A Persian poet famous for his Qaisdas. Afzal wrote poems under the name of Haqaiqi but changed it to Khaqani after entering the service of the ruler of Shirvan, the Khaqan Manuchehr, from whom he took his pen name. Afzal authored Masnawi (Tuhfat al Iraqayn, which was a description of his travels to Iraq) and Habsiyah (Jail Ballad which was considered one of the best of its kind, after serving a jail sentence). Afzal visited Makkah several times and settled in Tabrez in 1175, spending his last years in writing poems. His style of writing was considered difficult for average reader.