'Ali, led an army west towards Fars in an effort to wrest it from its ruler, the slave commander Sebük-eri.

To cement his power, he imprisoned al-Mu'addal, who had managed to avoid being captured by Sebük-eri and had returned to Sistan.

Shortly after his ascension, Muhammad was forced to deal with the Samanids under Ahmad, who had recently been given a caliphal diploma for Sistan and its subordinate territories in an effort to break the power of the Saffarids once and for all.

Muhammad shortly after entered Bust, but he himself used violently oppressive methods in a desperate attempt to raise money.

As a result, the citizens of Bust grew hostile to the Saffarids, and when the Samanid Ahmad arrived before the city, they helped him take it.