a Jewish apothecary. He then advanced in the practice of medicine, and fortune so favored him that, in the eyes of Khurbanda, he was like an indivisible atom. His rank and influence soared, he assumed posts normally reserved for ministers, and he amassed wealth, estates, and prosperity beyond all reckoning or description. He publicly professed Islam, possessed many commendable qualities, produced a Qur’an commentary, and authored numerous other works. He had children and immense riches, and he reached the age of eighty⦗1⦘.
He rendered notable service on the Day of al-Raḥba⦗2⦘, for he negotiated on behalf of the Muslims and—handling the matter with great skill—secured the retreat of the Tatar king from the Syrian lands⦗3⦘ in the year twelve, as has already been mentioned. He used to advise in favor of Islam, yet many people took offense at him, accused him in matters of religion, and criticized that commentary of his. Without doubt he was confused and confusing, possessed of neither sound knowledge nor [any righteous deed]⦗4⦘.
When Abū Saʿīd came to power he dismissed him, and for a time he sank into obscurity. Later Jūbān summoned him and said, “Did you give Sultan Khurbanda poison to drink?” He answered, “I enjoyed the height of greatness and honor—how could I possibly have resorted to poisoning him under such circumstances?⦗5⦘” The physicians were then brought in; they described the course and nature of Khurbanda’s illness and stated that Rashīd had recommended a purgative because of the accumulations in his abdomen. His bowels moved nearly seventy times, and he died, whereupon [he confessed]⦗6⦘ that he had erred in his medical judgment. Jūbān retorted, “Then you killed him.” He therefore executed Rashīd and his son Ibrāhīm, seized their treasures and properties—which amounted to a vast sum—dismembered his body, and sent each part to a different town. His head was paraded in Tabriz with the proclamation, “This is the head of the Jew who altered the word of Allah—may Allah curse him!” His corpse was then burned, and the execution was carried out by ʿAlī Shāh⦗7⦘.
In this same month—Jumādā I—Taqī al-Dīn al-Ikhnāʾī assumed the Mālikī judgeship in Egypt in place of Zayn al-Dīn ibn Makhlūf, who died at the age of eighty-four after spending thirty-three years on the bench⦗8⦘.
On Thursday, the tenth of Rajab, Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn Yūsuf, son of al-Malik al-Awḥad, donned the robe of emirate by decree of the sultan⦗9⦘.
At the end of Rajab a great flood swept across the outskirts of Homs, causing extensive destruction. It moved toward the city in order to enter it, but the moat held it back.