The third session of “Saadi-Reading”, presented by Abdoljabbar Kakaei and attended by enthusiasts of Persian literature, was held on the afternoon of Sunday, 23 Azar 1404 (December 14, 2025), at the Science Café of Baghe Ketab Tehran.
At the beginning of the session, referring to the significance of the elements of water and sunlight in Persian literature, Iranian architecture, and the intellectual heritage of Iranians, Kakaei stated that Yalda Night symbolizes the birth of the sun and has always held a special place in Iranian culture, with numerous works written on this theme.
He then recited a ghazal by Rumi for the audience and proceeded to explain and analyze its concepts.
Descriptions in Saadi’s Works Are Purposeful
Kakaei went on to recite a passage from the chapter “Beneficence” in Saadi’s Bustan and discussed the narrative and artistic structure of the work. He noted that the descriptions in Bustan are purposeful, and that Saadi uses description in proportion to the situation and in the service of meaning.
This poet and literary researcher added that Saadi skillfully creates suspense in his anecdotes. For this reason, reading Saadi’s works is recommended to those interested in writing, as Saadi stands out as an exemplary model in the creation of artistic works.
Referring to the element of surprise in the verses of Bustan, Kakaei emphasized that the effective use of surprise—one of the distinctive features of Saadi’s works—is clearly evident in the structure of Bustan’s anecdotes and enhances the impact of the narrative. He then recited a story about the ethics of kings and their conduct toward their subjects.
Eloquence Is One of Saadi’s Miracles
In another part of his remarks, Kakaei pointed to Saadi’s indirect method of giving advice, stating that Saadi is always concerned with reforming affairs and pursues this goal through fluent prose and a narrative style.
He also recited another anecdote in this context, emphasizing the eloquence and persuasive power of Saadi’s speech as one of the miraculous aspects of his works.
The session concluded with a reading of a story from the Maqalat-e Shams (Discourses of Shams).
