Thus matters came to pass exactly as he had foretold: after that year he never returned to Egypt; instead, his residence remained in al-Sham.

[In this same year] (1) two sons were born to the Sultan, namely (2) al-Muʿaẓẓam Turanshah (3) and al-Malik al-Muḥsin (4) Aḥmad. Seven days separated their births, the provinces were adorned, and the celebrations lasted for fourteen days—praise be to Allah.

Among the notable figures who died during the year were Shaykh Kamāl al-Dīn, Abū al-Barakāt (5) ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī al-Saʿādāt ʿUbayd Allah ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿUbayd Allah ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Ibrāhīm al-Anbārī, the grammarian-jurist, devoted worshipper, ascetic, humble servant, and scrupulously pious man. He lived austerely and would accept nothing from anyone, not even from the caliph. Although he attended the Sufis’ turn of chanting at the caliphal palace, he refused to take a single coin from the gratuities the caliph bestowed upon them. He was constant in study and authored several beneficial works.

[His death] (6) occurred in Shaʿbān of this year.

Judge (7) Ibn Khallikān said: “He composed a very valuable book entitled Asrār al-ʿArabiyyah (‘The Secrets of Arabic’), as well as (8) Tabaqāt al-Nuḥāt (9), which is likewise highly useful (10), [and the work al-Mīzān fī al-Naḥw] (11), among others. Allah, exalted is He, knows best (12).”

Then the year 578 AH commenced. On the fifth of Muḥarram (13) the Sultan set out (14) from the Egyptian domains, heading to al-Sham to confront the enemy,