Comparison of Hafez’s Divan Based on Three Editions: Khanlari, Sayeh, and Ghani–Qazvini

Abstract

Currently, approximately 1,800 manuscript copies of Hafez’s Divan exist across various countries, written at different historical periods. The printed editions available to us today are derived from these manuscripts. However, since Hafez’s Divan—as the House of Ghazal Wisdom—holds a sacred and revered status among Iranians, many scribes, due to the widespread public devotion to Hafez, have produced numerous copies of the text. At times, these manuscripts have even been transcribed from one another. In this study, we aim to compare three of the most popular critical editions among the public: the edition of Hafez’s Divan prepared by Ghani and Qazvini, the edition by Parviz Natel Khanlari, and the edition by Mr. Ebrahim Golestan, known by his literary name Sayeh. Through this comparative research, our objective is to gain a deeper understanding of Hafez’s Divan based on its oldest manuscripts, in the hope of illuminating a scholarly path for Hafez enthusiasts and researchers.