Rights & permissions

Read freely, quote gladly

The Shahnameh on this site is free to read for everyone. We want it read, quoted, taught and talked about. This page explains what you may do without asking, and when to ask first.

Whose words these are

Ferdowsi’s Persian poem, completed around 1010, belongs to everyone. This English translation does not: the translation, notes, glossaries, genealogies, maps, illustrations, banners and the design of this site are © 2026 Farzad and Rhonda Dibachi. All rights reserved.

Publishing the translation here free of charge does not place it in the public domain or grant a license beyond what this page describes.

No need to ask

What you may do freely

Read and shareRead anything here, and link to any page, section or couplet as often as you like.

QuoteQuote up to 25 couplets in a review, article, talk, sermon, essay or post, with the citation below.

TeachShow or print sections for a class or study group, with the citation, at no charge to students.

StudyCite the translation in scholarship and research, and search and analyze it for your own study.

Please ask first

When you need permission

Ask before you republish more than a short quotation, whether on another website, in a book, e-book, anthology, app, audio or video recording, or performance script; before any commercial use; and before reusing the illustrations, maps, banners or genealogical plates.

To ask, write to Editor@newnaqqali.com with what you would like to use and how. We say yes often.

Copies offered for sale without permission, in print or as e-books, infringe the translators’ copyright and will be reported to the seller.

How to cite

Giving credit

Every couplet has an address: book, section and couplet. Tap any couplet number on the site to copy a ready-made citation.

He saw the dragon clearly in the night,And drew his sharpened sword, prepared to fight.Ferdowsi, Shahnameh B5.3.25, tr. Farzad and Rhonda Dibachi (NewNaqqali.com)

Machines

Search engines and AI

Search engines and AI systems are welcome to read this site. When you quote or summarize it, we ask that you name the translators and link to NewNaqqali.com, as any reader would.