in favour of a vizier such as yourself. So shoulder the trust for which the Commander of the Believers has judged you worthy; before God the proof against you lies in the clear signposts He has shown you. Grasp, then, the writ of the Commander of the Believers with firmness, and let the hem of your cloak sweep in pride that the progeny of prophethood has found honour through you. Choose the road that leads to victory: “Do not break oaths after you have confirmed them, for you have made God your guarantor over you” (Qur’an 16:91).

Shāwar set about hosting the army. They demanded funds, but he stalled; the emirs then pounced on him, arrested him, slaughtered him, and carried his head to al-ʿĀḍid. Shīrkuh himself died two months after entering office.

Imād al-Dīn says: “Shāwar burned Egypt, fearing it might fall to the Franks, and the fire raged for fifty-four days.”

Al-ʿĀḍid conferred Shīrkuh’s post upon his nephew Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn. The Arabs of Egypt and its Sudanese contingents grew angry, banded together, and advanced fifty thousand strong. Battle raged for two days between the Two Palaces, and many of them fell by the sword. That year the great earthquake struck Sicily and destroyed whole communities.

In 565 AH severe earthquakes also rocked Syria, leveled fortresses, and claimed multitudes of lives. The Franks besieged Damietta for fifty days, but failed and withdrew. Nūr al-Dīn captured Sinjār, proceeded to Mosul, organised its affairs, and built the Great Mosque there. He then marched to besiege al-Karak, set up two mangonels against it, and pressed the siege in earnest. Frankish relief forces approached; Nūr al-Dīn met them head-on and mowed them down. Meanwhile Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn secured his hold over Egypt, and his father came to join him—a memorable day on which al-ʿĀḍid himself rode out to greet him.

Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn said, “I have never seen anyone more generous than al-ʿĀḍid! He sent…”