His mother was a slave (who was freed upon his birth; manyZanzibar Sultans were sons of slave women). His father was the settler king and first Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Said (Said bin Sultan).
Mama yake alikuwa mtumwa (aliyewachwa huru kwa kuzaliwa yeye), Sultani wengi wa Zanzibar walikuwa watoto wa wanawake watumwa.