Famous Afghan Men

Vote for Your Favourite Afghan Men

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Rumi
(Persian Poet)
Rumi
62
Birthdate: September 30, 1207
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Balkh, Afghanistan
Died: December 17, 1273

Rumi was a Persian poet and Sufi mystic whose spiritual legacy has been attracting praises for the past 800 years! Often described as the best-selling and most popular poet in the US, Rumi's poems are widely read today in many countries. His poetry has influenced the literary traditions of many languages, such as Pashto, Urdu, Chagatai, and Ottoman Turkish.

 2 
Ahmad Shah Massoud
(Afghan Political Leader and Guerilla Commander Who Served as Minister of Defense of Afghanistan from 1992 to 2001)
Ahmad Shah Massoud
76
Birthdate: September 2, 1953
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bazarak, Afghanistan
Died: September 9, 2001

Ahmad Shah Massoud was an Afghan military commander and politician. From 1979 to 1989, he played an important role in the Soviet-Afghan War, where he served as a powerful guerrilla commander. He was nicknamed Lion of Panjshir for his role in the war. Massoud was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001. His death anniversary is observed as a national holiday in Afghanistan.

 3 
Mahmud of Ghazni
(Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire from 998 to 1030)
Mahmud of Ghazni
35
Birthdate: November 2, 0971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Ghazni, Afghanistan
Died: April 30, 1030

Mahmud of Ghazni was the sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire on two separate occasions. He first ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Mahmud, in 1030. However, he was soon overthrown by his twin brother Ma'sud I. Years later, he was reinstated as sultan but was soon executed by his nephew Maw'dud. His entire family was also killed. 

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Muhammad of Ghor
(King)
Muhammad of Ghor
19
Birthdate: 1149 AD
Birthplace: Ghor, Afghanistan
Died: March 15, 1206

Muhammad of Ghor of the Ghurid Empire went down in history as the man who established Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent and set the tone for the upcoming Mughal dynasty. He ruled over a vast area, which included India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, among others, along with his brother, Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad.

 5 
Ahmad Shah Durrani
(1st Emir of the Durrani Empire from 1747 to 1772)
Ahmad Shah Durrani
19
Birthdate: 1722 AD
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: June 4, 1772
Ahmad Shah Durrani reigned as the first Emir of the Durrani Empire from 1747 to 1772. Credited with founding the Durrani Empire, Ahmad Shah is also considered the founder of modern Afghanistan. The Durrani Empire thrived under Ahmad Shah's reign and he was succeeded by his son Timur Shah Durrani.
 6 
Mohammad Najibullah
(2nd President of Afghanistan)
Mohammad Najibullah
39
Birthdate: August 6, 1947
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Gardez, Afghanistan
Died: September 27, 1996

Mohammad Najibullah was an Afghan politician. From 1987 to 1992, he served as the president of Afghanistan before resigning in 1992. Throughout his tenure as president and leader of Afghanistan, Najibullah preferred nationalism over socialism, abolished the one-party state, and made Islam an official religion. In 1996, he was publicly hanged by the Taliban after they captured Kabul.

Recommended Lists:
 7 
Muḥammad Shah
(13th Mughal Emperor Who Reigned from 1719 to 1748)
Muḥammad Shah
7
Birthdate: August 7, 1702
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ghaznī, Afghanistan
Died: April 6, 1748
Muhammad Shah reigned as the 13th Mughal Emperor from 27 September 1719 to 26 April 1748. A patron of music and other forms of art, Shah also encouraged cultural and scientific developments during his reign. Muhammad Shah's reign also marked the decline of the great Mughal Empire.
 8 
Mohammed Zahir Shah
(King of Afghanistan from 1933 to 1973)
Mohammed Zahir Shah
20
Birthdate: October 15, 1914
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: July 23, 2007

Mohammed Zahir Shah was the last king of Afghanistan, in power from 1933 until he was deposed in 1973. During his reign, he focused on modernizing the economy, improving Afghanistan’s relations with other countries, and creating a new constitution. Following his deposition, he remained in exile for many years before returning to Afghanistan.

