[1] Mansur Ushurma was born in the aul of Aldi [ru] (today a suburb of Grozny) in the region of Chechnya, centered in the Sunzha River valley.

[2]: 56 In 1784, Sheikh Mansur, now a respected imam, journeyed back to Chechnya and became upset with the Russian encroachment in the North Caucasus.

As Mansur's message became popular with the Chechen people, the Russian Empire attempted to discredit him and ultimately arrest him.

Soon, Chechen fighters won the Battle of Aldy, killing and taking hundreds of Russian soldiers captive.

From 1787 to 1791, during the Russian-Turkish War, Sheikh Mansur moved to the northwestern Caucasus region of Circassia, strengthening Islamic practice there.

In June 1791, Sheikh Mansur was captured at the Ottoman fortress of Anapa on the Black Sea when it came under siege.

Description by Russian historian Prozitelev:[6] Tall, handsome, slender brunette with a pale face and passionate speech.