Presented in the original Persian, this volume represents the solely published first volume of the Haft Ásmán “seven heavens,” or a compendium of poetry in the seven epic meters of Persian poetry. This history of the masnawí, or Middle Persian poetic form, written in rhymed couplets, is here presented by one of the recognized teachers of Persian in India. This, his final work, was intended to be an introduction to the works of Nizami. As such it contains invaluable nuggets about the Persian poets and their poetry. Although the work was never completed, this volume stands as a treasured contribution to the understanding of Persian poetry in the academic world.

Agha Ahmad Ali (c. 1783-1873) was a scholar who founded the Madrasah I Ahmadiyah in Calcutta and was appointed as a teacher of Persian in the Government Madrasah. He compiled several important works, including a Persian dictionary that is still of great value to linguists.