Sharif Abd al-Ilah was born in 1261 AH (1845), the youngest son of
Sharif Muhammad Ibn Awn. On 28 Shawwal 1299 AH (September 1882) Vali Osman Nuri Pasha deposed
Sharif Abd al-Muttalib ibn Ghalib of the Zayd clan and unilaterally installed Abd al-Ilah as Emir. In late Dhi al-Qidah 1299 AH (October 1882)
Sultan Abd al-Hamid overturned the appointment and instead appointed Abd al-Ilah's brother
Awn al-Rafiq as Emir. Abd al-Ilah served as acting Emir until his brother's arrival in early Dhi al-Hijjah (October 1882). In 1883 he moved to Istanbul where on 24 Rabi al-Awwal (3 February 1883) he was awarded the rank of
vezir and appointed to the Council of State. After Awn al-Rafiq's death in 1905, Abd al-Ilah was rejected for the Emirate in favor of his nephew
Sharif Ali ibn Abd Allah, who was actively support by Vali Ratib Pasha. After Ali was deposed, Abd al-Ilah was finally named Emir on 28 Ramadan 1326 (24 October 1908). However only a few days later he died in Istanbul, on 2 or 3 Shawwal 1326 AH (27 or 28 October 1908). ==Honours==