TEHRAN -- A handwritten copy of the Divan of Hafez, donated by martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was unveiled at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, during a ceremony highlighting the Persian poet’s role in Iranian cultural identity and the deep connections between his poetry and Qur’anic teachings.
Hamidreza Navidi-Mehr, a professor of Persian language and literature, spoke at the ceremony on Tuesday, discussing the late Leader’s extensive knowledge of Persian literature and world classics, including works by Russian novelists such as Crime and Punishment and War and Peace.
Navidi-Mehr said literature is viewed not merely as an artistic expression, but as a vital component of national identity that preserves cultural heritage and passes it on to future generations. 
He cited the enduring influence of works such as Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Saadi’s Bustan, Nizami’s Khamsa, Rumi’s Masnavi and Hafez’s Divan.
The researcher also referred to a collection of approximately 16,200 books donated to the province’s manuscript center, describing it as evidence of the late Leader’s attention to books and written heritage.
According to Navidi-Mehr, the book Sharh-e Esm by Hedayatollah Behboodi recounts that the manuscript had passed from the late Leader’s maternal grandfather to his mother. 
He reportedly became familiar with the collection during childhood. Notes written in the margins by his grandfather, a religious scholar in Mashhad, also reflected the spiritual significance attached to the volume.
Navidi-Mehr highlighted a speech delivered by the late Leader at the World Congress on Hafez in Shiraz on November 18, 1988, saying it demonstrated a deep understanding of the poet’s language, thought and worldview. 
He noted that Hafez’s influence extends beyond Iran, pointing to German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s engagement with Persian poetry in West-Eastern Divan.
The professor stressed that Hafez should not be interpreted exclusively through a mystical lens. His poetry also explores romantic experience, social criticism and the hypocrisy of those who claim religious or spiritual authority.
He further emphasized the importance of the Qur’an in Hafez’s work, citing the poet’s reference to reciting the Qur’an in fourteen canonical readings. Understanding this connection, he said, requires close textual analysis and attention to the poet’s intellectual and cultural context.
Navidi-Mehr said that Hafez’s distinctive position in Persian literature rests on the interplay of linguistic beauty, structural precision, philosophical depth and spiritual insight. 
He proposed a scholarly conference examining the place of Persian literature in the late Leader’s speeches, suggesting that Astan Quds Razavi and Imam Reza International University could collaborate on the initiative.