Haji Wan sulaiman bin Wan Sidek was born in 1874 at the remote village of Kampung Padang Tengah, in the Mukim of Padang Kerbau, Alor Setar, Kedah.

With the death of his father, his mother Wan Tam, took over his basic education by teaching him to read the Jawi letters as well as the Muqaddam. When he was 9 years old he was sent to read Malay at a school belonging to Haji Din where he stayed until he passed his standard three.

When he was 12 years old, he was sent to read the Koran and to study Islamic Religious Knowledge from Tuan Guru Haji Ismail who hailed from Kelantan. Later, Haji Wan Sulaiman was sent to learn English from a Ceylonese, Dr. Gomez who had opened a medical clinic at Pekan Melayu. He was however often punished because of the nuisance he had caused and he decided to drop out citing the infidel status of his teacher as a reason. From that moment on, he aspired to further his studies in the holy city of Mecca.

With funds provided by his mother and relatives, Haji Wan Sulaiman left for Mecca in 1887. He remained there as a student for 17 years and in the course of those years managed to master such Islamic subjects as Arabic Language, Arabic grammar, Arabic inflexion of words, traditions of the Prophet (hadis), the reading and the studying of the Koran and astronomy (falakiah). In the final three years of his study, he concentrated on the Islamic Religious Order of Naksyabandiyah Mujaddiyah Ahmadiyah. Haji Wan Sulaiman was declared the 34th Caliph of the Order by his teacher, Tuan Sheikh Fakir Muhammad Al-Bukhari. It was while in Mecca that he married Wan Kalsom (Wan Tom) binti Wan Hamid, the daughter of the former Kadi of the District of Yan. They were to have 11 children.

In 1904, Sultan Abd. Hamid Halim Shah established a council of Ulamas to assist him in solving problems related to Islam. It was made up of 12 members, chaired by Haji wan sulaiman while Haji Abdullah Fahim (Pak Im), acted as its secretary. Its members included Sheikh Muhammad Khayat, Sheikh Jarum Derga (Haji Wan Idris Wan Jamal), Haji Ahmad Awang, Haji Idris Ayer Hitam, Haji Muhammad Saman (Keramat Serban Hijau), Haji Ibrahim Paya Sena, Haji Mohammad Ariff Sungai Nonang Haji Hussain Nasir Al-Banjari (Tuan Hussain Kedah). related to Islam.

In the early part of the year 1906, the government of Kedah appointed Haji wan Sulaiman to the post of Kadi. In 1910, he was appointed the Chief Kadi of Kedah. In 1920, he went on to the top post of Kedah's Sheikhul Islam, replacing Sheikh Muhammad Khayat.

Besides running his official duties of Chief Administrator of Islamic Laws, Haji Wan Sulaiman also used his 20-year experience in Mecca to teach Islamic knowledge to the public in Kedah. His students were also made up of religious teachers, Imams and government servants. He delivered his lectures not only at the State mosque but also at the religious school at his residence in Limbong Kapal in Alor Setar. They were done in turns and at night. He also delivered his religious sermons in some mosques in other districts such as Bandar Baharu, Kulim and Yan. He went to and from these places in horse carriages but later he did so an in Austin car with the plate number, K51.

Haji Wan Sulaiman fought hard against deviationist teachings, superstitions and un-Islamic practices, which was rampant at that time. These included the practice of praying at the grave of some holy men in for the fulfillment of certain desire or needs, providing food for ghosts and spirits, and the practice of healing via bodily possession of spirits. One of those un-Islamic practices, which Haji Wan Sulaiman had successfully eradicated was the practice of feasting on saffron rice and bathing with milk which was done at the stairs of the Balai Nobat, in order to fulfill a promise or to obtain certain celestial favours from the spirits. He disagreed with the Malay practice of feasting on 'Bubur Assura' (a type of steamed cuisine made of flour, fruits and nuts) on the 10th of Muharram or Assura Day without anyone relating the history or incidents connected to the day. He was also against the brides and bridegroom sitting side by side on a dais (bersanding) in front of relatives and friends as he considered such a practice to be contrary to true Islamic teaching and practice.

In the field of education, Haji Wan Sulaiman worked on improving the method of teaching the Koran which at that time was separated from the main- stream teaching in Kedah Malay schools. His new method, which was adopted by the Kedah government managed to shorten the time a child needed to finish reading the Koran. In 1916 he established a modern religious school, which was named after Sultan Abd. Hamid Halim Shah called 'Madrasah Al-Hamidiah'. As the first modern Islamic Religious school in the Peninsula, it was provided with such modern educational amenities as timetables, texts books, bell, Curriculum, promotional examinations, qualified teachers and the award of certificates for students who had passed their exams or had been successful in completing their education up to Standard Five.

Madrasah Al-Hamidiah, better known as Madrasah Pak Wan Sulaiman or Limbong Kapal Arabic School had been successful in producing students who were qualified as administrators, kadis, teachers and community leaders. Among its prominent graduates were such personalities as Dato' Sheikh abd. Majid bin Mohd. Noor the former Principal of Mahmud College and the Head of the Kedah Council for Islamic Religious Affairs, the late Sheikh Saad bin Said, the founder of Attaebiatul-Islamiah School and a former chief Kadi of Kedah, and the late Sheikh Salleh bin Shamsudin, a former teacher of Maktab Mahmud. Haji Wan Sulaiman and Tunku Mahmud then planned to build an Islamic Secondary school, which would also serve as a center for higher learning, to be called 'Al-Ma'hadil Mahmud' or Mahmud college. The college, which was built at Simpang Kuala was completed on June 16, 1936, a year after his death. The college was named after Tunku Mahmud.

Haji Wan Sulaiman was often compared to Tuan Hussain Kedah for the amount of articles he wrote. Both had written many articles and books on religion. Wan Sulaiman had written 20 such writings on many fields. He also produced such educational work in the form of poetry or syair. Almost all of his works were written in Arabic. Haji Wan Sulaiman wrote many articles, which emphasized the need to learn the Tarekat Naksyabandiah as it provided a lot of benefits to its followers. He forwarded his views on the Tarikat in some of his works, such as the Putuhatul-Kadihiyat, Nihayatul-Matlub, Haudul-Maurud, Nursataak, Fakihatun-Janiah and Mizanul-ukali wal-Udaba. One of his works, a syair (a form of poetry) was produced while he was on train trip with Tunku Mahmud in 1926, heading towards Bangkok. The main idea in the 'syair' was an elaboration of 'Aqaidul-Iman', which was most suitable as a teaching aid for Islamic teaching at the nursery and kindergarten level and often recited as a form of song called the 'nasyid'.

As an accomplished astronomer, he was successful in predicting an eclipse of the sun in 1928. He also produced an article, which provided a scientific explanation for what had occurred. It was called 'Risalah Nasihat Fasal Gerhana' or 'An article on Why Eclipses Occurred'. Haji Wan Sulaiman also produced a circular to all farmers, advising and providing them with tables for the various seasons in rice farming.

Haji Wan Sulaiman died suddenly at the age of 61 at his house at Limbong Kapal on 28 Muharram 1354 Hijra or May 2, 1935. As a mark of respect and recognition for his invaluable service to the State, the government of Kedah gave him the highest honour of being buried at the Langgar Royal Cemetery. On May 1, 1965, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kanchut was renamed Sekolah Kebangsaan Wan Sulaiman in his honour.