"Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam, Rendered into English Verse by Omar Khayyam" is a translation published in 1859 by Edward FitzGerald of Persian quatrains attributed to the medieval astronomer-poet Omar Khayyam. Initially unsuccessful, the work gained immense popularity throughout the English-speaking world, inspiring countless editions and Omar Khayyam clubs. The poems sparked enduring debate about their true meaning: were they expressions of religious skepticism and Epicurean philosophy, or mystical Sufi verses misunderstood by the translator? The authenticity of the original Persian quatrains themselves remains uncertain. (This is an automatically generated summary.)