The Gems of Shaykh Sa'di

An American English Version

By: Habib Siddiqui

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Shaykh Sa’di (also spelled as Saadi) was a 13th century Persian poet and one of the greatest figures in classical Persian literature. His best-known works are the Bustan (The Orchard, written in 1257 C.E.) and the Gulistan (The Rose Garden, written in 656 A.H./1258 C.E.). The Bustan is entirely in verses and consists of stories illustrating virtues of justice, liberality, modesty, and contentment that are recommended for all Muslims, as well as of reflections on the behavior of Sufis and dervishes and their ecstatic practices. The Gulistan is mainly in prose and consists of stories and personal anecdotes containing aphorisms, advice, and humorous reflections. Here, unlike in the Bustan, Sa’di lowers the spiritual bar to touch the heart of his fellow travelers.

The unique thing about Shaykh Sa’di is that he embodies both the Sufi Shaykh and the travelling merchant. They are, as he himself puts it, two almond nuts in the same shell. His two major works reflect that mindset. The peculiar blend of humor and resignation, human kindness and cynicism often displayed in his works make him the most lovable writer in the Iranian culture.

In this work, a revised and edited version of Shaykh Sa’di’s Bustan and Gulistan is shared in modern American English under a single volume with footnotes and a glossary of Persian and Arabic terms to benefit the English-speaking readers of the 21st century.