Career
He was the qadi of Wayanad, Kerala. He was the chairman of the Kerala Waqf Board. Panakkad Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal was the vice president of Samastha Kerala Jam"iyyathul Ulama.
He was the president of DARUL HUDA ISLAMIC University from 1993 till his death.
He has two sons: Sayyid Rasheed Ali Shihab Thangal and Sayyid Hameed Ali Shihab Thangal. Sayed Umerali Shihab Thangal is appointed as qadi of Wynad district.
Thangal was appointed as qadi of many local mahals in Kerala and was the Chairman of Kerala Waqf Board. Sayyid Umer Ali Shihab Thangal died on 3 July 2008 at Malappuram aged 68 due to cancer.