Ibrahim's brother, Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah, killed their own father and blinded their eldest brother, taking the throne in 1543. Ibrahim ran away and lived in exile as an honored guest of the powerful patriarch of Vijayanagara, Aliya Rama Raya. There, he developed a love for the Telugu language which he patronized and encouraged during his reign. When Jamsheed and a little later Jamsheed's infant son Subhan died, Ibrahim returned to Golconda and took the throne.
A patron of the arts, Ibrahim sponsored many court poets, such as Singanacharyudu, Addanki Gangadharudu, and Kandukuru Rudrakavi. There were Telugu poets, in a break from tradition, as well as Arabic and Persian poets in his court. He took keen interest in the welfare of his people. He also repaired and fortified Golconda Fort and developed the Hussain Sagar lake and Ibrahim Bagh. He is described in one of the inscriptions on the "Makki Darwaza" in the fort as "The Greatest of Sovereigns".
He married a Telugu woman, Bhageerathi. He had confederated with the other Bahmani sultans in the Talikota war of 1565, and is credited with killing the very same Aliya Ramaraya who had sheltered him during his exile. After a short illness Ibrahim died in 1580.
| Preceded by:|
Subhan Quli Qutb Shah
| Qutb Shahi dynasty|
| Succeeded by:|
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah