 Much of his life was spent in exile.If reigning, he would have been Sultan Ali I.

Vâsib was born in Çırağan Palace, Ortaköy, Beşiktaş, the only son of Ahmed Nihad, the 38th head of the Imperial House of Osman and Her Highness, Safiru Hanım.Murad V, the 33rd head of the House of Osman, was Vâsib's great grandfather.