Al-Uqud al-Durriyya - Ibn Abd al-Hadi - (الكتاب/229)

He said, “So I led him toward the enemy, who were coming down (1) like a flood, their weapons (2) flashing beneath the thick cloud of dust that hung over them.

Then I said to him, ‘My master, this is the place of death. The enemy has arrived beneath that swirling dust-cloud—go on and do as you intend.’

He said: At that he lifted his eyes to the sky, fixed his gaze (3), and moved his lips for a long time; then he sprang forward and advanced into the fray. As for me, I imagined (4) that he had invoked Allah against them and that his supplication was answered at that very moment.

He continued: The fighting (5) then grew intense between us, and I did not see him again until Allah granted victory and help. The Tatars withdrew to a small hill, seeking refuge there from the Muslims’ swords; it was late in the day.

He said: Suddenly I saw the Shaykh and his brother shouting at the top of their voices—urging the troops to fight and warning the people against flight.

So I said to him, ‘My master, rejoice in the victory, for Allah has bestowed conquest and aid. Behold, the Tatars are trapped against this hillside; tomorrow, if Allah wills, they will be taken to the last man.’”

(1) MSS B and Q read: “munhadirun” (descending), whereas MSS F and K read: “mutahidun” (united). (2) MS Q reads: “aslihatuhum” (their weapons). (3) MSS B and Q read: “bi-basarihi” (with his sight). (4) MS F reads: “li” (for me). (5) All manuscripts have the word as it stands, but it is probably “hal” (hindrance); the form “ahal,” by contrast, means “to transform.”

قال: فسُقْتُه إلى مقابلة العدوّ، وهم مُتحدّرون (١) كالسّيل، تلوحُ أسلحتُهم (٢) من تحت الغبار المنعقد عليهم. ثم قلت له: يا سيدي! هذا موقف الموت، وهذا العدوّ قد أقبل تحت هذه الغَبَرة المنعقدة، فدونك وما تريد. قال: فرفع طَرْفَه إلى السماء، وأشخصَ بصرَه (٣)، وحرّك شفتيه طويلًا، ثم انبعثَ وأقدم على القتال. وأما أنا فخُيِّل إليَّ (٤) أنّه دعا عليهم، وأنّ دعاءه استُجيب منه في تلك الساعة. قال: ثم أحال (٥) القتال بيننا والالتحام، وما عدتُ رأيتُه، حتى فتح الله ونصر، وانحاز التتار إلى جبل صغير، عصموا نفوسهم به من سيوف المسلمين تلك الساعة، وكان آخر النهار. قال: وإذا أنا بالشيخ وأخيه يصيحان بأعلى صوتيهما، تحريضًا على القتال، وتخويفًا للناس من الفرار. فقلت له: يا سيدي! لك البشارةُ بالنصر، فإنّه قد فتح الله ونصر، وهاهم التتار محصورون بهذا السّفْح، وفي غدٍ ــ إن شاء الله ــ يُؤخَذون عن آخرهم.

(١) (ب، ق): «منحدرون»، (ف، ك): «متحدون». (٢) (ق): «أسلاحتهم». (٣) (ب، ق): «ببصره». (٤) (ف): «لي». (٥) كذا في النسخ، ولعلها: «حال» أي: منع. أما «أحال» فمعناها: تحوّل.