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Biography
Abu Hamid bin Abu Bakr Ibrahim (1145 – 1221), more commonly known by his pennames Farid-ud-Din and Attar of Nishapur, was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic who significantly influenced Persian poetry and Sufism. He was also less known for being a hagiographer, or someone who writes biographies or literary narratives about holy people. In Attar's case, it was writing about earlier Sufi saints, their sayings, and their supposed miracles.
Not much is known about Attar, and much of his life has been reduced to myths and legends. What we do know, however, is that he was the son of a prosperous pharmacist, and received a strong education in medicine, Arabic, and theosophy. He worked at his father's pharmacy, helping prepare essential oils and herbal remedies; and when his father passed away, he took over his shop, often writing poetry while attending to his clients. In fact, his pen-name "Attar" means apothecary, pharmacist or perfumer in Farsi.
It is through his profession that he came into regular contact with people from all walks of life and their daily struggles, especially poverty, which is believed to have affected him deeply. One narrative relates a fakir, or Muslim ascetic, visiting Attar's shop and marveling at the opulence of the store. The fakir's astonishment made the pharmacist uncomfortable, and he ordered the beggar to leave. The fakir then pointed at his ragged cloak and said, "I have no problem leaving with just this; but how are you planning to leave with all this [pointing at the store]?"
This experience moved Attar immensely, and he eventually left his pharmacy and traveled across the Asian continent, meeting with Sufi Sheikhs, or scholars, who influenced him greatly, before returning back home. When he returned, he reopened his pharmacy, and began contributing to Sufi thought, beginning with a prose work called Tadhkirat al-Auliya (Farsi: "Memorial of the Saints"), in which he compiled verses, sayings, and biographical accounts from previous Sufi poets, mystics, and saints, many of whom may have simply been forgotten in history had it not been for Attar's work.
Attar wrote both short lyric poems as well as longer, epic poems which contained highly symbolic stories conveying themes of enlightenment, Oneness, union, separation, and Divine Love. His most famous work is Mantiq ut-Tayr (Farsi: "The Conference of the Birds"), which is an epic spiritual poem containing thousands of verses that narrate the story of personified birds ("humans") who, with the guidance of the hoopoe bird ("spiritual master"), go on a quest in search of the legendary Simurgh bird ("God"). They travel through seven "valleys," or stages in their spiritual journey, overcoming many personal obstacles along the way. Of the 200 birds that start the journey, only 30 end up annihilating their ego to reach the home of the Simurgh. When they arrive, however, they learn that the Simurgh is "not there," and that they, in fact, are the Simurgh themselves, with the words "Si" and "Murgh" meaning "30" and "birds" in Farsi, respectively, demonstrating the Divine within all of us.
Many of his teachings can be simplified to express that the body-bound soul waiting for release and reunion with Source in the afterlife can experience this reunion in this present life through journeying inward and purifying their heart.
He is said to have died a violent death, and the legend goes that when the Mongols invaded Nishapur in 1221, he was taken prisoner by a Mongol. When someone tried to ransom Attar with a thousand pieces of silver, Attar advised the Mongol not to sell him at that price. The Mongol got excited thinking he could earn even more money. Later, another person came offering just a stack of straw in exchange for Attar. The mystic and poet told the Mongol to sell him for that price, for that was all he was worth. Angered by this, the Mongol then beheaded Attar.
The story itself is hard to verify, but it illustrates an important point: the body and the individual self, or the ego, is of little worth. What should be prized and is priceless is the Divinity inside us, which can never be killed or destroyed.
Though not relatively famous in his own time, Attar's popularity grew over the centuries and he is said to have made an indelible impression on an even more famous Sufi poet and mystic: Rumi.
Some sources say that the young Rumi, born when Attar was well in his 60s, actually met the elder mystic on his way to Konya, Turkey with his family, and was given one of his books, the Asrar Nama (Farsi: "the Book of Secrets"), which shaped Rumi's own outlook on life, and later, his poetry.
Rumi even mentions in one of his poems:
"Attar has roamed through the seven cities of love, while we have barely turned down the first street."
"Let love lead your soul. Make it a place to retire to, a kind of monastery cave, a retreat for the deepest core of your being." ~ Attar of Nishapur
"To seek death is death's only cure." ~ Attar of Nishapur
"Had I known how listening is superior to speaking, I would not have wasted my life preaching." ~ Attar of Nishapur