The army of Ibn Ḥammārūyah. In the year 286 AH, a rebellion broke out in Egypt, claiming that they would not accept a ruler who had not reached maturity and knew nothing of affairs of state. Ahmad ibn Ṭūlūn appointed a young boy, who had not reached maturity and knew nothing of affairs of state. When he replaced one man with another, they said he had chosen someone of his own age or similar to him. After nine months of his rule, the people revolted, killed him, plundered his palace, and burned the city.

Hārūn ibn Ḥammārūyah. The leaders of the revolt appointed Hārūn in his place. It is said that al-Muʿtaḍid confirmed him in Egypt because he promised to send him a large sum of money, amounting to one million dinars. In the year 287 AH, one year after Hārūn's appointment, the people and government officials began to pay less attention to him and to disregard his orders, little by little, until they were fully prepared to disobey and openly rebel. The leader of this revolt was Ṭughj ibn Jaf, the ruler of Syria. In the year 288 AH, al-Muʿtaḍid was informed of the division of Hārūn's lands and the people's dislike of him. He saw an opportunity to seize the lands and restore them to his authority, as they had been in the time of his predecessors. He advanced towards Amid, and its ruler, Ibn al-Shaykh, who was independent, pledged allegiance to him. Then he advanced to Qinnasrin. Hārūn was terrified and did not know what to do, as he had enemies among his subjects. He wrote to al-Muʿtaḍid, stating that he was ready to surrender the lands that were close to rebellion. He also wrote to the rulers of Qinnasrin and all the capitals, ordering them to submit to the authority of the Caliph al-Muʿtaḍid. Al-Muʿtaḍid accepted this gift with great pleasure and took control of those territories, and their people pledged allegiance to him.

Mention of the death of al-Muʿtaḍid. In the year 289 AH, there were wars in Syria between Ṭughj ibn Jaf, the amir of Damascus, and the Qarmatians. In the month of Rabi' al-Akhir of this year, Abu al-Abbas Ahmad al-Muʿtaḍid died and was buried. His reign lasted for 4 years, 4 months, and 10 days. He was born in Dhu al-Hijjah in the year 242 AH. He left behind two sons, Ali, who was al-Muktafi, and Ja'far, who was al-Qahir, and Hārūn. He also left behind eleven daughters. When al-Muʿtaḍid was on his deathbed, he recited verses, including: "O God, grant me patience."