Mirza Mahammad Taghi Qumri

Mirza Mahammad Taghi Qumri (1819, Derbent, Russian Republic – 1891, Derbent, Dagestan Province) was an Azerbaijani poet who lived and created in the 19th century.
==Life==
Mirza Mahammad Taghi Qumri was born in 1819 (H. 1235) in present-day Dagestan, in the city of Derbent, whose residents wideny used Azerbaijani Turkish. The sources mention that in Derbent, a place that has hosted many civilizations, the people were speaking in the Turkic language as early as the Middle Ages, during the period of Arab rule.
Mirza Mahammad Taghi was one of the most famous poets living in Derbent in the 19th century. His father's name was Ibrahim. In his works, he referred to himself as Mirza Mahammad Taghi ibn al-marhum Ibrahim or Qumri. He used the pen name Qumri in his poetry.''
There is insufficient information in sources about the poet's life. Information about him has been gathered from a few articles written about the poet and from his own works. According to the sources, Mirza Mahammad Taghi received education from a young age, and through his intelligence and diligence, he completed his studies in Turkish, Persian, and even Arabic in a very short time. He grew up among the people of his time as a knowledgeable individual.
Detailed information about the poet's life can be found in the second volume of Firudin bey Kocharli's work on Azerbaijani literature. Kocharli states that aside from his poetry, his main profession was trade. Firudin bey Kocharli refers to him as one of the reputable merchants and writes:' quote
| In trade, Mirza Mahammad Taghi distinguished himself with his intelligence and skills, becoming known as a valuable and successful individual among his peers and relatives.
F. Kocharli states that the poet Qumri, during his youth, was inclined towards entertainment and the depiction of beauty. Around the age of 30, he went on a pilgrimage to Karbala, devoted himself to Imam Hussein, and dedicated his work to praising the martyrs of Karbala.
Sayyid Azim Shirvani also provided information about Qumri. In his "Tazkira," Sayyid Azim Shirvani writes about Qumri: Mahammad Taqi ibn-Ibrahim of Derbent was a young merchant and precise thinker. He dedicated himself to the art of poetry and the commemoration of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him.
The poet had two sons named Mirza Mehdi and Mirza Jafar. Both sons were tried in court and later imprisoned. After spending two years in prison in Derbent, his sons were sent to the Irkutsk prison in Siberia. Mirza Mahammad Taghi suffered greatly to rescue his sons, spending all his wealth and possessions on this endeavor. He traveled to Tbilisi, St. Petersburg, and Tehran at various times to secure his children's release. Despite his efforts, Mirza Mahammad Taghi was unable to save his sons.
It is reported that during the period and geography in which Qumri lived, he initiated the tradition of writing poetry and elegies on the subject of Karbala, and this style gradually spread, leading to numerous examples as a literary genre.
Mirza Mahammad Taghi Qumri died in 1891 (H. 1307) at the age of 72. There is no information in the sources regarding where he died or where his grave is located.
==Poetry==
Mirza Mahammad Taghi (Qumri) dedicated almost his entire life to writing poetry that depicted the tragedy of Karbala. Qumri demonstrated didactic and lyrical styles in his expressive manner. He began writing poetry at a young age, but left his poems unfinished. Later, after reflecting on his inner world and evaluating himself, he resumed writing poetry. He took inspiration from Fuzuli, who lived about 350 years earlier, and who was the forerunner of the elegy genre about Karbala and the author of its masterpiece. The language and style he used in his work, as well as his choice of words, remind one of Fuzuli and his work "Haqiqatus-Suada." Qumri, like Fuzuli, favored the theme of love and did not shy away from suffering and distress for this love, even finding pleasure in this suffering.
"Love" is the central theme in all of Qumri's poems. This love is eternal and true because the poet believes that love is the force that makes everything beautiful, delicate, and vibrant. According to him, love governs all creation, unites people, brings the old together with the young, Muslims with Christians, and Christians with Muslims. It is the power that controls everything and, when necessary, plunges everything into nothingness.
Qumri used flowers like violets, carnations, roses, tulips, wheat spikes, irises, and basil as symbols to depict the martyrs of Karbala. For instance, the violet "weeps blood" in memory of Sakina when it sees her "bowed in sorrow." When deeply reflecting on these thoughts, Qumri did not consider himself worthy of entering this "gathering of loyalty" and "garden of serenity."
Some artists referred to as the "nightingales of the Karbala garden," who addressed the tragedy of Karbala in their poetry and stories, include Muqbil, Mirfatah, Mahzun, Agabaghir, Jovhari, Dakhli, Khaki, Sarbaz, and others. Qumri respectfully mentioned each of these figures by name in his works. These poets, whom Qumri took as his role models, regarded him as "truly a master of poetic expression and eloquent language, as well as a skilled poet of rhythmic verse." Some sources describe Qumri not only as a poet who praised beauty in his works but also as a patriot who voiced the people's needs and aspirations and consistently defended the concerns of the people of Derbent.
