In this same year

(1) Sultan Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn abolished all customs dues and taxes levied upon the people of Egypt. The decree proclaiming this was read aloud before the assembled public on Friday, after the congregational prayer, the third of Ṣafar.

During the year as well (2) a rift arose between Sultan (3) Nūr al-Dīn and Sultan Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn al-Nāṣir (4). The cause was that Sultan (5) Nūr al-Dīn campaigned that year against the Franks along the coast, inflicting upon them a severe blow and instilling in their hearts vengeance and dread. He then resolved to besiege al-Karak and wrote to Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, instructing him to meet him there with the Egyptian forces so that together they might confer (6) on measures whose benefit (7) would accrue to the Muslims.

Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, however, grew suspicious and feared that the affair concealed some stratagem that might strip him of the authority he had gained over Egypt. Even so, he set out with his army from [Egypt] (8) in order (9) to obey the royal command. After marching for several days, he turned back, pleading the scarcity of mounts and his fear that disorder (10) would befall the Egyptian territories were he to be absent and preoccupied elsewhere. He dispatched an apology on these grounds to the just sultan, King Nūr al-Dīn—may Allah have mercy on him. This settled poorly in the latter’s heart; his anger intensified and he resolved to advance [into Egypt] (11), wrest it (12) from Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, and appoint (13) another ruler in his place.

When this news reached Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn he was greatly distressed. He mentioned (14) the matter in the presence of the emirs and grandees, whereupon his nephew (15) Taqī al-Dīn ʿUmar spoke up, saying, “By Allah, if Nūr al-Dīn comes against us, we shall fight him!” (16) At this the emir Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb, the father of Sultan Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn, rebuked him, cursed him, and silenced him. Then he said to his son, “Listen to what I say to you; by Allah, there is no one here more concerned for you than I and than…"