Chase, a Hellenized form of the Arabic name "Hasan", is mentioned by the "De Administrando Imperio", a work compiled in the middle of the 10th century by Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, and the chronicles of Theophanes Continuatus and Georgius Monachus. Along with his younger brother, who received the Christian name Niketas on his baptism, he was reportedly a slave of the "patrikios" Damian, the "parakoimomenos" of Emperor Michael III (), implying that they had been captured as prisoners of war during a conflict with the Arabs around the middle of the 9th century or shortly after. It is unclear whether they came alone or with their father Ioube (Ἰούβη, Hellenized form of Ayyub); it is possible that they came to Byzantium as children, and that Niketas was even born there. Unlike his brother, who converted to Christianity, Chase remained a Muslim throughout his life.