Ahmad was the son of the Nizam ul-Mulk Malik Hasan Bahri, a Hindu Brahmin from Beejanuggar (or Bijanagar) originally named Timapa who converted to Islam.
Ahmad's father was made Malik Na'ib on the death of Mahmud Gavan and was appointed prime minister by Mahmood Shah Bahmani II.
Using the resources from the city, he campaigned through 1485, capturing Chavand, Lohgad, Tung, Kooray, Tikona, Kondhana, Purandar, Bhorop, Jivdhan, Kuhrdroog, Murud-Janjira, Mahuli and Pali.
"[1]: 195 The Sultan, Mahmood Shah Bahmani II, then called upon Jahangir Khan, a successful general and governor of Telangana with 3,000 horsemen to subdue Ahmad.
Ahmad built a palace with an elegant garden on the site and donated the proprietary rights of the local village as a residence for holy men to celebrate the victory.
Miran Adil Khan Gujjar II sent to Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk and Ahmad Nizam Shah requesting aid, and a combined force from the three sultanates was raised.
Although following the advice of Yusuf Adil Shah, Ahmad had discontinued prayers for the Bahmani Sultans after the Victory of the Garden, he soon rescinded the order and continued to hold few of the trappings of royalty.