—upon adhering to the path of the Salaf. Beginning in the year 698 AH he entered into fierce theological disputes with the scholars of his time who opposed him (1). He personally enforced the prescribed legal penalties, shaved the heads of young boys (2), fought the charlatans who falsely claimed affiliation with Sufism (3), and forbade the making of votive offerings (4). He and his companions would go around the taverns and ale-houses, pouring out the wine (5); he fought certain individuals whose creed he deemed unsound (6), and he was uncompromising with the judges (7). Matters even reached the point that, on one occasion, he entered the prison and personally brought out his companion al-Mizzi (8).

His political persona emerged during the Ghazanid war of 699 AH and thereafter—especially in 702 AH, when he played a prominent role in the Mamluk victory over the Mongols at the Battle of Shaqhab (9).

Adh-Dhahabi loved and admired his shaykh and companion. After lavishing great praise upon him he said, “He is far too eminent for someone like me to list his qualities. If I were to swear an oath between the Black Stone and the Station of Abraham, I would swear that my eyes have never seen anyone like him, and—by Allah—he himself has never seen anyone his equal in knowledge (10).” And when he died,