TEHRAN -- Reflecting on the works of the 14th-century poet Hafez, a prominent Iranian professor has highlighted how Hafez fiercely condemns lies and hypocrisy, identifying hypocrisy as the greatest threat to Islam.
Fathollah Mojtabaei, a retired professor of Eastern Religions and Philosophy, spoke to IQNA recently on the occasion of the National Day of Hafez which was marked on October 11.
“When talking about hypocrisy, it is as if this concept is Hafez’s greatest enemy,” he said. “Hafez repeatedly notes that those who pretentiously say prayers or read the Qur’an are hypocrites and those are the biggest threat to Islam.”
Khawje Shams-od-Din Mohammad Hafez-e Shirazi, commonly known as Hafez, was a renowned Iranian poet born around 1325 in Shiraz, Iran. He is celebrated for his lyrical poetry, particularly his ghazals, which explore themes of love, spirituality, and mysticism. Hafez’s poetry is considered the pinnacle of Persian literature and remains widely read and revered in Iran and beyond.
“Hafez was a devout person in a religious sense; the influence of the Quran strongly permeates his poetry,” Mojtabaei said, noting that the poet was a follower of Malamatiyya and viewed the Qur’an from this school’s perspective.
“In the Malamatiyya belief system, hypocrisy and lies are considered the gravest sins and a true follower of the Malamatiyya would never lie,” he added.
In ancient Iranian culture, lies were seen as the embodiment of evil, he said, adding that Hafez believed that lying is not just about words but also about actions, where hypocrisy is essentially the practice of acting on a lie.
He also quoted a verse from Hafez, a rough translation of which reads: “O Hafez! Drink wine, live freely, and enjoy life, but do not use the Qur’an as a snare of deceit like others.”
In the Qur’an, lies and falsehoods are addressed more than anything else, h said. “And then, how dare we, as Muslims, lie?” 
Mojtbaei said that Hafez’s poetry has three main themes: love, hypocrisy, and lies.
“If you examine the word ‘love’ in his works, you’ll see how vast its scope is in his poetry,” he said, adding that the poet strongly slams the hypocrisy practiced by religious figures.
“To my knowledge, no other poet, whether in Persian literature or beyond, has expanded on the meanings of love and hypocrisy to the extent that Hafez has,” he added.
“Hypocrisy has plagued us, and Hafez recognized this issue with remarkable insight, delivering some of the most powerful critiques of hypocrisy, particularly among the religious class.” 
In the 21st century, Mojtabaei said, “we still suffer from hypocrisy; it is an eternal ugliness”.
“Throughout Hafez’s works, we see him repeatedly addressing figures like the sheikh, the king, and others, urging them not to be hypocritical, not to kill, and not to lie. These statements reflect the deep-rooted opposition of the intellectual class in Iranian cultural history toward lies and hypocrisy.”
He said unlike the works of many other poets, Hafez’s poetry is not one-dimensional or limited to a single perspective.
“It does not revolve around just one or a few confined themes. His poetry encompasses a wide spectrum that appeals to both the mystic and the ordinary person, the religious and the non-religious, even those with flawed beliefs.
“Hafez’s verses resonate with people of all backgrounds and levels of thought, knowledge, and sensitivity, offering something to everyone based on their own experiences and emotions,” he notes, adding, “Hafez’s poetry is like a mirror in which each person sees themselves—their desires, hopes, sorrows, and joys reflected back at them.”