 9 
Rashid Khan
(One of the Eleven Cricketers to Play in Afghanistan's First Ever Test Match)
Rashid Khan
22
Birthdate: September 20, 1998
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Rashid Khan is an Afghan professional cricket player. Over the years, he has been instrumental in the success of the Afghanistan men's national team and is credited with popularizing cricket in Afghanistan. Widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in twenty20 cricket, Rashid Khan was adjudged the 'ICC Men's T20I Player of the Decade' in 2020.

 10 
Al-Farabi
(Philosopher)
Al-Farabi
5
Birthdate: 0872 AD
Birthplace: Farab
Died: 0950 AD

Al-Farabi was an early Islamic philosopher who explored various fields, such as metaphysics, political philosophy, logic, and ethics. A multi-talented man, Al-Farabi was also a jurist, mathematician, cosmologist, scientist, and music theorist. Al-Farabi is credited with influencing other important philosophers like Moses ben Maimon and Ibn Sina. His work made him famous in the East as well as the West.

 11 
Amānullāh Khān
(King of Afghanistan from 1926 to 1929)
Amānullāh Khān
20
Birthdate: June 1, 1892
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paghman, Afghanistan
Died: April 25, 1960
Amānullāh Khān reigned as the Emir of Afghanistan from 28 February 1919 to 9 June 1926. He then went on to rule as the King of Afghanistan from 9 June 1926 to 14 January 1929. Amanullah Khan's reign was marked by dramatic social and political change. His attempts to modernize Afghanistan failed due to a revolt by Habibullah Kalakani.
 12 
Mohammad Nabi
(Afghan Cricketer and Former Captain)
Mohammad Nabi
9
Birthdate: January 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Logar, Afghanistan
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 13 
Mujeeb Zadran
(Afghan Cricketer)
Mujeeb Zadran
10
Birthdate: March 28, 2001
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Khost, Afghanistan
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 14 
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
(Sufi Saint and Poet)
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar
2
Birthdate: 1177 AD
Birthplace: Marand, Iran
Died: February 19, 1274

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was a Sufi poet and saint of present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. Revered by the Sindhi population, Shahbaz is credited with helping many people convert to Islam. A profound scholar of religions, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is viewed as a holy figure in Sindh as it is believed that he performed many miracles during his time.

