[2] He was the son of Ma al-'Aynayn, a religious leader of the Sahara who led an armed uprising against the French in the first decade of the twentieth century, and died in 1910 in Tiznit.

Shortly after his death, in 1912 the French imposed the Treaty of Fez on the Moroccans and took virtual control of the country.

A general uprising in the south of Morocco saw al-Hiba recognized as Sultan in Taroudannt, Agadir and the Dades and Draa regions.

In January 1913, the Glaoua family, now allied with the French, drove al-Hiba back to the Sous.

Al-Hiba did not give up the struggle and continued to harass the French in his own area until his death on 23 June 1919 in Kerdous Anti-Atlas.