The Manifestation of the Ayyaran Social Group, their Characteristics, Traditions and Teachings in Hafiz’s Poems

Ayyaran was one of the effective social groups in the history of Iran. The Mongol invasion and its political and social consequences, in the seventh and eighth centuries AH, laid the ground for the activity and activism of the Ayyaran and the reflection of some of their characteristics, teachings and traditions in literary and mystical texts of this period, like the Divan of Hafiz. Hafiz's view of this social group and how their social characteristics and traditions are manifested in his poetry is a significant issue that has not been addressed. Using a descriptive-analytical method, this article seeks to answer the following questions: What characteristics and teachings of Ayyaran were included in Hafiz’s poetry? And what is his view of this social group and how much does it overlap with social and historical realities? The findings indicated that Hafiz, by recognizing the fame and influence of Ayyaran in the political and social interactions of his past and present, reproduced some of the positive characteristics, traditions and teachings of Ayyaran, such as courage and fearlessness, cheerfulness, shrewdness, agility and some of their reprehensible and negative characteristics, such as cruelty, chaotic city, night owl and robbery in his court. From a realistic point of view, in a direct and indirect way, he puts this social group, their social and individual characteristics and teachings in the service of enriching the structure and content of some of his poems, and by creating romantic, mystical, educational themes, images, and magical and novel sensory and mental atmosphere, have achieved unparalleled success.