by this title and used to say: “The Muslims cannot have two caliphs.” But when al-Muqtadir assumed power, he said, “This is a boy whose rule is not valid,” and so he adopted this title.

The heretical descendants of 'Ubayd Allāh al-Qaddāh also bore this title. Inwardly, however, they were godless heretics and hypocrites, and their claimed lineage was as false as their religion. This was unlike the Umayyad and Abbasid rulers: both had authentic lineages, and they were Muslims like other Muslim caliphs.

When hypocrisy, religious innovations, and wickedness contrary to the Messenger’s religion became widespread, their enemies were given power over them. The Christian Byzantines repeatedly advanced into Syria and al-Jazīra, taking the Syrian frontier strongholds one after another, until they captured Jerusalem late in the fourth century. Some time later, they besieged Damascus. The people of Syria were in a most desperate plight, caught between the Christian unbelievers and the hypocritical heretics, until Nūr al-Dīn, the martyr, assumed power. He undertook his efforts to uphold Islam, establish its ascendancy, and wage jihad against its enemies.

Then the Banū 'Ubayd, the rulers of Egypt, sought his assistance against the Christians, and he came to their aid. [Many events followed until Egypt was taken from the Banū 'Ubayd. It was captured by Salāh al-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Sādī (1), who had the sermon delivered there in the name of the Abbasids. From that time onward, Islam gained ascendancy in Egypt, after it had remained for a hundred years in the hands of hypocrites who had apostatized from Islam] (*).