The Idea of Peace in Great Poets of Persian Literature

Abstract

Today’s world is full of conflicts, enmities, and riots turning lack of peace to a great concern throughout the world. Why is peace being threatened? What are the backgrounds for lack of peace? What are the likely solutions for the present situation? Before everything, human beings need to acknowledge the necessity of reconciliation, peace, and tolerance more than ever. Since ancient times, intellectuals have written about inviting people to peace and tolerance in society. Persian poets, as the spokesmen of the emotions and thoughts of society, have called to peace and throughout history advising people to humanity, love, affection and forgiveness. Following its great poets, Persian folklore has always praised peace and decried violence. The present article studies the concept of peace in the poems of Ferdowsi, Rumi, Sa’di, Hafez, and Iqbal Lahori. According to these poets, the basic causes of war and violence are: resentment and jealousy, differences of opinion, aggression and oppression, popular dissatisfaction, authoritarianism, and extremist patriotism. To prevent violence and war, they call for the avoidance of unwarranted strife, tolerance for the enemy, legitimate defense against aggression, and the tolerance of the rude and the ignorant. These poets invite people to kindness, polite speech, love and affection, the satisfaction of the people through justice, and developing brotherhood.