1213day.year

Fakhr-al-Din Iraqi

(1213 - 1289)

Persian poet and philosopher

Persian poet and philosopher
Fakhr-al-Din Iraqi was a Persian Sufi poet and philosopher celebrated for his mystical poetry and metaphysical writings.
Born in 1213 near Hamadan, Iraq, he traveled widely in pursuit of spiritual knowledge and Sufi masters. His magnum opus, Luṭf al-ʿIshq, is an allegorical poem exploring divine love and mystical union. Iraqi’s philosophical treatises merged Neoplatonic thought with Islamic mysticism, influencing later Sufi literature. He studied under the prominent scholar Sadr al-Din al-Qunawi and engaged in debates on theology and metaphysics. His works Safīnat al-Akhbār and Diwān contain rich imagery and reflect his deep devotion to the Prophet Muhammad. He died in 1289 in Damascus, leaving a lasting imprint on Persian-language Sufi poetry.
1213 Fakhr-al-Din Iraqi
1955day.year

Annette Schavan

German theologian and politician

German theologian and politician
German theologian and politician who served as Federal Minister of Education and Research under Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Annette Schavan was born on June 10, 1955, in Leverkusen, West Germany. She earned her doctorate in Catholic theology and began her academic career as a professor. Schavan entered politics with the Christian Democratic Union, serving in the government of Baden-Württemberg as Minister for Culture, Youth, and Sports. In 2005, she was appointed Federal Minister of Education and Research, a position she held until 2013. During her tenure, she championed higher education reforms, research funding, and international academic exchange. After leaving federal office, she served as Germany’s Ambassador to the Holy See. Schavan has been recognized for her contributions to education policy and church-state dialogue.
1955 Annette Schavan