He was born in the village of Serçete near Ilam to a Shia[5] Kurdish family who belonged to the Arkavazi[6] tribe.
Arkawazi grew up speaking Feyli but also knew Gorani since it was the literary and administrative language of the Pish-e Kuh region.
He moved to Najaf for his studies and documents indicate that he was well-versed in contemporary theological and mystical disciplines.
[7] Arkawazi had a son named Ahmad Khan and known as Kelwelay who died young from a snake bite.
[5] Despite being from an aristocratic background, the poetry of Arkawazi concerned itself more with the lower classes of Kurdish society.