Yusuf ibn Abi'l Saj, amir of Azerbaijan, had begun to withhold some of the annual tribute due to the caliph after the dismissal of the vizier Ibn al-Furat.

Yusuf had imprisoned a caliphal envoy in 915 or 916, although he had later released him and sent him back with presents and money.

After Ibn al-Furat regains the vizierate in 917, Yusuf conquers Zanjan, Abhar, Qazvin and Ray from the Samanids and hopes that Ibn al-Furat will smooth things over with al-Muqtadir.

The caliph, however, angrily sends an army against Yusuf, who defeats it.

The arrival of a second Abbasid army under Mu'nis al-Khadim causes Yusuf to retreat to Ardabil.

Although Ibn al-Furat attempts to persuade al-Muqtadir to recognize Yusuf as governor, the caliph refuses.