Sheikh Yusuf was born at Macassar in 1626. He was also known as Abadin Tadia Tjoessoep. He was of noble birth, a maternal nephew of King Biset of Goa. He studied in Arabia under the tutelage of several pious teachers.

The capture of Macassar by the Dutch, made it impossible for Sheikh Yusuf to return to his native land. Thus, when he left Jeddah in 1664 he did not sail to Goa, but to Banten in Western Java.
When Sheikh Yusuf arrived at the Cape, on the Voetboeg, he was royally welcomed by Governor Simon van der Stel. His Indonesian background necessitated that he and his 49 followers be settled well away from Cape Town. They were housed on the Farm Zandvliet, near the mouth of the Eerste River, in the general area now called Macassar.