He was born in 1923 in the city of Ahvaz, Khuzestan Province, Iran into the Kuhailia (Persian pronunciation: Choheili) family.

[3] Jabbar Choheili's father died in 1924 due to an armory explosion in Ahvaz during the Sheikh Khazal rebellion, a conflict between Reza Shah and Khazʽal Ibn Jabir.

[4]: 35 In 1948, he traveled from Iran to Qal'at Saleh, Iraq to become initiated as a tarmida by Sheikh Abdullah, son of Sh.

After he was ordained, Jabbar Choheili returned to Ahvaz, where he completely copied the Ginza Rabba by hand.

[13]: xxvii–xxxii  Salah and Najah Choheili[14] have served leadership roles in the Mandaean Council of Ahvaz, also known as the Sabian-Mandaean Association of Iran.