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Ai Xue (Isa), a native of Fulin (located in the western part of the present-day Syrian Arab Republic), was born into a Nestorian Christian family. His grandfather was named Bu Ali, and his father was named Bu Lu Ma Shi, both of whom were erudite and talented. Ai Xue inherited the family's scholarly traditions, mastering the languages of various Western regions and excelling in the fields of astronomy, calendar studies, and medicine. Around 1246, he responded to the summons of the Mongol Emperor Güyük on behalf of his father and arrived in the Mongol Empire, serving as both a priest and a court physician to Güyük and his aunt, Sorghaghtani Beki. Later, he married Sara, a maid from Sorghaghtani's clan. The couple once served as the tutors to the princess of the Mongol Emperor Möngke, earning the deep trust of Möngke's family.

During the Zhongtong era of Emperor Shizu (1160–1264), Ai Xue proposed the establishment of specialized offices for Western astronomy, calendar studies, and medicine. In the fourth year of Zhongtong (1263), Kublai Khan appointed him to oversee the two offices of Western astronomy and medicine. The Western Medicine Office was reorganized into the Guanghui Si around 1268, and Ai Xue continued to lead it. The Guanghui Si became the primary Islamic medical institution during the Yuan Dynasty, holding a significant position within the Yuan medical administration. In the 24th year of the Zhiyuan era (1287), he was appointed as the Secretary of the Imperial Library, responsible for managing historical texts and yin-yang forbidden books. In the 26th year of Zhiyuan (1289), he was put in charge of the Chongfu Si, overseeing Nestorian Christian religious affairs. In the 31st year of Zhiyuan (1294), he was promoted to the position of Academician of the Hanlin Academy and concurrently worked on compiling the national history. In the 11th year of the Dade era under Emperor Chengzong (1307), he was granted the title of Duke of Qin. He passed away the following year and was posthumously honored as the King of Fulin, with the posthumous title "Zhongxian" (Loyal and Devoted).

Ai Xue also founded an Arabic-style hospital, the Capital Medical Hospital, which was managed by his wife, Sara. His eldest son, Yeliya, once served as a historian in the Taiyiyuan. Ai Xue and his family were the first foreigners to hold major positions in China's medical administration, playing a crucial role in the dissemination of Islamic medicine in China.