This article serves as a comprehensive guide to Attar’s Book of Secrets , exploring its themes, historical context, structure, and where to find reliable PDF versions for study. Before diving into the Book of Secrets , we must understand the author. Attar (c. 1145 – c. 1221) was born in Nishapur, a bustling city in medieval Persia (modern-day Iran). His name "Attar" means "perfumer" or "apothecary," as he ran a successful pharmacy. However, his true trade was the distillation of spiritual truths.
| Feature | Conference of the Birds | Book of Secrets | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Epic narrative poem (Masnavi) | Collection of quatrains (Rubaiyat) | | Length | ~4,500 couplets | ~2,000 quatrains (8,000 lines) | | Approach | Allegorical story of birds seeking the Simurgh | Direct, fragmented, ecstatic utterances | | Difficulty | Moderate – a clear plot | Hard – no narrative; requires contemplation | | Best for | First-time Sufi readers | Advanced students of mysticism | book of secrets attar of nishapur pdf
The Book of Secrets (Persian: Mokhtar-Nama ) is one of Attar’s major works, yet it remains overshadowed by The Conference of the Birds (Mantiq ut-Tayr). This neglect is undeserved, as the Book of Secrets offers a raw, intense exploration of the inner spiritual struggle. The full title in Persian is Mokhtar-Nama , meaning "The Book of the Chosen [One]" or "The Book of Selection." Unlike the narrative allegory of The Conference of the Birds , the Book of Secrets is a collection of quatrains (rubaiyat) —over 2,000 of them, organized by theme. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to
Attar of Nishapur did not write to fill your hard drive; he wrote to break your heart. Once you have found a reliable PDF, do not treat it as a mere document. Print a few quatrains. Tape them to your bathroom mirror. Recite them before sleep. Let the 12th-century apothecary from Nishapur compound a tincture for your modern, anxious soul. 1145 – c
Attar survived the brutal Mongol invasions but is believed to have died during the massacre of Nishapur around 1221. His legacy, however, survived through his poetry. He was a primary influence on later giants like Rumi, who famously said: "Attar traveled through all the seven cities of love, while I am still at the first turn."
In the words of one of his secrets: "I searched for God and found only myself. / I searched for myself and found only God."