== Kenzül-Masaib ==
Research on Mirza Mahammad Taghi has revealed that he authored three major works, with the largest and most enduring being "Kenzül-Masaib." There is no information available in sources regarding the titles or whereabouts of the other two works. In the 1970s, a person named Mir Masume, who conducted research on the Quran in Azerbaijan, learned Qumri's book of grief. It is known that Mir Masume performed Qumri's poems in a musical manner during the month of Muharram. He noted that he compiled the poems he would perform in his notebook. However, it is unclear whether all the poems in this notebook belong to Qumri. According to Mir Masume, Qumri's works were destroyed by Stalin. In fact, although the works are mentioned under different names in sources, the only existing work attributed to Qumri today is "Kenzül-Masaib." Mohammad Ali Tarbiat writes about Qumri and his work in his book "The scholars of Azerbaijan":
"He used to perform elegies during the month of Muharram. Later, he stopped this practice and began to write about the events of Karbala. Qumri wrote a poem on this topic titled 'Kenzül-Masaib' ('Treasure of Afflictions'). The work describes the events that took place in the city of Karbala. This work has been repeatedly published in Tabriz."
Another person providing information about the work is Firudin bey Kocharli. Ruqiyya Qanbar qizi, who prepared Firudin bey Kocharli's book "Azerbaijani Literature" for publication, stated that while researching the sources used by Firudin bey Kocharli, he mentioned that Qumri's "Kenzül-Masaib" had been printed several times in Tabriz, specifically referencing the edition printed in Tabriz in the year 1300 AH (1882 AD).
The work titled "Gülzar" or "Kenzül-Masaib," authored by Molla Mirza Mahammad Taghi in the 19th century, is one of the most frequently recited texts during mourning ceremonies among communities in regions such as Iran, Iraq, Rumelia, Syria, and among the Alevis of Anatolia.
In "Kenzül-Masaib," the historical events leading up to the martyrdom of Hussein at Karbala are chronicled, starting from the struggles for caliphate following the death of the Muhammad|Prophet Mahammad. In this regard, the work not only recounts the events that occurred but also presents the history of Islam. The text consists of Turkish poems recited in the voices of individuals involved in the Karbala events. In Azerbaijani, these expressions are collectively referred to as "növhə."''
===Copies===
Due to being one of the most frequently recited works in mourning ceremonies, there are numerous copies of "Kenzül-Masaib."
The copy located in the Turkish Manuscripts Collection of the Atatürk Library of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, catalog number K. 761, is more comprehensive and complete compared to other copies. This manuscript consists of 333 pages.
The cover of the manuscript is bound, and at the top of page 1b, the title "Xəza Kitab-ı Qumri Dərbəndî" is inscribed. Below this title is the "Bismillah" section. The second title, which also reflects the name of the work, "Türki əl-Müsəmma bi-Kenzül-Məsaib," is found on page 2a. The only prose section of the poetically written work is on pages 14a and 14b, where the purpose of the writing is explained.2021|p=127Although the manuscript is predominantly written in black ink, some titles are inscribed in red ink. Additionally, the first three words of the 217th couplet on page 181b are also written in red ink. On page 317b, the first two words of the second line of the 34th couplet are written in ordinary black ink and in the same style, while the following four words of the couplet are written in a different style and in blue ink.Almost all of the text in the manuscript is unvoweled; however, some words with circular vowels are included in certain verses and hadiths to prevent confusion during reading.
The poems in the manuscript are collected under 123 titles. A large portion of the work is written with red lines framing the margins and between the lines. Starting from the first page, titles and some transitional couplets are written in double lines at the center of the pages. Pages 1b to 37a, 290a to 291b, and page 332b are all written within red frames.
There are sections of the manuscript where both black and red inks have bled through. In these areas, the writing is faded and unreadable. Additionally, due to the irregular cutting of the upper part of the pages during binding, the first lines of some pages have been left incomplete. Some verses in the work also have incomplete lines. Moreover, in some couplets, a word has been omitted between the lines, leaving a blank space. Furthermore, words thought to be misspelled have been crossed out, and the correct ones noted either next to them or in the margins. The placements of the words written above the couplets are indicated by extending dots to show their position within the couplets. On some pages, it is observed that a couplet is entirely written vertically in the margins, again with the position indicated by dots.''
There exists another copy of the work titled "Gülzari-Hüseyn" in Azerbaijani Turkish. At the beginning of this copy, the title "Kəlamı Min Mirzə Məĥəmməd Təķiyyül-Mütəxəllis Be Qumri Gülzarı Ĥüseyni" is found. Unlike the Istanbul copy, which includes a section with the refrain "eşq," this copy starts with the second title. The sequence of the poems in the subsequent pages continues in the same order as in the Istanbul copy. There are occasional changes in titles and instances where titles are omitted. The first three pages of the manuscript exhibit wear and tear, including abrasions and tears.
All texts in this copy are written with the margins and between the lines framed (drawn as tables). Unlike the Istanbul copy, where couplets are written in "a" and "b" page forms, this copy has them written on a single page. The "A" couplet is aligned straight in the center of the page, while the "b" couplet is written in a curved format framed separately on the margins of the same page. In cases where there are changes in titles, refrains, or meters, a blank table is inserted in between.
