Abu Mansur Muhammad ibn Ahmad Daqiqi's name may not appear as important as the names of Rudaki, Farrukhi, or Firdowsi, but that in no way decreases the high esteem that he deservedly evokes in Persian literary circles. He is the first to versify the account of the kingship of Gushtasp, Gushtasp's acceptance of the Zoroastrian religion, and Gushtasp's altercations with Arjasp. More importantly, Firdowsi completed Daqiqi's unfinished work and therein lies Daqiqi's mastery in the epic genre.

The word "daqiq" has two meanings in Arabic. It can mean "flour," in which case the name of the poet would mean flour dealer, an unlikely penname for a young poet who worked at the court of the Chaghaniyan. The other meaning is "exact," a more likely interpretation given the fact that Daqiqi was well-known for his scrutiny of the meaning and the pronunciation of poetic forms.

There is very little information on either Daqiqi's birthplace or the formative years of his life. The cities of Balkh, Tus, Samarqand, and Bukhara are all mentioned as possible places of birth for him. The situation with his religious affiliation is not as complicated. According to his own poetry we can posit that he was devoted to the Zoroastrian faith:

"Of all that's good or evil in the world
four things suffice to meet Daqiqi's need.
The ruby-coloured lip, the harp's lament,
the blood-red wine, and Zoroster's creed."

Daqiqi has a very high place in Persian literature. His poetry, at least what remains of it, is stylistically well-constructed and aesthetically pleasing. In essence, a younger poet, but skilled in the art of the qasida (ode), ghazal, (sonnet), and qit'a (stanza), he promoted and, eventually established Rudaki's simple style also known as the Khurasani style of poetry.