Ismail was born in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh in a Zamindar family, he graduated in law from Cambridge University and served as attorney general of the state of Hyderabad.

Farooq did his schooling from King Edward College Deoria, from very early age he started participating in Social movement to liberate the country.

Farooq started studying at Allahabad University, where he is credited for organizing the students' first successful strike, during that time he came in contact with Mahatma Gandhi.

[citation needed] Farooq rejected the proposal of Muhammad Ali Jinnah brought by the King of Salempur for the Home Minister of Pakistan saying "I want my country to achieve Freedom from Britishers and at this time my only mission is to see free United India".

[citation needed] After the Independence, he was elected as a MLA in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967 on Indian National Congress ticket from Uttar Pradesh's Deoria (North East) Legislative Assembly constituency.