reciting to them the Qur’anic verses on patience and fighting in Allah’s cause, and meeting with Ghazan’s deputies—after the latter had withdrawn—in order to secure the release of Muslim captives; many prisoners were in fact freed through his efforts, may Allah have mercy on him.

In 700 AH news arrived that the Tatars intended to invade Greater Syria. Panic spread among the people and they began to flee, but the Shaykh—may Allah have mercy on him—urged them to remain and to defend their homes with whatever was precious or paltry, reminding them of the virtue of jihad. The nearer the Tatars drew to Damascus, the greater the fear, confusion, and flight—especially after Sultan al-Nasir and his troops turned back to Egypt midway, even though he had set out to aid its inhabitants. At the request of the governor of Damascus, the Shaykh therefore sped by express post to Egypt to press the sultan to protect Damascus if he still cared for its people.

Among the words he addressed to them were:

“If you have turned away from Syria and from protecting it, we shall appoint for it a sultan who will guard it, defend it, and make use of its revenues in times of peace.”

Shaykh Taqi al-Din persisted until the armies marched out from Egypt toward Syria. He urged them to wage jihad and promised them certain victory; but when the Tatar king sensed the weakness of his own army he withdrew, and Allah spared the Muslims their harm (1).

Then, in 702 AH, reports again spread that the Tatars were determined to attack Syria. As on every such occasion, the people panicked. The Tatars did indeed advance into Syria, the Egyptian forces arrived, and the Shaykh went out to the camp, met with them, assured them of victory, and exhorted the emirs to patience, perseverance in jihad, and avoidance of cowardice. The battle of Shaqhab (2) took place, and the Shaykh—may Allah have mercy on him—participated personally after despair had nearly taken root in the people and the first signs of division had appeared among them. He issued a fatwa permitting them to break their fast for the duration of the fighting, and he himself broke his fast as well. By Allah’s grace the Muslims triumphed.