Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

14th Century

Iran/Per
(Middle East)

Shah Nematollah Vali

Timeline (1330 - 1431)

Poems by Shah Nematollah Vali
Books - Links

Shah Nematollah Vali, Shah Nematollah Vali poetry, Muslim / Sufi, Muslim / Sufi poetry, poetry, poetry, poetry

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Shah Nematollah Vali (or Nimatullah Wali) was born to a Sufi family in Aleppo, Syria. He travelled widely through the Muslim world, learning the philosophies of many masters, but not at first finding a personal teacher he could dedicate himself to. During this time, he also studied the writings of the great Sufi philosopher and mystic, Al Arabi.

Shah Nematollah finally met Shaykh Abdollah Yafe'i in Mecca, and became his disciple. He studied intensely with his teacher for seven years until, spritually transformed, he was sent out for a second round of travels, this time as a realized teacher.

He temporarily resided near Samarkand, along the great Central Asian Silk Road. It was here that he met the conqueror Tamerlane, but, to avoid conflict with the worldly ruler, he soon left and eventually settled in the Persian / Indian region of Kerman.

When Shah Nematollah died, his fame had spread throughout Persia and India, and it is said he initiated hundreds of thousands of followers. Today the Nimatullah Sufi Order is one of the most important Sufi orders of Iran.

Poems by Shah Nematollah Vali

	I beheld my essence. What I saw
	The Sea Is Our Essence

Recommended Books

The Drunken Universe: An Anthology of Persian Sufi Poetry, Translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson / Translated by Nasrollah Pourjavady

Amazon.com

Poetry for the Spirit: Poems of Universal Wisdom and Beauty, Edited by Alan Jacobs

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	The Nimatullah Sufi Order http://www.nimatullahi.org/ The Sufi order founded by Shah Nimatullah Wali. Quite large and vital in Iran today. Includes brief descriptions of the life and teachings of Shah Nimatullah.
	Bonyad Erfan Gonabadi http://erfan-gonabadi.com A brief biographical article on Shah Nimatullah Wali, with several related articles and translated verses of his poetry.
	Hanna Stemerding's Comparison of Shah Nematollah and Hafiz http://www.icchome.org/symp_articles/Stemerding_SSNV_Paper.htm A scholarly comparison of the poetry of Shah Nimatullah and Hafiz.

Please support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

Poetry Chaikhana Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Shah Nematollah Vali

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Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World