[2] During this period Ishaq was ordered by al-Mu'tasim to carry out the mihnah or inquisition regarding the createdness of the Qur'an, but he dealt leniently with the Damascenes on the matter.
[3] Following the foundation of Samarra in 836, Ishaq received a land allotment along the Grand Avenue in the central city.
[4] In 840, al-Mu'tasim appointed him as commander of his guard (haras), and he retained that position for a period after al-Wathiq (r. 842–847) became caliph.
[8] In 850, Ishaq was appointed as resident governor of Egypt by al-Muntasir, who had been assigned the province as part of al-Mutawakkil's succession arrangements.
[10] In May/June 851, Ishaq was dismissed from the governorship and replaced with Khut Abd al-Wahid ibn Yahya.