of the year 362 AH.⦗9⦘ He was received by Egypt’s chief judge, Abū al-Ṭāhir al-Dhuhlī,⦗1⦗ together with the city’s leading notables. Al-Muʿizz honoured them, spoke with them at length, and made it clear that his purpose was to uphold truth and to wage jihad, to end his life with righteous deeds, and to carry out the commands of his forefather, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He preached and admonished them until they were deeply moved—some even wept—after which he bestowed robes of honour upon them.⦗2⦘

He then asked the qadi, “Which of the caliphs have you seen?”
“Only one,” the judge replied.
“And who is that?”
“Our master,” he said, which pleased al-Muʿizz greatly.⦗3⦘

Al-Muʿizz continued his march until he pitched camp at Giza. His troops began to cross over to Fusṭāṭ, and thereafter he entered Cairo, where a palace of rule had been built for him and the whole of Egypt had been lavishly decorated. He mounted the throne of his dominion and performed two units of prayer.⦗4⦘

He was intelligent, perceptive and resolute, possessed of refinement, learning, discernment, majesty and generosity; in general he inclined toward justice and fairness. Were it not for his doctrinal innovation and Rafidī leanings, he would have been counted among the best of kings.

It is said that when the Ikhshidid dynasty fell, the wife of its former ruler deposited with a Jew a baghluṭāq, an ornament of exquisite jewels. Later she asked him to return it, but he denied having it and remained obstinate. She even offered him her sleeve as security, yet he persisted. She kept pressing him until she said, “Keep it, but give me something of equal value in its place,” and he still refused. She then went to the palace, was granted audience by al-Muʿizz, and told him what had happened. He summoned the Jew and interrogated him, but he would not confess; so al-Muʿizz sent men to his house, had part of the walls demolished, and there they found a jar containing the baghluṭāq. When al-Muʿizz saw it he was astonished by its beauty, though the Jew had removed two pearls from it, which he had sold for 1,600 dinars. Al-Muʿizz handed the ornament back to her. She tried hard to make him accept it as a gift or at least take its price, but he refused, whereupon she said: