He opposed his brother's rule and that year intercepted the Iraqi Hajj caravan, which was led by Aqbash, a mamluk of the Abbasid Caliph al-Nasir.
When al-Kamil received news of the loss of Mecca, he sent out a large force from Egypt led by Fakhr al-Din ibn al-Shaykh and ordered Sharif Abu Sa'd al-Hasan, Emir of Yanbu, and Sharif Shihah, Emir of Medina, to assist in recapturing Mecca.
When the Hajj season arrived Rajih left Mecca, and the Egyptian troops entered the city without resistance.
[7][8][9] In 632 AH (1234/1235) Mecca was recaptured by an Egyptian force under the command of the Emir Asad al-Din Jughril.
[11][7][9] In 637 AH (1239/1240) Sharif Shihah ibn Hashim, Emir of Medina, captured Mecca with a force of 1000 cavalry provided by al-Salih Ayyub of Egypt, son of al-Kamil.
When Rajih learned that the Egyptians had been reinforced he encamped at al-Sirrayn and wrote to al-Mansur, who marched on Mecca himself.
During Abu Sa'd's reign Rajih attempted to capture Mecca with assistance from the Banu Husayn of Medina, his maternal relatives.
On the last day of 651 AH (c. 20 February 1254) Rajih took the Emirate from his nephew Jammaz ibn Hasan without fighting.