 15 
Hafizullah Amin
(Former Foreign Minister of Afghanistan)
Hafizullah Amin
11
Birthdate: August 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paghman, Afghanistan
Died: December 27, 1979
Hafizullah Amin was an Afghan politician, teacher, and communist revolutionary. He is credited with co-founding the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. He is best remembered for his service as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1 May 1978 to 28 July 1979. An influential politician, Hafizullah Amin also served as the Minister of National Defence in 1979.
Recommended Lists:
 16 
Mohammed Daoud Khan
(1st President of Afghanistan)
Mohammed Daoud Khan
11
Birthdate: July 18, 1909
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kabul
Died: April 28, 1978
Mohammed Daoud Khan was an Afghan general and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963. He also served as the first President of Afghanistan from 17 July 1973 to 28 April 1978. Mohammed Daoud Khan helped overthrow the monarchy in Afghanistan as he led the 1973 Afghan coup d'état.
 17 
Mohammed Nadir Shah
(King of Afghanistan from 1929 to 1933)
Mohammed Nadir Shah
9
Birthdate: April 9, 1883
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Died: November 8, 1933
Mohammed Nadir Shah reigned as the King of Afghanistan from 1929 until his murder in 1933. Prior to his role as the king of Afghanistan, Nadir Khan served as Minister of War and as a general in the Armed Forces of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. He was also a diplomat and served as the Afghan Ambassador to France.
 18 
Abdur Rahman Khan
(Emir of Afghanistan from 1880 to 1901)
Abdur Rahman Khan
8
Birthdate: 1844 AD
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: October 1, 1901
Abdur Rahman Khan reigned as the Emir of Afghanistan from 31 May 1880 until his demise on 1 October 1901. He is credited with uniting Afghanistan after years of internal fighting. The greatest Afghan military genius of all time, Abdur Rahman Khan fought more than 40 rebellions throughout his rule. 
 19 
Ahmad Zahir
(Singer)
Ahmad Zahir
10
Birthdate: June 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: June 14, 1979
 20 
Asghar Stanikzai
(Former Afghan Cricketer and Former Captain of the Afghanistan National Cricket Team)
Asghar Stanikzai
5
Birthdate: December 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 21 
Jami
(Persian Sunni Poet and Scholar)
Jami
1
Birthdate: November 7, 1414
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Greater Khorasan
Died: November 9, 1492
Jami was a Persian poet best remembered for his achievements as a writer and scholar of mystical Sufi literature. A prominent poet-theologian, Jami was respected and revered for his piety and mysticism. He is also remembered for his analysis and explanation of the metaphysics of mercy. Some of his most popular poetic works are Tuhfat al-Ahrar, Fatihat al-Shabab, and Lawa'ih.
 22 
Naveen-ul-Haq
(Afghan Cricketer)
Naveen-ul-Haq
2
Birthdate: September 23, 1999
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 23 
Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan
(Head of the House of Barakzai)
Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan
3
Birthdate: September 23, 1934
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Ahmad Shah Khan, Crown Prince of Afghanistan is the second son of the former King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah. He was the Crown Prince of Afghanistan from 26 November 1942 to 17 July 1973. After his father's demise in 2007, Ahmad Shah Khan became the Head of the House of Barakzai.
 24 
Sabuktigin
(The Founder of the Ghaznavid Dynasty)
Sabuktigin
2
Birthdate: 0942 AD
Birthplace: Barskhan, Afghanistan
Died: August 5, 0997
Sebüktigin reigned as the Emir of Ghazna from 20 April 977 to 5 August 997 after founding the Ghaznavid dynasty in 977. He expanded his kingdom as far as the Indus River in Pakistan and the Neelum River in Kashmir. Sebüktigin is considered the architect of the Ghaznavid Empire.
 25 
Abu Sa'id Mirza
(Timurid Ruler & the Grandfather of the Mughal Ruler Babur)
Abu Sa'id Mirza
1
Birthdate: 1424 AD
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: February 8, 1469

Mid-15th-century Timurid Empire ruler Abu Sa'id Mirza was the paternal grandfather of Babur, who later established the Mughal empire in India. He had multiple encounters with Timurid princes and went to war with the kingdom of Aq Qoyunlu. He succeeded in reuniting much of the Timurid empire.

 26 
Habibullah Khan
(Emir of Afghanistan from 1901 to 1919)
Habibullah Khan
5
Birthdate: June 3, 1872
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Died: February 20, 1919
Habibullah Khan reigned as the Emir of Afghanistan from 1 October 1901 until his demise on 20 February 1919. A reform-minded ruler, Habibullah aimed at modernizing his country and worked towards bringing modern medicine and technology into Afghanistan. He also founded a military academy and the Habibia School in 1903.
 27 
Babrak Karmal
(Afghan Politician, Revolutionary and General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan)
Babrak Karmal
12
Birthdate: January 6, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kamari, Kabul Province, Afghanistan
Died: December 3, 1996
Babrak Karmal was an Afghan politician and revolutionary. He is best remembered for his role as the General Secretary of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan from 27 December 1979 to 4 May 1986. Babrak Karmal also served as the Chairman of the Revolutionary Council and as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers between 1979 and 1986.
 28 
Demetrius I of Bactria
(Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek King)
Demetrius I of Bactria
1
Birthdate: 0222 BC
Birthplace: Bactria, Afghanistan
Died: 0180 BC
Demetrius I of Bactria was a Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek king. He reigned as the king of Bactria as well as the Indo-Greek king from 200 to 180 BC. He conquered extensive areas in present-day Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Iran. Demetrius I of Bactria remained undefeated in battles, which earned him the nickname, the Invincible. 
 29 
Ashraf Ghani
(5th President of Afghanistan (2014 - 2021))
Ashraf Ghani
69
Birthdate: May 19, 1949
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Logar, Afghanistan

