Born in Rukoh, Banda Aceh, he studied at a state religious teachers' school, then in the Arabic teaching programme of IAIN Ar-Raniry's Tarbiyah Faculty, took a master's at IAIN Ar-Raniry and a doctorate at Universiti Sains Malaysia (2000). He was installed as rector of IAIN Ar-Raniry in August 2009, succeeding Yusny Saby, was re-elected, and became the first rector after the IAIN became UIN Ar-Raniry. He chaired the Al Jam’iyatul Washliyah Aceh regional board until his death in 2021.