He traveled to Hijaaz and after his return passed the examination to become a barrister. He did practiced law for some time. In 1882 he joined Aligarh Muslim University as Arabic and Persian teacher. His writing stint started in Aligarh. For doing research for his books he traveled to Egypt, Rome and Syria and on his return he published his travelogue. 

On urging of Syed Ali Balgrami he accepted the position in  the Department of Education in Hyderabad. Then he came to Nadvatul Ulma , Lucknow. Later he established Dar-ul-mussanafeen in Aazamgarh. 

His important books are Al-mamoon, Al-farooq, Seerat-ul-nabi, alma-ul-kalaam, sho'ara-ul-ajam, movazna-e-Anees-wa- Dabeer. He left Seerat-ul-nabi incomplete which was later completed by his shagird Syed Sulaiman Nadvi. In 1892 he was awarded Tamgha-e-mujaidi by the Sultan of Turkey, and in 1894 he was honored by the title of Shams-ul-ulma.