Bal'ami is first mentioned as serving under the Samanid ruler Isma'il ibn Ahmad, and was later appointed as vizier by the latter's grandson, Nasr II.
Muhammad ibn Ilyas was, however, shortly freed after receiving the support of Bal'ami and was sent on a campaign in Gurgan.
In 933, Bal'ami, along with Simjur al-Dawati, fought against the Dailamite military leader Makan ibn Kaki.
[2] Iranica says the following about him: Bal'ami was clearly, together with Jayhani, the driving force during what seems to have been the reign of a weak and impressionable ruler.
Not surprisingly, Nizam al-Mulk praises the family of Bal'ami as the viziers par excellence of the Samanids.