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Draft:Hafez fortune

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Hafez fortune telling refers to the practice of using the Divan of Hafez to predict one's fate, resolve uncertainties, and determine the outcome of a specific matter, or to inquire about the condition of an absent person. Hafez fortune-telling is commonly practiced on occasions such as Nowruz , Chaharshanbe Suri, Yalda, Sizdah Bedar and ...

It is typically done when a person has a specific intention, such as during a separation from a loved one, waiting for someone's arrival, when a problem arises for a dear one, or when a person is overwhelmed by sorrow.

Fortune-telling has its own customs; for example, it should be performed by an elder of the family or someone who can read the poems smoothly. Initially, one makes a wish and starts with a vow, like: "O Hafez of Shiraz, you are the keeper of every secret! I swear to you by God and by your branch of sugar cane, that you reveal what is best and most beneficial for me."

Fortune-telling is also a social and communal tradition, with various rituals for selecting the "fortune draw" being common. These methods themselves are a form of entertainment and vary from city to city. There are special tables called "Fāl-nāmeh" (fortune books) based on the Divan of Hafez, which appear in the introduction and appendices of some editions of the Divan or in ancient manuscripts of it.