information about qurra's early career is obscure. according to interpretations of michael the syrian's chronicle, he served as governor of his native province, jund qinnasrin (northern syria) or possibly armenia during the last years of caliph abd al-malik (). he later became the "katib" (secretary) of caliph al-walid i, who appointed him governor of egypt in 709. he was a "sharīf" (tribal noble) of the banu abs tribe, part of the larger qaysi group resident in northern syria and upper mesopotamia from the early muslim conquests of the 630s. his administrative experience, coupled with the tribal origins he shared with the mother of caliph al-walid i (), likely propelled his career during that caliph's rule.