His father, Çandarlı Halil Pasha, had also served as Grand Vizier from 1443 until his execution in 1453. Ibrahim was appointed qadi (judge) of Adrianople and survived his father's disgrace, and was named qadi 'asker (judge of the army), a very prestigious post, in 1465, before assuming the duties of tutor (lala) to the future Sultan Bayezid II. He was appointed Grand Vizier in 1498, and served until his death in 1499, when he died in the military camp during the Battle of Zonchio.