Afghanistan, a landlocked country between South and Central Asia, is amongst the largest and populous countries of the world. With a history dating back to the Middle Paleolithic Era, Afghanistan has since then been home to multiple cultures, traditions, ethnicity and military campaigns. Its strategic location as a crossroads helped this Islamic country build up a multi-ethnic society that has people from diverse cultures and background. The ancient Afghanistan’s turn to modernization began during the 18th century. Afghanistan boasts of a long list of peope who have put in their bit to build a nation rich in culture and heritage. Right from Hamid Karzai who served as the first President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Fatema Akbari who founded the Gulistan Sasaqat Company, the list is endless. Abdul Ahad Mohmand, an astronaut, was the first Afghan and the fourth Muslim to travel in the outer space. In the field of administrative work too, Afghans made a name for themselves. Mohammad Humayon Qayoumi, once the President of San Jose State University, today serves as the Chief Adviser on Infrastructure and technology to the President of Afghanistan. This section provides you details about the life and works of famous Afghans.
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Famous As: Persian Poet
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.
Famous As: Minister of Defense of Afghanistan (1992-2001)
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.
Famous As: Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire (998-1030)
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.
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Famous As: Actress
Birthdate: August 21, 1989
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Afghan-American actress Annet Mahendru is best known for her role in the FX period drama series The Americans. Born in Afghanistan, she moved to USA as a young woman and studied improv at The Groundlings. She began acting by taking up small roles in TV shows. Since her debut, she has acted in many films and TV shows.
Famous As: King
Birthdate: 1722 AD
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: October 16, 1772
Famous As: Novelist
Birthdate: March 4, 1965
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Famous As: King
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.
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Famous As: King of Afghanistan (1933-73)
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.
Famous As: President of Afghanistan (1987-92)
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.
Famous As: Philosopher
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.
Famous As: Mughal emperor
Birthdate: August 7, 1702
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ghaznī, Afghanistan
Died: April 6, 1748
Famous As: Sovereign
Birthdate: June 1, 1892
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paghman
Died: April 25, 1960
Famous As: Cricketer
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.
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: August 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paghman
Died: December 27, 1979
Famous As: Association football player
Birthdate: January 2, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Famous As: Afghan cricketer
Birthdate: March 28, 2001
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Khost
Famous As: Cricketer
Birthdate: January 1, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Logar Province
Famous As: Politician, Diplomat
Birthdate: July 18, 1909
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kabul
Died: April 28, 1978
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: January 6, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kabul , Afghanistan
Died: December 3, 1996
Famous As: Chief wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir
Birthdate: 1577 AD
Birthplace: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Died: December 17, 1645
Famous As: Arshi joined the Indian National Congress party to contest the 2019 elections for Mumbai
Birthdate: November 29, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Afghanistan
Famous As: Diplomat
Birthdate: April 9, 1883
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dehradun
Died: November 9, 1933
Famous As: Afghan cricketer
Birthdate: February 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kabul
Famous As: Singer
Birthdate: June 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Died: June 14, 1979
Famous As: Poet
Birthdate: November 7, 1414
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Greater Khorasan
Died: November 9, 1492
Famous As: Ruler of the Timurid Empire
Birthdate: 1424 AD
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: February 8, 1469
Famous As: King
Birthdate: September 23, 1934
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Famous As: Actress
Birthdate: November 17, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kabul, Afghanistan
Famous As: King
Birthdate: 0942 AD
Birthplace: Barskhan, Afghanistan
Died: August 5, 0997
Famous As: Former President of Afghanistan
Birthdate: 1926 AD
Birthplace: Kabul
Famous As: Cricketer - Wicket-keeper-batsman
Birthdate: January 10, 1988
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jalalabad, Afghanistan
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: June 3, 1872
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Tashkent
Died: February 20, 1919
Famous As: 2nd and Last President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
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.
Famous As: King
Birthdate: 0222 AD
Birthplace: Bactria, Afghanistan
Died: 0180 AD
Famous As: Former President of Afghanistan
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.
Famous As: Empress
Birthdate: May 31, 1577
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Died: December 18, 1645
Nur Jahan was the chief consort of Mughal emperor Jahangir. She reigned as Badshah Begum of the empire from 1620 to 1627. Nur Jahan is often credited with influencing Jahangir's decisions for much of his reign. She is also remembered for her strength and courage and her skills in hunting ferocious tigers. Her life has inspired many books and movies.
Famous As: Rapper
Birthdate: 1996 AD
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Famous As: Aviator
Birthdate: January 1, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Famous As: Persian Sunni Muslim preacher and Sayyid
Birthdate: February 1, 1143
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Herat, Ghaznavid Empire
Died: March 15, 1236
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: 1970 AD
Birthplace: Kandahar
Famous As: Activist, Politician
Birthdate: 1992 AD
Birthplace: Paktia, Afghanistan
Famous As: Former politician who currently works as a Lieferando delivery man in Leipzig
Birthdate: 1971 AD
Birthplace: Afghanistan
Famous As: Politician, Ophthalmologist, Diplomat
Birthdate: September 5, 1960
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kabul
Famous As: Poet
Birthdate: 1080 AD
Birthplace: Ghazni, Afghanistan
Died: 1131 AD
Sanai was a Persian poet whose magnum opus The Walled Garden of Truth is considered the first mystical epic of Sufism in the Persian language. The book expresses Sanai's ideas on God, philosophy, love, and reason. His poetry had a major influence on Persian literature. Sanai’s work also inspired several celebrated poets like Rumi.
Famous As: Monarch
Birthdate: September 14, 1384
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Herat, Afghanistan
Died: November 4, 1411
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: July 15, 1917
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Nawa, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
Died: October 8, 1979
Famous As: First wife of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan
Birthdate: 1593 AD
Birthplace: Kandahar, Afghanistan
Famous As: Politician, Educationist, University teacher
Birthdate: September 20, 1940
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Badakhshan Province
Died: September 20, 2011
Famous As: Taekwondo practitioner
Birthdate: June 15, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Wardak, Afghanistan
Famous As: Singer
Birthdate: December 7, 1985
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kabul