His rule after replacing Muhammad ibn Awn in 1851 was characterized by pro-slavery and anti-Ottoman riots.
[1] He was pro-slavery and led riots, in this contest he struggled with Vali Kâmil Pasha's enforcement of anti-slavery law and Awn's supporters.
On 15 or 17 November 1855, Awn's reappointment was announced in Jeddah; al-Muttalib rejected this, raising his supporters and allegedly requesting Beduin chiefs assist him.
[2] Awn was reinstalled on 17 April 1856, but the fighting continued until al-Muttalib was captured in May and sent to Istanbul.
[1] When he returned to power in 1880, he did not oppose English and Ottoman anti-slavery due, as suggested by William Ochsenwald, to his reliance on the central government for his competition with Vali Osman Nuri Pasha.