He was a nephew of the Caliph Muʿāwiya I through the latter's sister, Umm al-Ḥakam, and her Thaqafī husband.
[2] In 678, his uncle appointed him governor of Kūfa in place of al-Ḍaḥḥak ibn Qays.
He dealt with a Kharijite rebellion, but his rule was considered oppressive and he was forced out by the Kūfans.
[4] Having been ousted from Kūfa, Ibn Umm al-Ḥakam was appointed governor of Egypt by his uncle.
The Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān (685–705) appointed him governor of Damascus.