In terms of the number of poems, this copy has significantly fewer couplets compared to the Istanbul version, particularly the first or last couplets of the pages found in the Istanbul copy are absent here. Additionally, all omitted places in the couplets of the Istanbul version have been filled in accordance with the meter in this copy.
This manuscript contains illustrations on nine pages (113, 129, 136, 185, 201, 210, 260, 306, and 313) that encompass the entire or parts of the page. These illustrations are drawn to bring life to the sections described in the poems. They depict the conditions of figures like Huseyn ibn Ali, Ali Akbar, Qasım, or Abbas on the battlefield. Particularly, the last illustration portrays Huseyn ibn Ali before his martyrdom, illustrating his posture on horseback. The lower part of the last page of the manuscript is marked with the date "1328.
This copy consists of 186 pages, with approximately 30 couplets on each page. The language used reflects the characteristics of Azerbaijani Turkish. The material of the manuscript is of the notebook paper type. There is no indication of the scribe's name on the pages. However, from the phrase "Xəza Kitab-ı Qumri Dərbəndî" located on the first page, it can be inferred that this copy does not contain the full text of the work "Kenzül-Masaib," but rather selected sections from it.
This copy is also embellished with illustrations. Based on a note from the year 1300 in the Hijri calendar at the end of the work, the exact date of writing has been established.
Another available copy is also written on yellow paper and registered under the name "Kenzül-Masaib." The noted date here is the 26th of Rəbiüləvvəl, 1329 in the Hijri calendar. At the end of this copy, the scribe's name is written as "Kətəbəhü Məhəmməd Əli Təbrizi.
===The structure of the work===
The work consists of a total of 123 headings. These headings contain at least 6 and at most 546 couplets, amounting to a total of 10,733 couplets. In addition to the couplets, the work also includes 79 stanzas and 12 quatrains. Following the bismillah, the work begins with a 20-couplet poem with the refrain "love." Next, there are lines explaining the reasons for writing the work and praising Shah Nasreddin. This is followed by a section describing the nature of the poetry. 
Under the "Saqinameh" headings, there are 6 poems, all written in the ghazal form. Then, under the "Qasida" heading, there are 18 poems. These poems include supplications to God, praise of the Prophet, and descriptions of the heroism of Imam Ali. Under the "Majlis" heading, there are 42 poems. These sections discuss Husayn ibn Ali, starting from the period before the events of Karbala, covering the events chronologically during the tragedy, and afterward. These sections also include poems related to the Ahl al-Bayt, including Muslim, Hasan ibn Ali, Fatima, Zahra, Abbas, and Ali Akbar.
Out of the 123 headings in the work, 85 are written in the masnavi form, 24 in qasida, 10 in ghazal, 2 in rubai, and 1 in the mukhammas poetic form. Additionally, in the 52nd heading under the subheading "Walahu Murabba," there are murabba poems (four-line poems) consisting of six quatrains. At the end of the work, there is a Persian narrative written in the tarkib-band poetic form.''
The work employs six different aruz meters and ten different aruz patterns. The most frequently used meter is the mujtath meter, with the pattern "Mafa'ilun Fa'ilatun Mafa'ilun Fa'ilun." The least used meters are "Fa'ilatun Fa'ilatun Fa'ilatun Fa'ilun" and "Fa'ilatun Mafa'ilun Fa'ilun."
The work contains headings such as "Quality," "People of Kufa and Sham," "Army of Ashqiya," "Rajz," and "Zabani Hal." These headings often mention names of people and groups. Particularly, the name Kufa is frequently used in connection with the invitation of Husayn ibn Ali to Kufa. These poems present Husayn ibn Ali and his family members alongside the key figures of the Karbala events, such as Yazid, Ibn Ziyad, Ibn Muljam, and Hur.
One striking aspect of the work is the comparison of the difficulties faced by Husayn ibn Ali and the Ahl al-Bayt with the trials of the prophets. For instance, references are made to the imprisonment of Prophet Yusuf and his eventual rise to power in Egypt, Prophet Yaqub's sorrow and blindness from losing his son, Prophet Ayyub's suffering and patience, Prophet Ibrahim being thrown into fire and his struggle against Nimrod, and Prophet Dawud's battle against Pharaoh. These events are frequently mentioned in the poems to draw parallels with the tribulations of Husayn ibn Ali. In this context, Husayn ibn Ali is often referred to as the Solomon of Karbala.
===Legacy===
In 2019, an event dedicated to the 200th anniversary of Qumri Derbendi was held in the city of Derbent. The event was attended by representatives of the Derbent city administration, deputies, the leadership and staff of the Azerbaijan State Drama Theatre, guests from Azerbaijan, city residents, representatives of religious and public organizations, and poets. During the jubilee event, the poet's life and works were discussed.
Category:1819 births
Category:1891 deaths
ategory:People from Derbent
Category:Russian people