In 1935 he graduated from the All-Union Institute of Communist Journalism.

In 1944-1946 he was the 2nd Secretary, in 1946-1956 he was the 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan.

Member of the Central Committee of the CPSU (1952-1961), deputy of the USSR Armed Forces (1946-1962, 1966-1970).

Since 1956, Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Moscow.

The name of Gafurov is associated with the revitalization of the Institute, which has become the leading center of East science. The author of works on the history of Tajikistan, including the fundamental monograph “Tajiks” (1972). Awarded wi 6 orders of Lenin.