Ibn al-Sal'us became a merchant like his father and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East.[2] He returned to Damascus at some point and set up his mercantile business.[2] He gained an honorable reputation among other merchants in the city, and became a deputy muhtasib (market inspector) in the employment of the highest-ranking civilian Mamluk functionary in Syria.[2] His employment in the hisba (market oversight) of Damascus occurred during the reign of Sultan al-Mansur Qalawun (1277–1290).[2] Ibn al-Sal'us grew wealthy from his job and was known to diligently police commerce in the city.[2] Mamluk-era chronicler Ibn al-Jazari described part of Ibn al-Sal'us's job as follows: