Tofig Mahmud was born on November 6, 1931, in Shahbuz District of Nakhichevan ASSR.

He started his career as a methodologist of the methodical cabinet in the Department of Cultural and Educational Institutions of the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan (1954), then he became a special correspondent in the editorial office of the "Azerbaijan muallimi" newspaper (1958–1961), and a literary worker in the editorial office of the "Goyarchin" magazine (1961).

He was the chairman of the Baku branch of the Children's Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and a member of the advisory board (since 1989).

He was elected the chairman of the children's and youth literature council of the Union of Azerbaijani Writers, a member of the children's and youth literature council of the Union of Soviet Writers.

[3] "Tofiq Mahmud Award" (presented annually to the authors of the best children's poems) was established in the poet's name.