Abu Talib bin Ahmad bin Muhammad was a travelling Ba Alawi scholar born at Mariyah in Hadramawt. According to Al-Mashra al-Rawi, he studied the religious sciences, Arabic and literature before leaving Hadramawt in search of further learning.
He travelled first through coastal regions and then to India, where he studied with local scholars and later taught publicly in the circle of a learned ruler. The source singles out his knowledge of inheritance calculation, arithmetic and literature and also credits him with poetry and polished prose.
After a period of teaching in India, Abu Talib turned more strongly toward worship and the spiritual path. On his return journey toward Hadramawt, his party reached Oman, where he remained until his death in 1055 AH and was buried.
Lineage and source note
Primary source: Al-Mashra al-Rawi fi Manaqib al-Sada al-Kiram Al Abi Alawi, volume 2, biography of Abu Talib bin Ahmad bin Muhammad Ba Alawi. It records his Hadrami origin, studies, travels, teaching in India, scholarly interests, later devotional life and death in Oman in 1055 AH.