Muhammad was a member of a leading Arab Egyptian family during the early Islamic era, being the son of Abd al-Rahman ibn Mu'awiyah ibn Hudayj al-Tujibi and grandson to Mu'awiyah ibn Hudayj al-Tujibi. His brother Abdallah was a chief of security (shurtah) for Egypt and later served as governor of the province from 769 to 772.[1]