A son of the governor of Iraq, Ziyad ibn Abihi, Abbad served as a governor of Sijistan between 673 and 681 under caliphs Mu'awiya I (r. 661–680) and Yazid I (r. 680–683). He led a contingent in the army of Caliph Marwan I (r. 684–685) at the Battle of Marj Rahit and afterward fought against loyalists of al-Mukhtar al-Thaqafi during the reign of Caliph Abd al-Malik (r. 685–705). He later served at the court of the latter's son and successor, Caliph al-Walid I (r. 705–715), and played a role in the succession intrigues between al-Walid's son Abd al-Aziz and the caliph's brother, Sulayman.