Sultan Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn invested him with the lordship of Homs after his father, and he continued to rule it for 56 years (1).

In Damascus he studied under al-Faḍl ibn al-Banyāsī; Ibn Barri authorised him to transmit, and he himself later narrated hadith.

He was a valiant, courageous, and awe-inspiring warrior. His territories were kept free of wine, and he forbade women altogether from leaving through the gates of Homs—a ban that remained in force for fear that their men might abscond with them because of his severity. He was constant in the prayers and had no taste for frivolity. Sharp-witted, shrewd, handsome, and dignified, he was courted and feared by kings.

Al-Kāmil grew uneasy about him, suspecting that he had sown discord between al-Ashraf and himself; so he confiscated his property and demanded large sums. Shirkuh sent his womenfolk to intercede, but this brought no benefit. He therefore readied the money, yet the death of al-Kāmil surprised him; Shirkuh came, sat by al-Kāmil’s grave, and took charge of affairs.

He is the one who accompanied al-Ṣāliḥ Ismāʿīl and helped him capture Damascus. Al-Muẓaffar, lord of Ḥamāh, sensed their designs, so he outfitted his army as reinforcements to protect Damascus, sending his deputy Sayf al-Dīn ibn Abī ʿAlī fully armed, while pretending that Ibn Abī ʿAlī had quarrelled with al-Muẓaffar and left Ḥamāh because its ruler intended to hand it over to the Franks. This ruse did not deceive Shirkuh: they camped outside Homs, and Shirkuh went out to meet them, thanked him for opposing al-Muẓaffar, and said, “In the name of Allah, master—show us some food.” He then rode with him, summoned the rest of the senior officers of his force, and they entered the city. He arrested the group, tortured them, and seized their wealth. The remaining troops fled to Ḥamāh, al-Muẓaffar’s power was shaken, and his deputy Ibn Abī ʿAlī died in prison.

He died in Homs, in the month of Rajab (2), 637 AH.