Fuzuli, son of Mohammad (1494-1556), prominent poet and thinker is a prominent representative of the Azerbaijani poetry. The greatest lyric poet of the Middle East Fuzuli was born in the town of Karbala of Iraq, because his family moved to Baghdad from Azerbaijan.
Fuzuli`s poetry became widely popular not only in Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq and Central Asia, but in Russia and the Western countries as well. A number of his manuscripts are kept and protected in the well-known European museums and libraries.
Fuzuli is the author of perfect rubayyats, gazals and gasidas as "Advice of the father to his son", "Health and Disease", "Opium and Wine", "Conversation of fruits", "Complaint" which were written in Persian and Arabic.
The poem "Leyli and Majnun", Fuzuli`s masterpiece, a rare jewel of the world literature. Fuzuli`s "Leyli and Majnun" differs for its originality from other versions of the plot, written by Nizami Ganjavi, and other Turkish, Persian, Indian, Uzbek and Tajik poets.
The prominent representative of the Azerbaijani renaissance Mohammad Fuzuli has always been in the oriental studies of the world. Hammer Purgital, Braun Rio, Begly, Aibb of Germany, D.Smirnov, A.Krimsky, Y.E.Bertels of Russia have been in the ranks of Fuzuli`s researchers.
YNUESCO declared 1994 the year of Fuzuli, celebrations were held on the occasion of his birthday in many countries.
The Azerbaijan National Bank issued 100 gold and 50 silver coins in national currency dedicated to Fuzuly`s 500th anniversary.
In October 1996, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev issued a decree in conformity which the Institute of Manuscripts was named after Fuzuli.
Uzeyir Hajibayov`s opera "Leyli and Majnun", composer Jahangir Jahangirov`s "Fuzuly" cantata are examples of appreciation of the poet by the Azerbaijani people.
Making a speech in the ceremony of the poet, Heydar Aliyev highly appreciated Fuzuli`s heritage which enriched the world culture.
Historical background was compiled on June 8, 2005