[citation needed] Muhammad Saleh was born in Dalu-dalu, a village in Tambusai (today part of Riau Province, Indonesia) on 5 November 1784.

He was the son of an Islamic teacher from Rambah, Minang in western Sumatra, and a woman named Munah, who came from a village in Tambusai called Kandang Kopuh.

Tuanku Tambusai began his campaign against the Dutch in his native Rokan Hulu and surrounding vicinities, centred at the Dalu-dalu fort.

In 1824, he led the combined troops from Dalu-dalu, Lubuksikaping, Padanglawas, Angkola, Mandailing and Natal to fight the Dutch.

He had time to perform the Hajj and was also asked by Tuanku Imam Bonjol to study the development of Islam in the Arab world.

In Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, a road that connects Rasah on Federal Route 53 with Rahang is named Jalan Tok Ungku in his honour.