Persian-language literature is regarded as one of the oldest and richest literary in the world. This body of literature, primarily developed by the peoples of Azerbaijan, Iran, and Central Asia, has undergone a profound and extensive evolution.

One of the least studied and most overlooked branches of Persian literature is Judeo-Persian literature. This genre primarily encompasses Jewish religious texts written in Persian, often drawing upon both Jewish and Islamic sources.

Thematically, works in Judeo-Persian literature vary greatly and exist in both prose and verse. These texts include religious, philosophical, mystical, scientific, literary, autobiographical writings, and translations. They were primarily intended for Jewish communities living in Persian-speaking regions – particularly for those who spoke, but were illiterate in Persian.

The earliest examples of Judeo-Persian writing can be traced back to the 10th century and consist of translations of prayers, midrashic commentaries, and narratives from the Hebrew Bible (“Tanakh”) into Persian. From the 13th century onward, Judeo-Persian literature entered a significant period of development. During this time, some of the most prominent figures of this tradition emerged, including Mawlana Shahin Shirazi, Emrani, Khwaja Bukharai, Benjamin b. Mishael (pen name “Amina”), Elisha b. Samuel (pen name “Raghib”), Aaron b. Mashiah, Yehuda b. Elazar, Babai b. Lutf and his grandson Babai b. Farhad, Shahab Yazdi, Siman Tov Melamed and other Jewish authors of Iranian origin. Through their historical, religious, mystical, and lyrical works, these authors greatly enriched Persian literature.

This article explores the life and literary contributions of Mawlana Shahin Shirazi, the founder and most eminent representative of Judeo-Persian literature. It provides an overview of the date of composition and thematic content of his four extant works: “Musa-namah”, “Ardashir-namah”, “Ezra-namah” and “Bereshit-namah”.