 He grew up in a family of modest means, undertook his studies at Annaba, but did not have the time to continue his schooling after being dismissed from school during the first cycle.Boulahrouf was also a reader of al-Umma newspaper, organ of the Star of North Africa party, and contributed to the formation of the first groups of Muslim Scouts in the region of Annaba.He also participated in organizing a demonstration of solidarity with the Tunisian Destour Party and was first arrested in 1938.