Sufi Anwar Ali Shah was born on Wednesday in 1906, corresponding to the 11th of Muharram in the year 1224 of the Hijri calendar. He was born in the house of Makhdoom Syed Khuda Bux Shah, located in Jahanpur, Ghotki. Originally, his family belonged to Sibi, Balochistan, but later they settled in Jahanpur, Ghotki.

Anwar Shah's father passed away when he was still young, and his uncle, Hafiz Bhader Ali Shah, a renowned religious scholar of his time, took guardianship of Anwar Ali Shah. He attended both a madrasa and later a school, but due to his singular focus, he lacked interest in formal education. Anwar Shah was proficient in Sindhi, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Saraiki, Balochi, Arabic, and Marwari languages.

At the age of 30, he married and had four children. Anwar Shah's poetry transcends various languages, encompassing forms such as Ghazal, Kafi, Bait, Duhira, Vai, Chosta, and Masdus. His poetic oeuvre carries messages of peace, love, and humanity.

Anwar Shah passed away at the age of 55. His health declined during a journey to Sadiqabad, Punjab, on a horse-drawn carriage, where he ultimately breathed his last on July 5, 1961. He rests in peace at Dargah Aliya Jhanpur Sharif.