Another group in Egypt also rallied around this affair, held a large gathering, and met with the Sultan. They reached a unanimous decision to have the Shaykh killed, but the Sultan would not agree.

***
[The Shaykh’s Imprisonment in the Citadel of Damascus]

On Monday after the ʿAṣr prayer, the 6th of Shaʿbān of the year just mentioned, the supervisor of awqāf came to the Shaykh on behalf of the deputy ruler in Damascus, accompanied by Ibn Khaṭīr, one of the chamberlains (1). They told him that a royal decree had arrived requiring him to remain in the Citadel, and they had brought a mount for him. The Shaykh displayed delight and said, “I have been expecting this; in it lies great good.”

They all rode together from his house to the Citadel gate. A pleasant hall was cleared for him, water was supplied, and he was instructed to reside there. His brother Zayn al-Dīn was allowed—by the Sultan’s permission—to stay with him and serve him, and an allowance was assigned to meet his needs.

On Friday, the 10th of the same month, the royal decree to this effect—together with an order forbidding him to issue legal verdicts—was read aloud in the Great Mosque of Damascus.

On Wednesday, the middle of Shaʿbān, the Shāfiʿī judge ordered that a group be imprisoned.