Sir Shah Mohammed Sulaiman was born on 3 February 1886 and received his early education at Jaunpur and at Muir college, Allahabad. He had been an exceptionally brilliant student and topped the list of successful candidates at the graduation examination of the Allahabad University.
In 1906, he was awarded a State European Scholarship by the Government and proceeded to England for higher studies at the Christ’s College, Cambridge and the Trinity College. He was called to the Bar and obtained his LL.D. from Dublin. He returned to India in 1911.
On his return from England, Shah Mohammed Sulaiman joined the Allahabad Bar. Owing to his highly impressive performance at the Bar, he was offered a seat at the Bench in 1920 at the age of 34 and was made a permanent Judge of the Allahabad High Court in 1923. He was soon appointed the first Indian Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.

Despite his engrossing life both as a Judge and as a Lawyer Shah Sulaiman took very keen interest in educational matters and did a lot for the education of his countrymen. He was a member of the courts and other committees of the Universities of Allahabad, Aligarh, and Delhi. He was invited to deliver the Convocation Address at the Universities of Dhaka, Aligarh, Osmania and Agra.

He took over as Honorary Vice Chancellor of A.M.U. in 1929. He held this office thrice and the total period was about four years. He used to come to Aligarh on every Sunday or whenever the Federal Court was closed and never spent any money from the University treasury on his own self. He loved the students like his own children and was easily accessible to everyone.

Sulaiman Hall is a tribute to this great personality. Sulaiman Hall was established in 1945, when Sir Ziauddin was University’s Vice-Chancellor. Following are its hostels :
* Agha Khan House
* Jaikishan House
* Bhopal House
* Hasrat Mohani House
* Kashmir House
* Qidwai House
* Mahamoodabad House