Born Mohammad-Ali c. 1725, he was the second son of Ebrahim Khan Afshar, the younger brother of the first Afsharid ruler Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747).

In the 1740s, while serving as the sardar (military commander) of the Azerbaijan province, Ebrahim led a victorious campaign at Ardabil against Sam Mirza, a claimant to the Safavid throne.

Adel Shah eventually marched against his brother, but many of his men deserted, and consequently he was defeated (in June 1748) and fled to the town of Tehran.

[1][6] Following the counsel of the tribal leaders, Shahrokh assigned Musa Khan Afshar Taromi with the task to defeat Ebrahim Shah.

Ebrahim Shah fled to the fortress of Qal'a-ye Qalapur, but was soon captured and given to Musa Khan Afshar Taromi, who had him blinded.