Ğalimcan Şäräf was born on 22 March 1888 in the village of Aqsu to a family of a wealthy peasant Şäräfetdin, and his wife, Ğäynelnäwal.

He participated in 1st and 2nd All-Russian Muslim Congresses, Millät Mäclese and headed the Collegium for the implementation of the Idel-Ural State.

[1] Ğalimcan Şäräf participated in the creation of projects for the Idel-Ural State (together with İlyas Alkin), the Tatar-Bashkir SSR (of which he was an active supporter) and the Tatar ASSR; he was member of the mixed commission for the establishment of borders of the TASSR.

In 1919-1920 Şäräf studied at Qazan State University's faculty of history and philology and began research in the field of experimental phonetics under the direction of professor Vasily Bogoroditsky.

After returning from imprisonment Şäräf worked as a school teacher in one of the villages of Apas District (Tatar ASSR).