Afghan politician, academic, and economist Ashraf Ghani is currently serving as the president of Afghanistan. This is his second term. Previously, he held the office of minister of finance. Prior to joining politics, he was a professor of anthropology at numerous institutions. He is also one of the co-founders of the NGO the Institute for State Effectiveness.

 30 
Rohullah Nikpai
(Taekwondo practitioner)
Rohullah Nikpai
2
Birthdate: June 15, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Wardak, Afghanistan
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 31 
Hamid Karzai
(Former President of Afghanistan)
Hamid Karzai
32
Birthdate: December 24, 1957
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Karz
While he initially fought with the mujahideen in the Afghan War against the Soviets and later served as the deputy foreign minister, Hamid Karzai resigned in the wake of internal issues and the rise of the Taliban. Following the US-led mission against the Taliban, he became the Afghan president. 
 32 
Abdul Ahad Mohmand
(Aviator)
Abdul Ahad Mohmand
2
Birthdate: January 1, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
 33 
Burhanuddin Rabbani
(Former President of Afghanistan)
Burhanuddin Rabbani
17
Birthdate: September 20, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Badakhshan, Afghanistan
Died: September 20, 2011
Burhanuddin Rabbani was an Afghan teacher and politician. He is best remembered for his service as the third President of Afghanistan from 28 June 1992 to 22 December 2001. His presidency was disputed by Mullah Omar from 27 September 1996 to 13 November 2001. Burhanuddin Rabbani was murdered by a suicide bomber on 20 September 2011. 
 34 
Abdullah Abdullah
(Chief Executive of Afghanistan from September 2014 to March 2020)
Abdullah Abdullah
20
Birthdate: September 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kabul
Abdullah Abdullah is an Afghan politician who was serving as the Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation when the Afghan government was toppled by Taliban in 2021. A prominent politician, Abdullah Abdullah also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 22 December 2001 to 20 April 2005.
 35 
Shah Shujah Durrani
(Emir of the Durrani Empire)
Shah Shujah Durrani
4
Birthdate: November 4, 1785
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Unknown
Died: April 5, 1842
Shah Shujah Durrani reigned as the Emir of the Durrani Empire on two separate occasions; from 13 July 1803 to 3 May 1809 and again from 7 August 1839 until his demise on 5 April 1842. Shujah was notorious for his cruelty; he would have his courtiers mutilated by removing their noses, ears, testicles, and tongues when they displeased him.
 36 
Zekeria Ebrahimi
(Actor)
Zekeria Ebrahimi
3
Birthdate: January 9, 1996
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Afghanistan
 37 
Salim Durani
(Former Indian Cricketer Who Played in 29 Tests from 1960 to 1973)
Salim Durani
1
Birthdate: December 11, 1934
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: April 2, 2023
 38 
Nur Muhammad Taraki
(One of the Founding Members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan)
Nur Muhammad Taraki
9
Birthdate: July 14, 1917
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nawa, Ghazni, Emirate of Afghanistan
Died: October 9, 1979
Nur Muhammad Taraki was an Afghan politician, revolutionary, journalist, and writer. One of the founding members of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, Taraki served as the party's General Secretary from 1 January 1965 to 14 September 1979. An important politician, Nur Muhammad Taraki also served as the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Afghanistan from 1978 to 1979.
 39 
Mohammad Shahzad
(Afghan Cricketer Who Plays as a Wicketkeeper)
Mohammad Shahzad
10
Birthdate: January 10, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jalalabad, Afghanistan
 40 
Dost Mohammad Khan
(Emir of Afghanistan from 1826 to 1863)
Dost Mohammad Khan
6
Birthdate: December 23, 1793
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kandahar
Died: June 9, 1863
Dost Mohammad Khan reigned as the Emir of Afghanistan from 1826 to 1863. His rule played an important role in the creation of present-day Afghanistan. Dost Mohammad Khan defeated the British in the First Anglo-Afghan War and secured Afghanistan's independence from foreign powers. He is also credited with reuniting Afghanistan after it had split into multiple principalities. 
 41 
Farhad Darya
(Singer)
Farhad Darya
5
Birthdate: September 22, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
 42 
Saif al-Adel
(Al-Qaeda)
Saif al-Adel
8
Birthdate: April 11, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Menofia Governorate, Egypt
 43 
Muhammad Adil Shah
(Ruler of Bijapur Who Helped the Mughals Fight the Ahmednagar Sultanate)
Muhammad Adil Shah
0
Birthplace: Afghan
Died: 1557 AD

