Khut was a great-great-grandson of Ruzayq, the progenitor of the Tahirid dynasty.[1] In 851 he became resident governor of Egypt on behalf of the Tahirid Muhammad ibn Ishaq ibn Ibrahim, who had been assigned the province by al-Muntasir,[2] and he arrived there in May of that year. His appointment initially gave him gave him control of security and the prayers, as well as the land tax (kharaj), but in August 851 the latter authority was rescinded and for the remainder of his governorship he oversaw the first two functions alone.[3]