though the latter too was a gifted and accomplished scholar. Both of them died in this same year—may Allah have mercy on them. (1)

[Then came the year 656 AH]

In this year the Tatars captured Baghdad, slaughtered most of its people—including the caliph—and the Abbasid rule there came to an end.

The year opened with the Tatar forces already besieging Baghdad together with the two princes who led the vanguard of the armies of the Tatar sultan, Hūlāgū Khān (2). Reinforcements from the ruler of Mosul likewise reached them, assisting the invaders against the Baghdadis and supplying them with provisions, gifts, and presents—all out of fear for himself from the Tatars and to curry favor with them—may Allah disgrace them. (3)

Baghdad had been fortified, and mangonels, trebuchets, and other engines of defense (4) were set up, yet none of that could ward off anything of Allah’s decree (5), exalted and glorified be He, as the report states: “Caution is of no avail against destiny.” (6) The Almighty says, “Indeed, when the time set by Allah comes, it will not be delayed.” (Q 71:4)

He also says, “Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves; and when Allah intends ill for a people, none can repel it, and apart from Him they have no protector.” (Q 13:11)

The Tatars surrounded the Caliphal Palace, showering it with arrows from every side, until one of the slave-girls who used to play before the caliph and amuse him—she was among his favorites, a native-born concubine named ‘Arfah (7)—was struck by an arrow that came through one of the windows and killed her while she was dancing before him. The caliph was greatly shaken and alarmed; he had the arrow brought before him and found written on it: “When He wills to execute His decree and destiny, He removes reason from those possessed of reason.” The caliph thereupon ordered even stricter precautions, and additional curtains were hung around the palace.

Hūlāgū Khān arrived with all his troops—about two hundred (8) thousand fighting men—at Baghdad on the twelfth of Muḥarram that year. He was seething with anger against the caliph on account of the prior affair that Allah had decreed, ordained, executed, and fulfilled, namely that