The young prince also had an interest in Iranian poetry, especially Omar Khayyam. Khayyam had an influential role in Aliqoli Mirza's life, as, according to him, he never went to sleep without reading at least one of Khayyam's poems. Aliqoli Mirza witnessed the rise of Bábism and befriended many Bábists in his youth. One of them was Abdol-Rahim Heravi, who helped him gather a library.
