Sparks of Fire

"The exceptional character of Táhirih in the secular and sacred history of humanity is increasingly being discovered and disclosed. Táhirih’s transcendental and transformative universal love, expressed in her poetry, announces the onset of a new era in human civilization. Sparks of Fire, the fourth volume containing original poems of Táhirih and their English translation by Hemmat and Hatcher, is one of the most wonderful scholarly events of the twenty-first century. It is most unfortunate that the publication of Hemmat and Hatcher’s previous volumes translating Táhirih’s poetry—'The Poetry of Táhirih, Adam’s Wish,' and 'The Quickening'—has been largely met with silence or disbelief from scholars in the field. The fact is that these volumes are so amazing and wonderful that even experts in the field find it difficult to believe that their publication can be a real event, but the time has come to enthusiastically embrace, recite, and loudly celebrate the exceptional treasure of this historical and spiritual gift." —Nader Saiedi, Retired Professor of Sociology and Iranian Studies at Carleton College and UCLA, and author of Gate of the Heart: Understanding the Writings of the Báb

"Táhirih’s poetry is a window to her profound insights on the station and mission of the Báb. Hatcher and Hemmat’s eloquent English translations of her verse convey the fire and sublime beauty of those insights. Their introduction and commentary aids readers to appreciate Táhirih’s ecstatic faith and understand the depth and profundity of her knowledge. Sparks of Fire is a must-read for anyone interested in the potential of art and the power of language to challenge the status quo and proclaim the dawn of a new age. —Omid Ghaemmaghami, Associate Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, State University of New York at Binghamton, and co-editor of “‘From the Seed of Love We Sow’: Further Research on Tahirih Qurrat al-Ayn” (Hawwa, vol. 21, no. 4)