Likewise, in this very year the enemy advanced from two directions—the highlands of Syria and the lands north (1) of the Euphrates, as well as from the regions south (2) of the Euphrates. Eyes wandered wildly and ⦗ق 58⦘ hearts leapt to the throats at the enormity of the calamity, especially once the news spread that the army had withdrawn to Egypt, that the enemy was already near (3) and marching toward Damascus, and people began to entertain all kinds of thoughts (4) about Allah:

One man imagined that none of the Syrian troops would stand before them until they had exterminated the inhabitants of Syria.

Another supposed that, even if the Syrians did stand their ground, the enemy would crush them with the worst of defeats and surround them as a halo surrounds the moon.

A third believed that the land of Syria would no longer be fit for habitation, nor would it remain under Muslim rule.

Yet another held that the enemy would seize it, then move on to Egypt and occupy it as well, with no one able to resist them—so he began to plan his flight to Yemen and the like.

And there was one—when he put the best construction on matters—who would say (5): “They will take possession of it this year, just as they did in the year of Hūlāgū, 657 AH. Then an army will march out of Egypt and wrest it back from them, just as happened that year.” This (6) was the most optimistic view among them.