On Saturday, the last day of this month, the comely youth Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn Faraj (1), the muezzin of the Minaret of the Bride, passed away. He was celebrated for the beauty of his voice and enjoyed great favor among the townspeople; indeed—may Allah have mercy on him—his rich, melodious tone surpassed what the soul could desire. In his day neither among the Qur’an reciters nor among the muezzins was there anyone who approached his level. Toward the end of his life he followed a virtuous path, performed righteous deeds, withdrew from people, and devoted himself to his own spiritual affairs. May Allah show him mercy and honor his resting place. The funeral prayer was performed for him that same day after the noon prayer, and he was buried beside his brother in the Sufi cemetery.
On Thursday, the fifth of Dhu al-Hijjah, Shaykh Badr al-Din Ahmad ibn Baskhan (2)—the foremost authority on the seven canonical readings of the Qur’an in the city and renowned for that expertise—died. The funeral prayer was held for him in the congregational mosque after the noon prayer that same day, and he was buried at Bab al-Faradis—may Allah have mercy upon him.
On Sunday, the ninth—the Day of ʿArafah—the Qur’an lesson at the mausoleum of Umm al-Salih was conducted, in place of Shaykh Badr al-Din ibn Baskhan, by Judge Shihab al-Din Ahmad ibn al-Naqib al-Baʿlabakki (3). A number of scholars and some judges attended. His arrival was unexpected, and he was in poor health. During the session he discussed variant readings and points of grammar while reciting the Almighty’s words: “Let not those who disbelieve think that Our granting them respite is good for them” (Aal ʿImran 3:178).
Toward the end of the month prices skyrocketed and bread grew scarce. People packed the bakeries in great crowds, and barley bread mixed with weed seeds and chaff (4) was being sold. A sack reached 186 dirhams. Matters became so severe that bread sold for one dirham per ratl (approximately one pound), sometimes a little more, sometimes less, according to its quality. We belong to Allah and to Him we return. Begging increased, households went hungry, and many livelihoods and conditions deteriorated. Yet Allah’s kindness is immense. The people are bracing for a dreadful surge in prices the like of which has not been heard of in many years, and its time is almost upon us. Even so, in many districts the barley harvest has already begun, along with some wheat; broad beans are abundant and the first mulberries have appeared. Were it not for this, the situation would have been far worse. But Allah is gentle with His servants; He is the Sovereign Who disposes, the Doer of whatever He wills—there is no deity but He.
[Then the year 744 AH began]
The new year opened with the Sultan of the Muslims being al-Malik al-Nasir ʿImad al-Dunya wa-l-Din Ismaʿil ibn al-Malik al-Nasir Nasir al-Din Muhammad ibn al-Malik al-Mansur Sayf al-Din Qalawun al-Salihi.