The article analyzes the творчество of the 14th-century Azerbaijani poet Arif Ardabili and his work “Farhadnameh”. It provides brief information about the poet’s life and his activities within the courtly environment, and examines the connection of the work to the classical Eastern literary subject of “Farhad and Shirin”. In particular, a comparative analysis is conducted with Alisher Navoi’s “Farhad and Shirin”, written on the same theme, identifying the similarities and differences between the two works. The study considers, on the basis of scholarly arguments, the possibility that Navoi was familiar with Arif Ardabili’s work, and draws attention to the existing contradictions surrounding this issue. The article also addresses the problems of literary influence, plot similarity, and the continuity of classical tradition.