And Allah said concerning the confederates:

“When they came upon you from above you and from below you, when eyes grew wild and hearts reached the throats, and you harbored all manner of thoughts about Allah.”

“There the believers were tested and shaken severely.”

So it was this year. The enemy came from the two directions of Upper Syria—north of the Euphrates and south of it. Eyes grew terribly wild and hearts reached the throats because of the severity of the ordeal, especially when news spread that the army had withdrawn to Egypt and that the enemy was drawing near and advancing toward Damascus. People harbored all manner of thoughts about Allah.

One thought that none of Syria’s soldiers would stand against them, and that they would annihilate the people of Syria. Another thought that even if the soldiers stood their ground, the enemy would crush them and surround them as a halo encircles the moon. Another thought that Syria was no longer fit to inhabit and would no longer remain under Muslim rule. Another thought that they would seize it, then advance upon Egypt and conquer it, with no one able to stand against them; he therefore contemplated fleeing to Yemen or somewhere similar.

Another, at his most optimistic, said: “They will occupy it this year, just as they occupied it in Hūlākū’s time, in the year fifty-seven. Then perhaps the army will march out of Egypt and rescue it from them, just as it marched out that year.” Such was the thinking of the best of them.

Another thought that what he had been told by those versed in prophetic reports and those who received inspirations and glad tidings was nothing but false hopes and idle fables. Another was so overcome by terror and alarm that thoughts passed through his heart like passing clouds; he has no mind