Life
Afzal Al-din Badil, pen-named "Khaqani" was born in "Shirvan" in about 1120 and passed away in "Tabriz" in about 1190. [unfortunately non of these two dates are exactly true and it is impossible to assign the exact date according to the available information.]
Undoubtedly Khaqani is one of the most dignified Iranian poets, whose poems have been extracted by many poets. His Poetical Works is one of the most difficult Poetical Works of Iranian poets. Khaqani is less popular than other Iranian poets, because getting enjoyment from his poems and the correct perception of them need a high proficiency in Farsi language and other sciences like: history, astrology , the knowledge of Quran and tradition (Hadith) and also ancient Iranian medical professin which was mainly based on botani and pharmacology. Possibly Khaqani is the only classic Iranian poet whose Poetical Works is a truthful reflection on his real life. Therefore readers become familiar with the poets life, and with the poet from the view point of psychology and sociology of his own time.
When Khaqani was a child his father died, he was fortunate to be brought up by his paternal uncle. He was a doctor and pharmacologist.

Works
Poetical Works and the book "Tohfat-ul Iraqein" (meaning a gift from the Two Iraqs), the two Iraqs being "Persian Iraq" (Western Iran) and Arabic Iraq (Mesopotamia), this book supplies us with a good deal of material for his biography and in which he described his impressions of the Middle East.