The Malaccan Empire was founded in circa 1400 in the modern-day state of Malacca, Malaysia. At the height of the sultanate's power in the 15th century, with territory covering much of the Malay Peninsula, the Riau Islands and a significant portion of the northern coast of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia, its capital grew into a bustling, international trading port, one of the most important of its time, and emerged as a centre for Islamic learning and dissemination. The development of the Malay language, literature, and arts was encouraged. The political and cultural legacy of the sultanate remains to this day. For centuries, Malacca has been held up as an exemplar of Malay-Muslim civilisation.

In the year of 1511, the capital of Malacca fell to the Portuguese Empire. For the next 130 years it remained under Portuguese governance despite incessant attempts by the former rulers of Malacca and other regional powers to dislodge the Europeans. Malacca was later conquered by the Dutch in January 1641.

Sayed Mahmud was one of the spiritual and religious leaders of the Malaccan Empire. He was one of the religious advisors captured with Sheikh Abdurahman Matebe Shah and was banished to Constantia in the Cape, South Africa in 1667.

His kramat is situated on ‘Islam Hill’ in Groot Constantia, some distance from the road. A walk up the hill reveals the beauty of the shrine.