[1][2] He was born in 1781 in Kumukh to Shahmardan (Shaykh Mardan) bek, second son of Muhammad Khan of Gazikumukh; who detested his half-brother Surkhay because of their father's love towards him, as his mother was not from a noble family.
[4] Shaykh Mardan's death - which according to Russian historian Komarov, happened not later than Fatali's - was perfect ground for Surkhay to invade Kura plain and depose his minor nephews.
"[2][7] At the same time, the increase in the tax burden and additional payments on the Russian troops and administration stationed in Dagestan gradually set the population up for resistance.
[14][15] With this in mind, the Khan began to pursue an anti-Russian policy: he supported the emergence of Muridism in his lands,[16] and was the patron of Sheikh Muhammad Kurawi.
[9] Aslan Khan even forbade the movement of Russian troops several times through Kurakh and Gazi-Kumukh, which led to the ruin of the local population.