Mawdud was an officer of Mehmed I of Great Seljuk, who sent him to reconquer Mosul from the rebel atabeg Jawali.
At the beginning of 1168, Kara Arslan, the Artuqid emir of Hasankeyf, died, and Qutb ad-Din Mawdud tried to conquer that city; but he was pushed back by Nur ad-Din, who had promised to defend Arslan's successors.
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After the death of Saif ad-Din Ghazi in 1149, Qutb ad-Din Mawdud was the first to arrive in Mosul and have himself recognized as emir; Nur ad-Din, who desired to add the city to his lands, occupied Homs and Sinjar, preparing to attack his brother.