Nizami is especially remembered for being a "people's poet;" he seems to have routinely shunned opportunities to be a court poet, a considerably prestigious post at the time, which would have brought significant wealth and political influence.  Nizami's poetry reflects the concerns of many of the people of his times: virtue, man's destiny, love and passion.  His epic Layla and Majnun is interpreted by Sufi mystics as being a parable for the seeker's union with God the beloved.

 Today, Nizami is best known for his Khamseh, or five lengthy epic poems.  These works, together with what remains of his lyrical poems, have made him a very influential figure in the Near East, Europe and into Russia.

Nizami's tomb in Azerbaijan