Works of Hadj Nemat



Kurdish Masnavi

This Masnavi composition, comprised of 6423 verses of Kurdish poetry in 68 sections of varying length, was completed in March 1909.

Hadj Nemat's goal in setting forth these lessons on spirituality and ethics was to attract the reader's attention toward divine worship and away from the material world and its pursuit.

Within the context of 31 stories, each containing ample advice and counsel, he introduces the reader to the different stages of the spiritual path, familiarizing him with the attributes to be acquired and the characteristics to be avoided. In doing so, he emphasizes sincerity, humility, fidelity to one's allegiance, faith, and the avoidance of materialism and the love of wealth, frequently citing their spiritual value and from time to time referencing them as the paramount attributes of a spiritual seeker. In contrast, wherever possible he harshly admonishes against hypocrisy, deceit, ostentation, pride, infidelity to one's pact, the pursuit of materialism, dishonesty, and domination by the imperious self. Given his profound love for Ali, amidst all this he repeatedly praises him and extols his virtues.

Among the more than six thousand verses of Kurdish poetry, there are three instances in which the author intentionally writes the stories in Persian verse, demonstrating his proficiency in both Persian and Kurdish poetry. He also cites to numerous sources from other poets and authors, as well as Islamic scripture and traditions in support of his counsel, evincing the depth and breadth of his knowledge of other authors' works, the Islamic sciences, and the Koran.

Hadj Nemat's enjoyable style in this Masnavi captivates the reader's attention throughout. In addition to rendering the stories in his own distinct and affable style, he overlaps them in such way that before one ends another begins, thereby keeping the reader constantly engaged. Sometimes there are up to four tales unfolding in parallel. This manner of storytelling not only heightens the attractiveness of the tales, but also keeps the reader's mind so active and preoccupied to the last minute that it's as if he were freed from the bounds of time and no longer aware of its passage.