Character · The Shahnameh · Volume II

Khizrخضر

KHEZR

The prophet who guides Iskandar toward the Fount of Life and reaches it alone.

In the poem: First at D5.29, Iskandar Seeks the Fount of Life
Named: 3 times, in 1 section
Main stories: D5 The Iskandar Cycle (3)

How we draw Khizr

The identity sheet the illustrator works from. Tap to open full size. More in the Art section.

Khizr, identity sheet: Elder guide (ageless) — **Elder guide (ageless)**

In the poem’s own words

The 1 section that name Khizr most often, with the summary from the Notes and the couplets that name Khizr. Tap a couplet number to read it in the full poem.

D5.29

Iskandar Seeks the Fount of Life

Iskandar watches the sun sink into the sea, then enters the darkness with Khizr as guide. At a fork he loses him; Khizr finds the Fount of Life and drinks. Iskandar reaches only a shining mountain, where green birds question him and Israfil warns him to prepare for the end.

D5.29.30
Khizr, the counselor of that noble band,Its foremost chief, would guide his searching hand.
D5.29.40
At every stage, when Khizr led his train,He left all kinds of food upon the plain.
D5.29.42
Upon the third, the roadway forked ahead;The Shah took one, Khizr chose the other instead.