI

born Nov. 7, 1414, district of Jam died Nov. 9, 1492, Herat, Timurid Afghanistan in full Mowlana Nur Od-din 'abd Or-rahman Ebn Ahmad Persian scholar, mystic, and poet who is often regarded as the last great mystical poet of Iran. Jami spent his life in Herat, except for two brief pilgrimages to Meshed (Iran) and the Hejaz. During his lifetime his fame as a scholar resulted in numerous offers of patronage by many of the contemporary Isl amic rulers. He declined most of these offers, preferring the simple life of a mystic and scholar to that of a court poet. His work is notably devoid of panegyrics. His prose deals with a variety of subjects ranging from Qur'anic commentaries to treatises on Sufism (Islamic mysticism) and music. Perhaps the most famous is his mystical treatise Lava'ih (Flashes of Light), a clear and precise exposition of the Sufi doctrines of wahdat al-wujud (the existential unity of Being), together with a commentary on the experiences of other famous mystics. Jami's poetical works express his ethical and philosophical doctrines. His poetry is fresh and graceful and is not marred by unduly esoteric language. His most famous collection of poetry is a seven-part compendium entitled Haft Awrang (The Seven Thrones, or Ursa Major), which includes Salman o-Absal and Yusof o-Zalikha. Although this collection is modeled on the works of the 13th-century romantic poet Nezami, it bears Jami's unmistakable mark of originality and intellectual vigour.