A ghazal folio from a dispersed copy of the Diwan, written by Mohammed Shama od-din Hafez (1329-1399), in good condition. It is of Kashmiri origin dating back to approximately to 1675. It is written in elegant nasta'liq in black ink, arranged in the classic 'chahar situn' (four column) format, with verses set in alternating vertical registers separated by gilded rules. It is on burnished gold paper. The illuminated cartouches with polychrome floral ornaments mark sectional headings or ghazal openings. The main themes include: the beloved's tresses (golf) - dark curling hair used as a metaphor for entanglement captivity and the intoxicating power of love and spiritual intoxication; wine and the cup (jam/bade) symbolising spiritual ecstasy; longing and separation; the eyebrow and prayer niche (mihrab/abru), a favourite conceit comparing the curve of the eyebrow to a mosque's mihrab, merging erotic and devotional love. The Dewan, which expresses Sufi ideals in lyrics, was written by Mohammed Shama od-din Hafez (1329-1399), a Sufi Muslim who practised a mystical form of Islam. His name 'Hafez' was given to those Muslims who could recite the Holy Koran by heart. Please note that shipping costs are not solely the cost of the postal delivery service itself. Included within the shipping price is the work undertaken to prepare the article, for photography, for uploading to Catawiki, for preparation and packaging the article securely and for transporting the article to the postal delivery agent for processing. Also, please consider when bidding on this lot that this artwork is shipped from the UK. Import duties will now have to be paid by the recipient to the Postal Service when the parcel arrives in your country. This will likely vary between 5% and 20% of the sale price depending on your country's Import Rate, so please check this if you are concerned. This is a Tax collected on behalf of your Government and is not an additional fee charged by us.