Saʿdī gathered material for the Būstān during his travels (see Kulliyyāt, 1977 ed., 205), some parts of the book being written before his return to Shīrāz. The work was completed in 655/1257, ‘on a blessed day between two feasts’ (Kulliyyāt, 1977 ed., 205); apparently, a reference to the ʿĪd al-Fiṭr and ʿĪd al-Aḍḥā (Saʿdī, Būstān, ed. Yūsufī, annotation, 219). Saʿdī dedicated the work to the Salghurid atābak of Fārs, Abū Bakr b. Saʿd b. Zangī (r. 623–658/1…