Anushtakin acquired a position in the Fatimid court and caught the attention of al-Hakim, who made him an army officer.[1][2] After serving a year in al-Hakim's court, Anushtakin was posted in Damascus in the retinue of a Fatimid general.[9] He resided in the home of a certain Hayyus in the Zuqaq-Attaf quarter where he became friends with Hayyus's son and poet, Muhammad ibn Hayyus;[5] the latter later dedicated several panegyrics to Anushtakin.[5] While in the city, Anushtakin tracked down and met Dizbiri to pay respect to his old master.[6][4]