Jami

Lore & Background

Jami was a mentor and friend of the Turkic poet Alisher Navoi. He completed his studies in Samarkand, then embarked on a pilgrimage that enhanced his reputation. He fathered four sons, three of whom died in infancy; his surviving son was Zia-ol-din Yusef, for whom he wrote Baharestan. At the end of his life he lived in Herat. His funeral was conducted by the prince of Herat and attended by many, demonstrating his profound impact.

Reader's Guide

He distinguished between 'prophetic' and 'mystic' spirits in Sufism and developed images of earthly love to depict spiritual passion. He engaged deeply with the school of Ibn Arabi, enriching and sometimes diverging from it, as in his view of mutual dependence between God and creatures. Jami wrote approximately 87 books and letters, including the famous Haft Awrang (Seven Thrones), a collection of seven poems influenced by Nizami. His works range from poetry to prose, history, science, and irrigation design. His analysis of divine mercy redefined interpretations of earlier texts. Jami's legacy endures through his poetry and his learned and spiritual traditions in the Persian-speaking world.

Did You Know?

• Jami's father was from Dasht, a small town in the district of Isfahan.
• He had a brother named Molana Mohammad, a learned man and master in music, whose death Jami lamented in a poem.
• Jami's manual of irrigation design included advanced drawings and calculations and remains a key reference for the irrigation department in Herat.
• His epitaph reads: 'When your face is hidden from me, like the moon hidden on a dark night, I shed stars of tears and yet my night remains dark in spite of all those shining stars.'