mazrui was born on 24 february 1933 in mombasa, kenya colony. he was the son of al-amin bin ali mazrui, the chief islamic judge in kadhi courts of kenya colony. his father was also a scholar and author, and one of his books has been translated into english by hamza yusuf as "the content of character", to which ali supplied a foreword. the mazrui family was a historically wealthy and important family in kenya, having previously been the rulers of mombasa. ali's father was the chief kadhi of kenya, the highest authority on islamic law. mazrui credited his father for instilling in him the urge for intellectual debate, as his father not only participated in court proceedings but also was a renowned pamphleteer and public debater. mazrui would, from a young age, accompany his father to court and listen in on his political and moral debates.