# Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi

_16th century Somali Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi
Last updated: 2026-11-05

> Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi was the Imam of the Adal Sultanate from 1527 to 1543. Commonly named ግራኝ አህመድ in Amharic and Gurey in Somali, both meaning "the left-handed", he led the invasion and conquest of Abyssinia from the Sultanate of Adal during the Ethiopian–Adal War. He is often referred to as the "King of Zeila" in medieval texts.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 1506 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Harari Region ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P19))
- **Died:** 21 February 1543 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P570))
- **Place of death:** Bahir Dar ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Somalia ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P27))
- **Occupation:** sovereign; imam ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P106))
- **Spouse:** Bati del Wambara ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P26))
- **Positions held:** Sultan of Harar (1526–1543) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728#P39))

## Questions

**When was Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi born?**  
Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi was born on 1506 in Harari Region.

**What positions has Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi held?**  
Positions held by Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi include: Sultan of Harar (1526–1543).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_ibn_Ibrahim_al-Ghazi) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q335728](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q335728) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Gragne.jpg by Somali government (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gragne.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Gragne.jpg — Somali government, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi". DigiNepal. Last updated 5 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/ahmad-ibn-ibrahim-al-ghazi. Retrieved 7 November 2026.