Regarding Isa's background, the Egyptian chronicler Ibn Taghribirdi identified him as "Isa ibn Mansur ibn Musa ibn Isa al-Rafiqi, mawla of the Banu Nasr ibn Mu'awiyah" tribe of the Qays 'Aylan.[3] In 830 he is mentioned by al-Kindi in connection with the suppression of a revolt in the Hawf district of Egypt during the governorship of Abdawayh ibn Jabalah.[4] Following Abdawayh's dismissal in the following year, Isa was appointed as resident governor in his stead by Abu Ishaq (the future caliph al-Mu'tasim, r. 833–842), who held overall authority over the administration of Egypt and Syria, and he began his governorship around the beginning of 831.[5]