the suspicions concerning the king that you had heard. When the judges learned that the case involved the king, they held back and feared to speak—a fear for which Allah may or may not excuse them. But for this, they would have had things to say. Had this ruling been an aberration, or involved some interest of a man wielding the sword, extraordinary things would have happened.”

They said: “Our master, who would speak about the king’s affairs? We will not speak. Spare us any talk of the king.”

I replied: “You oblivious man! I will spare you talk of the king—but was this turmoil, with which you have filled the world, stirred up by anything other than that? We had already heard this in Damascus, but we did not believe that any rational person would credit it.”

Once these people have put the suspicions concerning the king out of their minds, whenever some of what my opponents say is mentioned to them, they regard it as extremely grave and believe that whoever says such things deserves the severest punishment. For Allah, glorified be He, says:

“He is the One Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it prevail over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as a Witness.”

He therefore knows that, were I to request this, tales about Badr al-Dīn and me would fly in every direction, and people would say that we had secret agreements between us. I deal with him in a manner for which I hope to receive Allah’s reward, and he acts according to the requirements of his religion.

Moreover, “Badr al-Dīn” cannot endure people’s talk and harassment—the sort inflicted by people like these—being a man who holds office and has enemies. As for me—and there is no power nor strength except through Allah—they have already done everything within their power. Nothing remains but the help of Allah, which He has promised His Messenger and those who believe, in the life of this world and on the Day when the witnesses stand forth.