The second Tulunid ruler of Egypt and Syria, after his father Ahmad ibn Tulun ruling from 270/884 to 282/896.
Khumarawayh was designated heir-apparent after his brother `Abbas' failed revolt against Ahmad ibn Tulun in 264. Upon the death of his father in 270/884, Khumarawayh came to power without the blessings of the `Abbasid caliph, but instead with the support of the military and civil service. al-Muwaffaq sent forces against Khumarawayh with the support of the Tulunid turn-coat general Ahmad bin Muhammad al-Wasiti. al-Muwaffaq's forces were lead by Ishaq bin Kundaj, Muhammad bin Diwdad Abi '-Saj, and Ahmad bin al-Muwaffaq (al-Mu`tadid). In Shawwal 271/February-March 885, the `Abbasid and Tulunid forces met under the leadership of Khumarawayh and Ahmad bin al-Muwaffaq in the Battle of the Mills in southern Palestine. There, Khumarawayh and Ahmad both fled the battle field and the Tulunids were victorious through the actions of the Tulunid general Sa`d al-Aysar, who then went off to Damascus where he attempted a revolt against Khumarawayh.
In the following years, Khumarawayh defeated Ibn Kundaj taking control of Harran, captured al-Jazira when the `Abbasid governor Ibn Abi 'l-Saj sought Khumarawayh's protection, and Yazman of Tarsus accepted Tulunid sovereignty in Cilicia. Then in Rajab 273/December 886, Khumarawayh and al-Muwaffaq came to an agreement in which the Tulunids would gain formal governorships over Egypt and Syria in return for an acknowledgement of `Abbasid sovereignty and a promise to refrain from slandering al-Muwaffaq in mosques. New mints were established in the provincial capitals of Sha'mat, Ramla/Filistin, Hims, Halab, and Antakiya. In 279/892, when al-Muwaffaq's son al-Mu`tadid succeeded al-Mu`tamid as caliph, this agreement was renewed. The Tulunids lost control of Mawsil, Diyar Rabi`a, and Diyar Mudar near al-Rafiqa. Tulunid coins began to bear the name of al-Mu`tadid.
As part of this agreement with al-Mu`tadid, which sent a tribute of 300,000 dinars to Samarra, Khumarawayh also attempted to marry his daughter Qatr al-Nada to the son of al-Mu`tadid, but al-Mu`tadid wound up taking her as his own bride, along with a million dinar dowry that may have been designed to try breaking the bank of the extremely wealthy Tulunids.
In 282/896, Khumarawayh was murdered as part of a conspiracy by a court slave. By this time, Khumarawayh's generosity and luxurious living had bankrupted the previously wealthy Tulunid treasury.
250 - Khumarawayh bin Ahmad bin Tulun born in Samarra.
264 - `Abbas bin Ahmad bin Tulun revolts against his father.
269 - Ishaq bin Kundaj named "legal" governor of Syria by al-Muwaffaq.
270 - Ahmad ibn Tulun dies and Khumarawayh takes control of Egypt and Syria.
271 - Battle of the Mills
272 - Khumarawayh pushes through the forces of Ibn Kundaj and included Harran to his domains. Ibn Abi 'l-Saj seeks Khumarawayh's protection, giving the Tulunids al-Jazira. Yazman of Tarsus submits to Tulunid rule over Cilicia.
273 - Khumarawayh and al-Muwaffaq come to an agreement in which the Tulunids are given a legal governorship over Egypt and Syria for thirty years.
279 - al-Mu`tadid (the son of al-Muwaffaq) succeeded al-Mu`tamid as caliph.
282 - Khumarawayh murdered.