The 17th-century ruler of Bijapur, Muhammad Adil Shah is known for helping the Mughals fight the Ahmednagar Sultanate. He is believed to have built the Gol Gumbaz, a structure with the second-largest tomb in the world, as a mausoleum for himself, and was buried in it.

 44 
Zubayr Amiri
(Afghan Professional Footballer)
Zubayr Amiri
5
Birthdate: May 2, 1990
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 45 
Yaʿqūb ibn Layth al-Ṣaffār
(Iranian Coppersmith Who Established the Saffarid Dynasty of Sistan)
Yaʿqūb ibn Layth al-Ṣaffār
1
Birthdate: October 25, 0840
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Zaranj, Afghanistan
Died: June 5, 0879

A 9th-century Iranian coppersmith, Yaʿqūb ibn Layth al-Ṣaffār established the Saffarid dynasty of Sistan. He once almost captured Baghdad. His dynasty also witnessed a revival of the Persian language after it was overshadowed by Arabic for a long time. He remains to be a popular Iranian folk hero.

 46 
Sibghatullah Mojaddedi
(Former President of Afghanistan)
Sibghatullah Mojaddedi
6
Birthdate: September 27, 1926
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: February 11, 2019
Sibghatullah Mojaddedi was an Afghan politician best remembered for his service as the Acting President of Afghanistan in 1992. He also served as the Speaker of the House of Elders from December 2005 to January 2011. Sibghatullah Mojaddedi is credited with founding the Afghan National Liberation Front.
 47 
Muin al-Din Chishti
(Persian Sunni Muslim preacher and Sayyid)
Muin al-Din Chishti
0
Birthdate: February 1, 1143
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Herat, Ghaznavid Empire
Died: March 15, 1236
 48 
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani
(Activist)
Jamal al-Din al-Afghani
15
Birthdate: 1838 AD
Birthplace: Asadabad
Died: March 9, 1897

Jamal al-Din al-Afghani was an Islamic ideologist and political activist who traveled across the Muslim world in late-19th century. A fierce advocate of Hindu–Muslim unity in India and Pan-Islamic unity in Europe, Al-Afghani is credited with co-founding Islamic Modernism. Many educational institutions, hospitals, and roads in Afghanistan are named in his honor.

 49 
Khalil Sultan
(Amir of the Timurid Empire from 1405 to 1409)
Khalil Sultan
2
Birthdate: September 14, 1384
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: November 4, 1411
Khalil Sultan reigned as the Amir of the Timurid Empire from 1405 to 1409. The grandson of the Turco-Mongol conqueror, Timur, Khalil declared himself as Timur's successor after Timur's death in 1405. Khalil Sultan was succeeded by Shahrukh Mirza, who took over his kingdom in 1409. 
 50 
Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada
(Child actor)
Ahmad Khan Mahmoodzada
2
Birthdate: December 23, 1997
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan