For most of his 20 year reign he worked towards this aim. Al-Aziz died in 996 while organising an army to march against the Byzantines and al-Hakim, who was eleven years old at the time, became Caliph.
Para sa karamihan ng kanyang 20 taon maghari siya nagtrabaho sa layunin na ito. Al-Aziz namatay sa 996 habang organising ng isang hukbo sa Marso laban sa mga Byzantines at al-Hakim, na labing-years old sa panahon, naging Caliph.