Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (15/613)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

Good tidings (1) arrived of al-Malik al-Nāṣir’s entry into Egypt on Saturday, the fourth of Jumada I; it was a memorable day. The proclamation drums (2) were beaten, and the judges and the chief dignitaries of the realm entered the Citadel (3). The bayʿa was given to him in the presence of ʿAlam al-Dīn Arjawāsh, and sermons were delivered for him from the pulpits—in Damascus and elsewhere—in the presence of the foremost scholars, judges (4), and emirs. Word was then received that he had mounted and processed through Cairo wearing the caliph’s robe of investiture, with the army accompanying him on foot (5); the celebration drums were struck once more.

His edicts arrived and were read out from the royal balcony; they urged gentleness toward the subjects and commanded kindness to them, so the people prayed for him (6).

Emir Jamāl al-Dīn Aqūsh al-Afram came as viceroy over Damascus; he entered the city on Wednesday, shortly before the ʿaṣr prayer, the twenty-second of Jumada I. As was customary, he took up residence in the Dār al-Saʿāda. The townsfolk rejoiced at his arrival and lit candles for him—on Friday as well they did so (7) when he came to the Friday prayer in the royal enclosure.

A few days later Jāghān and Lajin, governor of the frontier, were released and reinstated in their former posts (8). Emir Ḥusām al-Dīn al-Ustādār (9) was confirmed as atabeg of the Egyptian forces, and Emir Sayf al-Dīn Salar was appointed viceroy in Egypt (10). Al-Aʿsar was released from prison in Ramaḍān and granted the vizierate in Egypt; Qarasunqur al-Manṣūrī was likewise freed and given the viceroyalty of Ṣubayba. When the ruler of Ḥamāh, al-Malik al-Muẓaffar, died, Qarasunqur was transferred there.

[The Ordeal of Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn Ibn Taymiyya]

This episode had taken place toward the end of Lajin’s reign, after Qabjaq had left the country. A group of jurists (11) rose against him and sought to summon him before the session of the Ḥanafī judge Jalāl al-Dīn, but he did not appear. A proclamation was therefore made in the city concerning the creed (ʿaqīda) he had articulated in answer to the people of Ḥamāh, known as the Ḥamawiyya (12), whereupon Emir Sayf came to his defense.

(1) Manuscript B: “And the good news arrived of King al-Nasir’s entry into the Egyptian territories and al-Qahirah al-Muʿazzizah (the Honored Cairo).” (2) Manuscript A reads “wa-ḍuribat” (“and it was struck”); Manuscript B reads “wa-ḍuribat al-bashāʾir wa-ṭubūl khānāt al-umarāʾ” (“and the good tidings were proclaimed and the princes’ trumpets were sounded”). (3) Manuscript B: “to the al-Qalʿa al-Manṣūra (the Victorious Citadel), and al-Nasir was pledged allegiance.” (4) Manuscript B: “the scholars, the learned men, the judges, and the princes—then the report came with an elaborate account of the king’s splendor and the Cairo quarter bearing his name.” (5) Manuscript B: “infantry marched before him; it was a celebrated day, and the good tidings were proclaimed.” (6) Manuscript B: “and numerous prayers were offered for him.” (7) Manuscript B: “and they lit candles for him upon his arrival and entry.” (8) Manuscript B: “and the residents of al-Birr returned to their homes and settled.” (9) In some copies: “al-Ustadh dar.” The reading in Manuscript B—and the pronunciation used by Egyptians and Syrians as an abbreviation—became conventional; its original form is al-Ustādh dār (bishār). (10) “as deputy in the lands of Egypt.” (11) “and he rose (stood up).” (12) “the qaṣīda (ode) that he used to recite at al-Humaymiyya.”

وجاءت البشائر (١) بدخول الملك الناصر إلى مصر يوم السبت رابع جمادى الأولى، وكان يومًا مشهودًا، ودقت (٢) البشائر ودخل القضاة وأكابر الدولة إلى القلعة (٣) ، وبويع بحضرة علم الدين أرْجَوَاش، وخطب له على المنابر (بدمشق وغيرها) بحضرة أكابر العلماء والقضاة (٤) والأمراء، وجاء الخبر بأنه قد ركب وشق القاهرة وعليه خلعة الخليفة، والجيش معه مشاة (٥) ، فضربت البشائر أيضًا. وجاءت مراسيمه فقرئت على السدة وفيها الرفق بالرعايا والأمر بالإحسان إليهم، فدعوا له (٦) ، وقدم الأمير جمال الدين آقوش الأفرم نائبًا على دمشق، فدخلها يوم الأربعاء قبل العصر ثاني عِشْري جمادى الأولى، فنزل بدار السعادة (على العادة) ، وفرح الناس بقدومه، وأشعلوا له الشموع، (وكذلك يوم الجمعة أشعلوا له) لما (٧) جاء إلى صلاة الجمعة بالمقصورة، وبعد أيام أفرج عن جاغان ولاجين (والي) البر، وعادا إلى ما كانا عليه (٨) ، واستقر الأمير حسام الدين الأستادار (٩) أتابكًا للعساكر المصرية، والأمير سيف الدين سلار نائبًا بمصر (١٠) ، وأخرج الأعسر في رمضان من الحبس وولي الوزارة بمصر، وأخرج قراسنقر المنصوري من الحبس وأعطي نيابة الصُّبَيْبة، ثم لما مات صاحب حماة الملك المُظَفَّر نقل قراسنقر إليها. [محنة الشيخ تقي الدين بن تيمية] وكانت قد وقعت في أواخر دولة لاجين بعد خروج قَبْجَق من البلد. قام (١١) عليه جماعةٌ من الفقهاء وأرادوا إحضاره إلى مجلس القاضي جلال الدين الحنفي، فلم يحضر فنودي في البلد في العقيدة التي كان قد سأله عنها أهل حماة المسماة بالحموية (١٢) ، فانتصر له الأمير سيف

(١) ب: وجاءت البشارة بدخول الملك الناصر إلى الديار المصرية والقاهرة المعزية. (٢) أ: وضربت، ب: وضربت البشائر وطبلخاناة الأمراء. (٣) ب: إلى القلعة المنصورة فبويع الناصر. (٤) ب: العلماء والفضلاء والقضاة والأمراء ثم جاء الخبر براوية بأبهة الملك وشقه القاهرة وعليه. (٥) ب: مشاة بين يديه وكان يومًا مشهودًا وضربت البشائر. (٦) ب: فكثرت الأدعية له. (٧) ب: وأشعلوا له الشموع لما قدم ولما جاء. (٨) ب: ولاجين البر وعادا إلى منازلهما واستقر. (٩) في بعض النسخ: "الأستاذ دار" وما هنا من ب، والمصريون والشاميون هكذا كانوا يلفظونها اختصارًا بحيث صارت مصطلحًا، وأصلها: الأستاذ دار (بشار). (١٠): نائبًا بديار مصر. (١١): فقام. (١٢): القصيدة التي كان يضعها بالحموية.