Your Lovers Beloved

Mabarriz Muzaffar was an extremely devout Muslem and followed shariah prohibitions on wine to the letter. At this time Hafez seems to have been ousted from his position at the religious college. Nevertheless, Hafez's fortunes changed when Shah Shoja usurped the throne from his father Mabarriz Muzaffar. Shah Shoja, who ruled Shiraz for twenty-five years, was extremely liberal, drank wine, and wrote poetry himself. Once again, Hafez was a court poet, and he also regained his position as teacher at of religious studies at the college. Things remained settled for Hafez until sometime in his late forties when the next major upheaval in his life occurred. Apparently, Hafez fell out of favor in the court of Shah Shoja and fled from Shiraz to Isfahan. There, his exile lasted for about four years. His poems form this period are filled with despair, alienation, and longing for his home in Shiraz.