Shaikh Ismail was born in 1259 /1260 AD in Multan and was brought up in under the guidance of his father Shaikh Sadruddin and grand father Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria.
He was initiated into Suharwardi order at the hands of his grand father Shaikh Bahauddin Zakaria and trained by his father and his elder brother Shaikh Ruknuddin Abul Fateh alias Shah Rukn e Alam of Multan.