Editing Shahnameh (section)

=== Poets ===
[[File:FOLIO FROM THE SHAHNAMEH OF SHAH TAHMASP, ATTRIBUTED TO AQA MIRAK, CIRCA 1525-35, Sotheby,s.jpg|thumb|''[[Fereydun]] tests his sons'', Miniature by [[Aqa Mirak]] from the [[Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp]] . [[Aga Khan Museum]]]]
[[File:Georgian manuscript (Shahname).jpg|thumb|Page from the manuscript of ''[[Rostomiani]]'', [[Georgian language|Georgian]] adaptation of ''Shahnameh'']]

Famous poets of [[Persia]] and the Persian tradition have praised and eulogized Ferdowsi.  Many of them were heavily influenced by his writing and used his genre and stories to develop their own Persian epics, stories and poems:<ref name="Nurian 1993" />

* [[Anvari]] remarked about the eloquence of the ''Shahnameh'', "He was not just a Teacher and we his students. He was like a God and we are his slaves".<ref>Persian: "آفرين بر روان فردوسی / آن همايون نهاد و فرخنده / او نه استاد بود و ما شاگرد / او خداوند بود و ما بنده"</ref>
* [[Asadi Tusi]] was born in the same city as Ferdowsi. His ''Garshaspnama'' was inspired by the ''Shahnameh'' as he attests in the introduction. He praises Ferdowsi in the introduction<ref>Persian: "که فردوسی طوسی پاک مغز / بدادست داد سخنهای نغز / به شهنامه گیتی بیاراستست / بدان نامه نام نکو خواستست"</ref> and considers Ferdowsi the greatest poet of his time.<ref>Persian: "که از پیش گویندگان برد گوی"</ref>
* [[Masud Sa'd Salman|Masud Sa'ad Salman]] showed the influence of the ''Shahnameh'' only 80 years after its composition by reciting its poems in the [[Ghaznavids|Ghaznavid]] court of India.
* [[Uthman Mukhetari|Othman Mokhtari]], another poet at the Ghaznavid court of India, remarked, "Alive is Rustam through the epic of Ferdowsi, else there would not be a trace of him in this World".<ref>Persian: "زنده رستم به شعر فردوسی است / ور نه زو در جهان نشانه کجاست؟"</ref>
* [[Sanai]] believed that the foundation of poetry was really established by Ferdowsi.<ref>Persian: "چه نکو گفت آن بزرگ استاد / که وی افکند نظم را بنیاد"</ref>
* [[Nizami Ganjavi]] was influenced greatly by Ferdowsi and three of his five "treasures" had to do with pre-Islamic Persia.  His ''Khosro-o-Shirin'', ''[[Haft Peykar]]'' and ''[[Iskandarnameh of Nizami|Eskandar-nameh]]'' used the ''Shahnameh'' as a major source. Nizami remarks that Ferdowsi is "the wise sage of Tus" who beautified and decorated words like a new bride.<ref>Persian: "سخن گوی دانای پیشین طوسکه آراست روی سخن چون عروس"</ref>
* [[Khaqani]], the court poet of the [[Shirvanshah]], wrote of Ferdowsi: {{blockquote|The candle of the wise in this darkness of sorrow,<br />The pure words of Ferdowsi of the Tusi are such,<br />His pure sense is an angelic birth,<br />Angelic born is anyone who's like Ferdowsi.<ref>Persian: "شمع جمع هوشمندان است در دیجور غم / نکته ای کز خاطر فردوسی طوسی بود / زادگاه طبع پاکش جملگی حوراوش اند / زاده حوراوش بود چون مرد فردوسی بود"</ref>}}
* [[Attar of Nishapur|Attar]] wrote about the poetry of Ferdowsi: "Open eyes and through the sweet poetry see the heavenly eden of Ferdowsi."<ref>Persian: "باز کن چشم و ز شعر چون شکر / در بهشت عدن فردوسی نگر"</ref>
* In a famous poem, [[Saadi (poet)|Sa'adi]] wrote: {{blockquote|How sweetly has conveyed the pure-natured Ferdowsi,<br />May blessing be upon his pure resting place,<br />Do not harass the ant that's dragging a seed,<br />because it has life and sweet life is dear.<ref>Persian: "چه خوش گفت فردوسی پاکزاد / که رحمت بر آن تربت پاک باد / میازار موری که دانه کش است / که جان دارد و جان شیرین خوش است"</ref>}}
* In the ''Baharestan'', [[Jami]] wrote, "He came from Tus and his excellence, renown and perfection are well known. Yes, what need is there of the panegyrics of others to that man who has composed verses as those of the Shah-nameh?"

Many other poets, e.g., [[Hafez]], [[Rumi]] and other mystical poets, have used the imagery of ''Shahnameh'' heroes in their poetry.