Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World

Muslim / Sufi

14th Century

Iran/Per
(Middle East)

Ala al-Dawla Simnani

Timeline (? - 1336)

Poems by Ala al-Dawla Simnani
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(Not to be confused with Sayyid Ashraf Jahangir Simnani, who lived about a century later)

'Ala' al-Dawla Simnani spent his early life as a courtier at the Ilkhanid Mongol court and was a cherished companion of the emperor Arghun. After a mystical experience on the battlefield, however, Simnani turned his back on a life of luxury and became a Sufi. He advanced rapidly in his spiritual quest and soon became one of the most influential Sufi masters in Iran.

While many Sufis have been Shiite, Simnani stood out as a Sunni.

Simnani conducted a famous debate with other Sufis over Ibn Arabi's notion of the mystic's oneness with God. Simnani favored a more dualistic language in order to avoid the excesses that led some mystics to hint at (or be misunderstood to suggest) an equivalence with God.

Poems by Ala al-Dawla Simnani

What Was

Recommended Books

Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition, Translated by David Fideler / Translated by Sabrineh Fideler

Amazon.com

The Throne Carrier of God: The Life and Thought of 'Ala' Ad-Dawla As-Simnani, by Jamal J. Elias

Amazon.com

Related Links:

	Simnani vs. Ibn Arabi http://nuruddinzangi.blogspot.com/2006/05/simnani-vs-ibn-arabi.html Excerpt from the book The Throne Carrier of God, exploring the philosophical parallels and differences between Simnani and Ibn Arabi.
	Sunni Razvi Society International - Simnani http://interact.sunnirazvi.org/forum/read.php?19,1470,1470 A book review of The Throne Carrier of God, with many insightful comments on differing Sufi philosophies and cultural assumptions.
	An Introduction to 'Irfan http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=4025&page=2 Brief note about Simnani and his disciple Kirmani.

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

Ala al-Dawla Simnani

Daily Poem Email

Support the Poetry Chaikhana

Poetry Chaikhana
Sacred Poetry from Around the World