By around 811/2 Ishaq was appointed by al-Amin as governor of Arminiyah, with his son al-Fadl serving as his deputy there. Following the commencement of the civil war between al-Amin and al-Ma'mun he decided to take a stand in the province and oppose al-Ma'mun's lieutenant Tahir ibn Muhammad al-San'ani, who had been sent to seize Arminiyah and Adharbayjan on behalf of his patron. After gathering the support of several local notables he set out for Barda, but was soon met by a large force led by Zuhayr ibn Sinan al-Tamimi that al-San'ani had dispatched against him. Following a battle that lasted for the greater part of a day Ishaq and his supporters were defeated, while his son Ja'far was captured and sent as a prisoner to al-Ma'mun.