After the death of his father Moulay Sharif in 1659, Sidi Mohammed was once again proclaimed sultan. Moulay Rashid disavowed to pledge allegiance to his older half-brother the sultan, and withdrew himself from court with his partisans. The latter were Qa'id Bargua Susi, who was black, Qa'id Bequal and Qa'id Tufer Arabs and some soldiers. Moulay Rashid headed to the Dra’a, a province of the Sultanate of Tafilalt, to establish himself there. Sidi Mohammed aiming at suppressing the rebellion at birth followed him to Dra’a with a cavalry and having found him, took Moulay Rashid hostage and his followers as well. His followers who had committed treason were paraded on mules with their hock cut off, Moulay Rashid meanwhile was imprisoned. However, Moulay Rashid found a way to escape prison and having done so, quickly went on assembling troops. He starting to fear that his open rebellion kept on, but for the second time, Sultan Sidi Mohammed defeated him and his troops and Moulay Rashid was imprisoned once again. This time he was imprisoned in a smaller cell and Sidi Mohammed forbade him on receiving any visits. Only the sultan's most loyal black servants were allowed inside Moulay Rashid's cell to bring him food and other things he might need.
