Abd al-Karim Eshraq Birjandi

عبدالکریم اشراق بیرجندی

1766–1814

Abd al-Karim Eshraq Birjandi (died 1229 AH) was a well-known scholar and poet of Birjand. He studied for many years in Isfahan, where he learned a great deal in the circle of Aqa Muhammad Bidabadi. After many years he returned to his homeland, Birjand. He also made journeys to Afghanistan and India. Abd al-Karim Eshraq kept company and was on close terms with Mirza Hadi Khan Munshi al-Mamalik, who used the pen name Eshrat; Mirza Khalil Khan, who used the pen name Maftun; and Mirza Ahmad Khan Vakil, all three of whom were men of learning and letters. A notebook of Eshraq's poetry survived until the 1350s (Solar Hijri) in the possession of the late Muhammad Husayn Ayati, who used the pen name Zia and was the author of the book Baharestan on the history of the notables of Qohestan; unfortunately it is no longer available. The surviving poems of Abd al-Karim Eshraq Birjandi consist of 16 ghazals and one quatrain, recorded in the book Baharestan. It is hoped that the publication of these sixteen ghazals will open a way to finding the lost divan of this fine poet of Birjand, which may possibly be held in private collections in Birjand and Isfahan. Source: Baharestan dar Tarikh va Tarajem-e Rejal-e Qohestan by Muhammad Husayn Ayati, a poet, historian, and mujtahid of Birjand. The works of Eshraq Birjandi have been made available on Ganjoor through the efforts of Mostafa Alizadeh.