Pen Name : 'Khaqani'
Real Name : Afzaaluddin Badil Ibrahim
Khaqani was born in 1126 A.D in the Iranian border region of Shirvan. Some biographers have written his name as Ibrahim but he had changed his name. His father's name was Najibuddin Ali. Khaqani's uncle was a physician and philosopher. He was under his uncle’s tutelage until he was 25 years old. With the help of his uncle Omar, he mastered various sciences and arts and got the title of Hassan-ul-Ajam. He also benefitted greatly from Abulola Ganjvi and married his daughter. He wanted to go to the court of Sultan Sanjar, but the tribulation of the Turks of Ghaz took place. He performed Hajj in 1156 AD and wrote many Na'tia odes. He was imprisoned in 1173 and was released almost a year later and wrote the famous poem Jasia. He wrote over 22000 verses in poetry and wrote a Masnavi titled ‘Tuhfat-ul-Iraqain’, depicting the stories of Hajj. Khaqani didn’t like his father's profession of carpentry. That is why he never went to his father's place of work. He also lived far away from his father. He has emphasized on acquiring knowledge in his poems. Apart from Khaqani literature, he also knew theology, astrology, philosophy, medicine and commentary. Khaqani died in Tabriz in 1198 AH.