Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (14/396)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

the captives be sent back to their families (1) in Damascus, and he dispatched (2) the Cross to Damascus in disgrace. Meanwhile, the Franks (3) pitched their tents outside the town and brought three thousand Muslims—may Allah be pleased with them—together on one open plain. They kept them there until after the afternoon prayer, then charged them as one man and slaughtered them to the last on that very ground—may Allah be pleased with them—asking Allah to honor their resting place and to make the gardens of Paradise their final abode.

They left alive from among the Muslims only an emir or a high-ranking captive (4), anyone they thought strong enough for manual labor, or a woman [or a child; and what came to pass, came to pass] (5). Concerning this, Allah says: “The matter about which you sought a ruling has been decided” (Qur’an 12:41).

The Sultan—may Allah have mercy on him—remained before Acre, steadfast and on guard, for thirty-seven months (6), during which some fifty thousand Franks were killed.

Section: Events that took place after the Franks captured Acre

The Franks then set out in full force toward Ascalon, while the Sultan marched alongside them with his army, shadowing and opposing them station by station, stage by stage. Muslims snatched at them and despoiled them wherever they were found, and every prisoner brought before the Sultan he ordered put to death on the spot (7). Numerous engagements (8) occurred between the two armies.

The King of England (9) requested a meeting with al-Malik al-ʿĀdil, the Sultan’s brother, seeking peace and security—[on condition that the coastal towns be restored to their rightful inhabitants] (10). Al-ʿĀdil replied, “Between you and that stands the killing of every one of your horsemen and foot soldiers.” The accursed man became furious and rose from his presence in anger (11).

The Franks then massed to fight the Sultan at the forest of Arsuf (12); [victory belonged to the Muslims, and at the forest of Arsuf] (13) thousands upon thousands of Franks were slain, while many Muslims also fell, for the army had already fled from

(1) Manuscript A reads “amakinahum” (their places); the printed edition reads “ahlihum” (their families). (2) The printed edition reads “ward al-salib” (the return of the cross). (3) Manuscripts A and B read “wa-barazat” (and it emerged). (4) The printed edition reads “amiran aw sabiyan” (an emir or a youth). (5) The printed edition reads “aw imraah” (or a woman) and adds “wa-jarat alladhi kana” (and what was to happen occurred). (6) The printed edition reads “wa-kanat muddat iqamat Salah al-Din ala ‘Akka” (and it coincided with Saladin’s residence in Acre). (7) The printed edition reads “bi-qatlihi fi makanh” (by killing him in his place) and adds “wa-jarat” (and it happened). (8) The printed edition reads “wa-jarat khutub bayna al-jayshayn” (and negotiations took place between the two armies) and adds “wa-waqaʿat” (and engagements occurred). (9) Manuscripts A and B read “al-Inkiltir” (England). (10) The printed edition reads “‘ala an yu‘ad li-ahliha bilad al-sawahil” (on condition that the coastal lands be returned to their inhabitants). (11) Manuscripts A and B read “wa-huwa mutaghaddid” (and he was enraged). (12) “Arsuf is a city on the Syrian coast between Caesarea and Jaffa” (Mu‘jam al-Buldan). (13) Absent in manuscript B.

الأسارى إِلى أهاليهم (١) بدمشق، وبعث (٢) بالصليب إِلى دمشق مهانًا، وأبرزت (٣) الفرنج خيامهم إِلى ظاهر البلد، وأحضروا ثلاثة آلاف من المسلمين في صعيد واحد (رضي الله عنهم) ، فأوقفوهم بعد العصر وحملوا عليهم حملة رجل واحد فقتلوهم عن آخرهم في صعيد واحد (رضي الله عنهم) وأكرم مثواهم وجعل الجنان منقلبهم ومثواهم. ولم يستبقوا بأيديهم من المسلمين إِلا أميرًا أو سريًا (٤) ، أو من يرونه في عملهم قويًا، أو امرأة [أو صبيًا، وكان ما كان] (٥) ، و ﴿قُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ الَّذِي فِيهِ تَسْتَفْتِيَانِ﴾ [يوسف: ٤١] وكان مدة [مقام السلطان (رحمه الله) ] (٦) على عكا صابرًا مرابطًا سبعة وثلاثين شهرًا، وجملة من قتل من الفرنج خمسين ألفًا. [فصل فيما جرى من الحوادث بعد أخذ الفرنج عكا] ساروا برُمَّتهم قاصدين عسقلان، والسلطان بجيشه يسايرهم ويعارضهم منزلة منزلة، ومرحلة مرحلة، والمسلمون يتخطِّفونهم، ويسلبونهم في كل مكان، وكل أسير أُتي به إِلى السلطان يأمر بقتله في ذلك المكان والأوان (٧) ، وجرت بين الجيشين وقعات (٨) متعددات، ثم طلب ملك الإِنكليز (٩) أن يجتمع بالملك العادل أخي السلطان يطلب منه الصلح والأمان. [على أن تعاد إِلى أهلها بلاد الساحل] (١٠) فقال له العادل: إِن دون ذلك قتل كل فارس منكم وراجل، فغضب اللعين ونهض من عنده غضبان (١١) ، ثم اجتمعت الفرنج على حرب السلطان عند غابة أرسوف (١٢) ، [فكانت النصرة للمسلمين، فقتل من الفرنج عند غابة أرسوف] (١٣) ألوف بعد ألوف، وقتل من المسلمين خلق كثير أيضًا، وقد كان الجيش فرَّ عن

(١) أ: أماكنهم، ط: أهليهم. (٢) ط: وردّ الصليب. (٣) أ، ب: وبرزت. (٤) ط: أميرًا أو صبيًا. (٥) ط: أو امرأة. وجرى الذي كان. (٦) ط: وكان مدة إِقامة صلاح الدين على عكا. (٧) ط: بقتله في مكانه وجرت. (٨) ط: وجرت خطوب بين الجيشين ووقعات. (٩) أ، ب: الانكلتير. (١٠) ط: على أن يعاد لأهلها بلاد السواحل. (١١) أ، ب: وهو متغضب. (١٢) أرسوف مدينة على ساحل بحر الشام بين قيسارية ويافا (معجم البلدان). (١٣) ليس في ب.