Hafiz Shirazi 3 End (Poet of Love)

Important Events

Teens
He had memorized the Koran by listening to his father's recitations of it. He also had memorized many of the works of his hero, Saadi, as wells as Attar, Rumi and Nizami.
His father who was a coal merchant died, leaving him and his mother with much debt. Hafiz and his mother went to live with his uncle (also called Saadi). He left day school to work in a drapery shop and later in a bakery.
Age 21
(1341 ad)
While still working at the bakery, Hafiz delivered bread to a wealthy quarter of town and saw Shakh-e Nabat, a young woman of incredible beauty. Many of his poems are addressed to Shakh-e Nabat.
Age 21
In pursuit of reaching his beloved, Hafiz kept a forty day and night vigil at the tomb of Baba Kuhi. After successfully attaining this, he met Attar and became his disciple.
Early twenties to early thirties
Became a poet of the court of Abu Ishak. Gained much fame and influence in Shiraz. This was the phase of "Spiritual Romanticism" in his poetry.
Age 33
Mubariz Muzaffar captured Shiraz, and among his various deeds, he ousted Hafiz from his position of teacher of Koranic studies at the college. At this time he wrote protest poems.
Age 38
Shah Shuja took his tyrant father as prisoner, and re-instated Hafiz as a teacher at the college. He began his phase of subtle spirituality in his poetry.
Early forties
Falling out of favor with Shah Shuja.
Age 48
Hafiz fled Shiraz for his safety, and went into self-imposed exile in Isfahan. His poems mainly talk of his longing for Shiraz, for Shakh-e Nabat, and for his spiritual Master, Attar (not the famous Farid-uddin Attar of Neishabour - who predates Hafiz by a couple of centuries - but the lesser known Attar of Shiraz).
Age 52
By invitation of Shah Shuja, he ended his exile and returned to Shiraz. He was re-instated to his post at the College.
Age 60
Longing to be united with his Creator, he began a forty day and night vigil by sitting in a circle that he had drawn himself.
Age 60
On the morn of the fortieth day of his vigil, which was also on the fortieth anniversary of meeting his Master Attar, he went to his Master, and upon drinking a cup of wine that Attar gave him, he attained Cosmic Consciousness or God-Realization.
Sixties
In this phase, up to the age of 69 when he died, he composed more than half of his ghazals., and continued to teach his small circle of disciples. His poetry at this time, talk with the authority of a Master who is united with God.
Poetry
Divan-e-Hafiz
Some 500 ghazals, 42 Rubaiyees, and a few Ghaseedeh's, composed over a period of 50 years. Hafiz only composed when he was divinely inspired, and therefore he averaged only about 10 Ghazals per year. His focus was to write poetry worthy of the Beloved.
Compiler of Divan
Hafiz did not compile his poetry. Mohammad Golandaam, who also wrote a preface to his compilation, completed it in 813 A.H or 1410 a.d, some 21-22 years after Hafiz's death.
Also another person who compiled Hafiz's poetry was one of his young disciples Sayyid Kasim-e Anvar, who collected 569 Ghazals attributed to Hafiz. He died in 1431 a.d. some 42-43 years after Hafiz's death.
Death Date:
Late 1388 or early 1389 a.d. or 791 A.H. at the age of 69.
Place:
Shiraz
Tomb:
in Musalla Gardens, along the banks of Ruknabad river in Shiraz, which is referred to as Hafezieh.
Hafiz could be buried in sacred ground. But his works had become so famous that they were used for divination. When consulted appropriately by the authorities, the poetry of Hafiz provided the following advice:

Turn not away from the bier of Hafiz,

Steeped in sin, he will enter Paradise.

Hafiz was buried in the center of a cemetery in Shiraz.

There is a story that the invader Timur angrily summoned him and demanded if he was the poet who would exchange two of Timur’s great cities, Samarkand and Bokhara, for the mole on his mistress’s cheek. “Yes, sir”, replied Hafiz, “and it is through such acts of generosity that I have reached a state of destitution that forces me to solicit your bounty.” Timur was amused enough to send the poet away with a gift. The truth of this story is questioned by those who claim Timur arrived at Shiraz after Hafiz had gained his tomb.