Muhammad 2 was the son of the caliph Marwan I (Marwan 1) and brother of the caliph `Abd al-Malik (Abdulmalik 1): Chron. 1234, §§147, 148, 150, 151. Uncle of the caliph Walid I (Walid 1): Chron. 1234, §153. He was the father of the future caliph Marwan II (Marwan 2): Theoph. AM 6235 (Μαρουάμ, υἱὸς Μουάμεδ). He was also brother of Abdul Aziz 2: Chron. 1234, §149 (pp. 294-295).

He and al-Hajjaj 1 are characterised as "strong men - bloodthirsty and bereft of mercy" and his brother therefore gave him authority over "Mesopotamia and Mosul and all of Armenia"; he seized Edessa and made it his place of residence and soon subdued Mesopotamia, apart from Nisibis (see Budayr 1); he then united his forces with those of al-Hajjaj 1 and they overthrew Abdullah ibn Zubayr (Abdullah 3) at Medina: Chron. 1234, §147 (p. 293). He wielded his authority ruthlessly and took action against Christian leaders, killing them and plundering their property (see Mardanshah 1, Anonymus 127, Symeon 10 and Anastasios 27); he massacred the leaders of Armenia (see below); "up to that time the Christians had been scribes and leaders and govenors of the Arab regions": Chron. 1234, §148 (p. 294). After the emperor Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) broke the terms of the peace treaty, Muhammad "the ruler of Mesopotamia" was ordered by Abdulmalik 1 to invade Roman territory and plunder as he liked: Chron. 1234, §150 (p. 296). He was the Arab general in command of the Arab army which encountered the Romans under Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) near Sebastopolis in c. 692; after an initial defeat, he suborned the commander of the Slav army which Justinian (Ioustinianos 1) had brought with him (Neboulos 1) and secured his defection and that of most of his troops; the Romans then retreated: Theoph. AM 6184 (styled Μουάμεδ στρατηγὸν). Described as "the amir of the island of Kardu" (i.e. Gordyene), he went to Cappadocia after the emperor Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1) had attacked Cyprus in breach of his treaty with `Abd al-Malik (Abdulmalik 1); near Kaisareia he was attacked by the Romans and their Slav allies and defeated them; following this defeat the Slavs allied themselves with the Arabs and many settled in Syria: Bar Hebr., pp. 103-104. The date was c. 693. He accepted the submission of Armenia to the Arabs from Symbatios 1 (probably in 693): Chron. 1234, §150 (p. 296). Muhammad 2 (Muhammad ibn Marwan) attacked the Greeks in AH 74 (May 693/May 694) and again in AH 75 (May 694/April 695) in the summer campaign: Baladhuri, tr. Hitti, p. 294. In 694 he invaded the Roman empire (ἐπεστράτευσε Μουάμεδ τὴν Ῥωμανίαν) accompanied by the Slavs who had deserted, and took many captives: Theoph. AM 6186. In 695 he attacked Armenia Quarta and returned with many captives: Theoph. AM 6187. In 700 he led a large Arab army to Persia, joined forces with al-Hajjaj 1 and defeated the rebellion of Abd ar-Rahman 2: Theoph. AM 6192. In 702, after the Armenians rebelled from the Arabs and submitted again to Rome, Muhammad 2 attacked them and killed large numbers and brought Armenia back under the rule of the Arabs; he had the leaders of the Armenians burnt alive: Theoph. AM 6195, Zon. XIV 24. 5, Chron. 1234, §151 (p. 297) (after the Armenians rebelled against the Arabs, "Muhammad son of Marwan went up and destroyed the Romans who had come to Armenia (i.e. the Roman soldiers) and he killed many Armenians and Armenia returned to the Arabs"). In 707 (year 89 of the Arabs) Muhammad 2 was dismissed from his post in Mesopotamia by the new caliph, his nephew Walid I (Walid 1); his successor was Walid's brother Maslama 1: Chron. 1234, §153 (p. 299).

In AH 73 (May 692/May 693) = 1003 Sel. (691/692) Muhammad 2 (Muhammad ibn Marwan) entered the Roman city of Sebasteia in triumph: Elias, Chron., p. 151, 19-25 = p. 73. In AH 88 (Dec. 706/Dec. 707) = 1018 Sel. (706/707) Muhammad ibn Marwan invaded Armenia and left victorious: Elias, Chron., p. 157, 25-p. 158, 2 = p. 75.

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