Hakim Masih al-Din Abul Fath Gilani was the son of Abdul Razzaq, a learned man of Gilan and a close associate of the ruler of Gilan. In 1567 A.D. Shah Tahmasp Safawi invaded and annexed Gilan. He had imprisoned Abdul Razzaq who later died in prison. Hakim Abul Fath was the eldest of the four sons of Abdul Razzaq. His other brothers were Hakim Najib al-Din Humayun, Hakim Nur al-Din Qarari and Hakim Lutfullah Gilani. They were all experts in the field of medicine.

Hakim Abul Fath received education from his father. He later obtained further knowledge in the sciences of his time. He was a good poet and writer but he chiefly specialised in medicine. During the reign of Akbar (1556-1605) he came to India along with his brothers Humayun and Qarari. The king received them with great honour and respect and offered them respectable positions in the court. With time the Hakim attained the position of a courtier and then rose to the position of Sadr al-Sadur of Akbar. Hakim Masih al-Din Abul Fath Gilani slowly developed a close relationship with the king. He was considered as one of the early well known physicians who came to the court of Akbar. Mawalana Abdul Baqi Nahawandi while stating about his position in the court of Akbar remarked that he enjoyed greater influence with the Emperor than Jafar Barmecide had with Caliph Harun-al-Rashid.

Hakim Masih al-Din Abul Fath Gilani was well-versed both in medicine and theology. Following are the two important works of the Hakim known to people even today:
* Fattahi, a detailed commentary on Qanuncha of Chaghmani.
* Qayasiya, a commentary on Akhlaq-i Nasiri.

Hakim Masih al-Din Abul Fath Gilani while travelling from Kashmir to Kabul died of diarrhoea at Damtur. Emperor Akbar had instructed him to proceed for a campaign. as per the order of the king he was buried at Hassan Abdal.