Then, after the death of Salah al-Din, (1) affairs began to fluctuate, diverge, and grow ever more serious (2) in every sphere (3) until events settled where they did: the realms found stability, the assemblies united (4) behind the Sultan’s brother al-ʿAdil (5), and sovereignty passed to his noble and distinguished sons, as we shall explain (6) if Allah, Exalted is He, wills.
In that same year (7) the caliph al-Nasir li-Din Allah (8) refurbished the library of the Nizamiyyah Madrasa in Baghdad, transferring into it thousands of fine and precious volumes.
During Muharram of that year (9) an extraordinary incident occurred in Baghdad. The daughter of a merchant dealing in flour fell in love (10) with her father’s servant-boy. When the father discovered their affair, he expelled the youth from his house. The girl nonetheless arranged a tryst with him for one night (11); he came to her in secret, and she concealed him in part of the house (12). Later that night he descended and murdered his master—her father (13). At her urging he then killed her mother, who was pregnant. She handed him jewellery worth two thousand dinars. By morning the matter reached the police; he was arrested and executed—may Allah disgrace him and her alike. Her father had been among the finest of people, lavish in charity and kindness, and he was (14) a handsome young man—may Allah have mercy on him.
Also in this year Shaykh Abu ʿAbd Allah ibn Abi ʿAli al-Nuqani (15) began teaching in the new school beside the tomb of Maʿruf al-Karkhi. Judges and dignitaries attended, and a splendid banquet was held on the occasion.