Saturday, February 19, 2005

Imadeddin Nasimi

Imadeddin Nasimi
(1369? - 1418)

Nasimi was born in the Central Asian region of Azerbaijan. (Though there seems to be some disagreement as to his birth place, some sources stating he was born in Baghdad.)

In Nasimi's time, Azerbaijan had recently freed itself from the Mongol yoke, but was subsequently invaded by the conqueror Tamerlane.

In the midst of this political and cultural turmoil, the Hurufi sect emerged, asserting that the individual and God are fundamentally One.

Nasimi joined the Hurufis, assuming the name Nasimi in imitation of his teacher, who was named Naimi.

Because of their non-dualistic beliefs, the Hurifis were often persecuted. After the death of his teacher at the hands of Tamerlane's son, Nasimi journeyed across much of the Middle East to spread the teachings of Hurufism and to write sacred poetry.

In 1417, he was arrested by the orthodox religious authorities in Aleppo, Syria, where he was executed for his "blasphemous" poetry.

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