Muhammad was born, along with his elder twin brother Mas'ud, in 998 in the Ghaznavid capital of Ghazni.

Mahmud shortly died, and was succeeded by Mohammad, who then appointed Abu Sahl Hamduwi as his vizier.

Muhammad shortly appointed his uncle Yusuf ibn Sabuktigin as the commander-in-chief of the army.

[3] Mas'ud then marched towards Ghazni, where he defeated Muhammad and had him imprisoned while crowning himself as the new Sultan of the Ghaznavid Empire.

He promoted his son Ahmad, and allied with Suleiman ibn Yusuf, giving him the actual day-to-day running of affairs.

[6] Muhammad fled with his army in the face of Maw'dud's invasion, losing Ghazni in the process.

[6] Maw'dud wintered in Ghazni,[6] then met Muhammad's army on 19 March 1041 in the province of Nangarhar.