the notable scholars of the city, until it came to be known as the Nizāmiyya of Syria. Then, in 593 AH, he held the professorship at the ʿAdhrāwiyya; the Lady ʿAdhrāʾ died there and was buried on its grounds—she was the sister of the emir ʿIzz al-Dīn Farrukhshāh.

Fakhr al-Dīn was a man at whom one never tired of looking, thanks to his dignified bearing, the radiance of his face, his gentle manner, and his moderation in dress. He never slackened in the remembrance of Allah, and he would recite hadith beneath “the Eagle” (1).

Abu Shāma (2) said: “I consulted him on various legal questions. Al-Muʿaẓẓam sent for him to appoint him as judge, but he refused. The ruler summoned him at night, so he went; al-Muʿaẓẓam received him, seated him beside him, and when food was brought he declined to eat. Al-Muʿaẓẓam pressed him to accept the judgeship; he replied, ‘I shall seek Allah’s guidance.’ Someone who was with him told me that he returned to his small chamber adjoining the Companions’ miḥrāb, where he spent most of the day. At dawn they came back to him, yet he persisted in refusing and recommended Ibn al-Harastānī instead, who was consequently appointed. Fearing coercion, he had already readied his family for travel, and the inkwells (3) were taken toward the region of Aleppo, but al-ʿĀdil sent them back, and what had happened pained him deeply.

He would even avoid passing through the Hanbalis’ alley lest they fall into sin by maligning him, for many of their common folk disliked the Banū ʿAsākir on account of their adherence to Ashʿarism (4). Al-Muʿaẓẓam did not appoint him to teach at the ʿĀdiliyya because he had censured him for contracting out the revenues of wine and the market toll. Later, when the ruler went on pilgrimage, he stripped him of the Taqāwiyya and the Ṣalāḥiyya of Jerusalem, leaving him nothing but the Jarūkhiyya.

Abu al-Muẓaffar al-Jawzī (5) said: “He was ascetic, devout, pious, wholly devoted to…"