He was born in Harran. His real name is Sheikh Yahya Hayat b. Abdulaziz. He was known as Hayat el-Harrani. He is an important personality who has a miracle worker whose influence continued after his death. The sultans who were his contemporaries definitely visited the Hz. Sheikh, were honored to meet him and received his blessings.  Selahatin-i Ayyubî, the ruler of Aleppo and the conqueror of Urfa Nureddin Mahmud Zengi are important commanders of the Islamic conquests who visited the Hz. Sheikh. He is especially flooded with visitors on mawlid and kandil nights. It is seen that visitors to Şanlıurfa do not leave without visiting Hayat el-Harrani.

When Sheikh Hayat el-Harrani went out with his congregation to pray for rain during drought days, he never returned empty-handed, and with the grace of Allah, rain would definitely fall. Sheikh Hayat el-Harrani passed away in 1185 and was buried next to his mosque. His tomb was built 10 years after his death. The mosque and tomb are located outside the city walls of Harran. The historical well next to Hayati el-Harrani's tomb is known as the Well of Hazrat Yakub.