among them (1), while al-Hakim escaped with a small contingent. The engagement (2) occurred on the first of Muharram in the year 660 AH.

In this he resembled al-Husayn ibn ʿAli, who pressed deep into Iraqi territory despite its vast armies. It would have been better for him to remain in Bilad al-Sham (3) until matters had settled and circumstances become clear (4)—but Allah decreed, and He does what He wills.

The Sultan [al-Malik al-Zahir] equipped yet another army in Damascus and sent it against the lands of the Franks; they raided, killed, and took captives, then returned safely. The Franks thereupon sought a truce, and he granted it for a term because he was occupied with Aleppo and its districts.

In Shawwal he dismissed the Qadi of Egypt, Taj al-Din ibn Bint al-Aʿazz (5), and appointed in his place Burhan al-Din al-Khidr ibn al-Husayn al-Sinjari (6). He also removed the Qadi of Damascus, Najm al-Din Abu Bakr ibn Sadr al-Din Ahmad ibn Shams al-Din ibn Hibat Allah ibn Sani al-Dawla (7), and installed Shams al-Din Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Abu Bakr ibn Khallikan (8), who had long served in Cairo as deputy judge for Badr al-Din al-Sinjari (9). In addition (10) to the judiciary he entrusted him with the supervision of endowments, the congregational mosque, the hospital, and the teaching of seven madrasahs: the ʿAdiliyya, the Nasiriyya, the ʿAdrawiyya, the Falakiyya, the Rukniyya, the Iqbaliyya, and the Bahnasiyya. His deed of appointment was read aloud on the Day of ʿArafa—a Friday—after the prayer, from the Kamali window of the Great Mosque of Damascus.

The deposed judge departed under guard. Shaykh Abu Shama (11) spoke against him, claiming he had betrayed a trust of gold by turning it into copper coin; Allah knows best. His tenure had lasted a year and some months.

On the Day of Eid, which fell on a Saturday, the Sultan set out for Egypt (12).

An envoy of the Ismaʿiliyyah had already come to the Sultan in Damascus, issuing threats and intimidation (13) and requesting from him—