Then the year 573 AH began.

In that year: the Sultan al-Nāṣir ordered the construction of the Qalʿat al-Jabal (the Citadel of the Mountain) and the erection of a wall to encircle Cairo (1) and Miṣr, encompassing them both (2). A royal fortress was thus built, the like of which had never been seen in the Egyptian domains, neither in size nor in design (3). Supervision of the project was entrusted to the amir Bahāʾ al-Dīn Qarāqūsh (4), a mamluk of Taqī al-Dīn ʿUmar ibn Shāhinshāh (5) ibn Ayyūb.

Also in that year: the Battle of Ramla befell the Muslims. In Jumāda al-Ūlā the Sultan al-Malik al-Nāṣir Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf departed from Egypt with the intention of attacking the Franks. When he reached the territory of Ramla (6) he captured and plundered, seized booty and prevailed, took prisoners by force, smashed (7) and amassed (8). His army, however, became pre-occupied with the spoils, dispersing through the villages and settlements like cattle, and the Sultan (9) was left alone with only a small detachment. The Franks suddenly charged him with a large force of fighters, and the Sultan escaped only after great exertion; to Allah belong praise and favor (10), the most perfect praise. After some days the scattered troops returned and regrouped around the Sultan (11), and the people of Egypt could scarcely believe the report of his safe return after all the alarming rumors they had heard (12). Matters turned out, as the saying goes (13):
“I counted it a gain merely to come back alive.”

Even so, proclamations of good news resounded throughout the lands in joy at the Sultan’s safety, for no engagement of this sort occurred again (14) until ten years later, on the day of Ḥiṭṭīn. Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. In this encounter the Sultan showed remarkable steadfastness,