A native of Awana, a place near Baghdad, Ibn Baqiyya belonged to a low-class family.
Because of this, he would later get suspected by his opponents in helping low-class statesman to prominent posts.
He first appears during conquest of Abbasid Iraq by Buyid ruler Mu'izz al-Dawla.
Ibn Baqiyya, who knew of the strong power which Adud al-Dawla possessed, sought to gain his favor.
Ibn Baqiyya was spared, but because an insult he had made to Adud al-Dawla he was later arrested by a force sent by Adud al-Dawla under Bahram ibn Ardashir al-Majusi and other statesmen; Ibn Baqiyya was shortly trampled to death, and would first be buried after the death of Adud al-Dawla in 983.