Works
Composed ca. 551-2/1156-7.
As its name implies, Čahār Maqālah is divided into four sections each dealing with a separate class of men that the author deems as indispensable to the service of kings: secretaries, poets, astrologers and physicians. Each section begins with general comments followed by anecdotes often based on Niẓāmī’s personal experience of which it may be said “he was not modest as to his attainments”. Though portions of the Čahār maqāla are historically inaccurate, it nonetheless remains a superior example of Persian and includes the earliest notice to Firdawsī (see author 68) and the only contemporary reference to Hayyām (see author 88).