Ali was born in Didymoteicho (today in East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece).

On 13 March 1694, he was appointed as the grand vizier by sultan Ahmed II.

He also took the title serdar, meaning the "commander of the army," and fought against Habsburg monarchy.

Mustafa suspected that Sürmeli Ali Pasha's candidate for the throne instead of him had been a younger prince[1] and he further suspected that Sürmeli Ali Pasha was against his plan for commanding the army personally.

Additionally, there was a power struggle between Sürmeli Ali Pasha and Feyzullah Efendi, the sultan's advisor (and later Shaykh al-Islām).