The Nāṣirī Generations 110: V. SULTAN SALAH-UD-DIN, YUSUF, SON OF AIYUB-AL-KURDI.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 110
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V. SULTAN SALAH-UD-DIN, YUSUF, SON OF AIYUB-AL-KURDI.
110.1
Sultan Salah-ud-Din was a great and illustrious monarch, and he waged holy wars and undertook many religious expeditions; and the Kaisar of Rum and the infidel Farangs, he encountered in many conflicts. It was most probable, that in all his doings, and throughout the whole of his career, the sword of heavenly success and divine victory attended him. The territories of Sham, Kuds [the Holy Land], Misr, Hijaz, and Yaman, all came under his rule. As the Most High God willed that, at this, the end of time, His true religion should be manifested, and that the empire of Islam should be victorious, from every illustrious family He made choice of one sovereign, His servant, and, by means of the key of holy war waged by him, caused the gates of conquest of the countries of the infidels to be thrown open. In the same manner as in the countries of the East He distinguished Sultan Mu'izz-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-Sam, Shansabi [Shansabani], Ghuri, by great victories in the country of Hindustan, as far as the boundaries of Chin; in the territories of the West, and in the country of Sham, He made Sultan Salah-ud-Din, Yusuf, the Kurd, exalted by the conquests of the territories of Maghrab, and of the Afranj, so that great victories were achieved by him.
110.2
He brought back again the realm of Misr from the hands of the Misri ’Alawis, who were the chiefs and heads of the Batinah and Karamitah heretics, under the sway of the Khalifahs of the house of ’Abbas; and Kuds [the Holy City], ’Akkah [Acre], and a great portion of the territories of Rum, and Filistin, he liberated from the hands of the infidel Farangs. The beginning of his career was this. When his father, Malik Aiyub, son of Shadi, departed this life, he was in the service of his uncle, Malik Asad-ud-Din, as has been already stated in what has been previously recorded, and used to be constant in his attendance at the Court of Sultan Nur-ud-Din. He had acquired great fame for his manhood, his activity, and his sagacity. He had also become an associate with Sultan Nur-ud-Din in the game of Chaugan, and playing at ball on the course.
110.3
One of the trustworthy has related after the following manner:—One day Salah-ud-Din was engaged with Sultan Nur-ud-Din in the game at ball, and the ball fell between him and the Sultan. By his strength and agility, Salah-ud-Din, with one blow, bore away the ball from the Sultan in such a way, that, from the immense force with which his Chaugan struck it, the ball flew into the air so far that it became immersed in the light of the sun, and the shadow of it fell upon Nur-ud-Din. When the Sultan noticed this circumstance, his heart became so overpowered with wrath, that he threw down his Chaugan in a rage and left the course. This circumstance filled Salah-ud-Din with fear and apprehension, and he began to conceal himself from the Sultan’s sight, and seldom used to present himself to the Sultan’s observation.
110.4
The author heard from Khwajah Muzhir, a merchant, that, at the period in question, one night Sultan Salah-ud-Din saw, in a dream, that he was in Misr, and that, at night, some people seized him, and took him away to the palace of the sovereign, and, having placed a tent-rope around his neck, they hung him up from the battlements of the palace. The terror which this produced awoke him from his sleep, and his apprehension became still greater than before, and he was constantly overwhelmed with anxiety. Unexpectedly, the envoy from the ’Alawis of Misr arrived to solicit aid from Sultan Nur-ud-Din, as has been related previously. The Sultan appointed Salah-ud-Din’s uncle, Malik Asad-ud-Din, to proceed thither, and he solicited that his nephew, Salah-ud-Din, should be allowed to accompany him. The latter was so overcome with fear, caused by this dream, that he went to an interpreter of dreams, and related the dream to him. The interpreter said : — “ May the sovereignty of Misr be propitious ! Allow no anxiety to find a way into thy mind, for the Almighty God will make thee a great king.” On the strength of that interpretation, with a buoyant heart and with expanded hope, he reached Misr, where all those circumstances happened to him and to his uncle, as already stated. When his uncle died, the people of Misr and the troops of Sham were agreeable to his assuming the sovereignty, but he would not in any way assent to it.
110.5
When the importunity of people, however, exceeded all bounds, Sultan Salah-ud-Din commanded, saying; — “I will comply property and effects, Salah-ud-Din began to appropriate their hearts, by making them his own; and he likewise resolved to lead a new life, and renounced wine and women, riotous living and amusements, and other vicious practices. Having obtained the direction of the affairs of the country, Salah-ud-Din issued commands to read the Khutbah for Nur-ud-Din; and the latter addressed him in all his communications as the Amir-i-Sipah-salar [’Azid having previously given him the title of Malik-un-Nasir]. As Salah-ud-Din acquired the attachment of the people, ’Azid lost it; and he now sent for his brothers, who were in the service of Nur-ud-Din, who would not allow them to go, mentioning, as his reason, his fear lest either of them should become hostile to his brother Salah-ud-Din, but the truth was Nur-ud-Din suspected his motives. However, when Nur-ud-Din subsequently despatched his troops to operate against the Farangs, who had invaded the Misriah territory, he entrusted Salah-ud-Din’s elder brother, Shams-ud-Daulah, Turan Shah, with a command in that army, but with orders that he was not to consider Yusuf [Salah-ud-Din] as his younger brother, but as the lord of Misr, and his [Nur-ud-Din’s] lieutenant and representative; and this order Turan Shah agreed to obey.
110.6
Ibn Asir says, that, when Salah-ud-Din had become firmly established, Nur-ud-Din sent to command him to give up reading the Khutbah for ’Azid, and to read it for the ’Abbasi Khalifahs. Salah-ud-Din excused himself by saying that the people were well-inclined towards the present family, and he feared, if he obeyed, that an insurrection would take place. Nur-ud-Din, however, wrote the second and the third time to order him to do so, and Salah-ud-Din, not daring to disobey the reiterated commands of his suzerain, was in a dilemma, but it so happened that ’Azid was about this time taken ill. Salah-ud-Din now consulted with the chiefs and nobles as to what should be done; but some said one thing and some another, and the difficulty was as great as before. At this juncture, a person of some note, named Amir-i-’Alim [Guzidah calls him Najm-ud-Din], an ’Ajami, who had come to Misr, offered to take the initiative, if permitted; and, on the first Friday in the month of Muharram, before the Khatib [the preacher who pronounces the Khutbah] entered the pulpit, this ’Ajami got into it, and prayed for the ‘Abbasi Khalifah, Imam Mustazi B’nur-Ullah. The Misris who were present made no objection, and the next Friday Salah-ud-Din directed that the Khutbah for ’Azid should be discontinued at Kahirah and at Misr [the old capital], and that for Mustazi B’nur-Ullah adopted, and also in other parts of the Diyar-i-Misriah.
110.7
The disorder of ’Azid had increased, and this matter was, in consequence, not communicated to him, because, in case he ever arose from his bed again, he would soon hear of it, and if not, of what use was it to afflict him? Salah-ud-Din took care, however, to separate the family, slaves, and dependents of ’Azid from each other, and to provide for the security of the dying man’s wealth and effects. Before his death, ’Azid sent for him; but, fearing treachery, as he pretended, Salah-ud-Din did not go, and regretted it afterwards. ’Azid died 10th of Muharram, 567 H. [Fasih-i says 565 H.], and the ’Ubaidi Isma’ili dynasty terminated. [According to Vertot vol. ii. p. 209, Salah-ud-Din had the Khalifah murdered in or out of his bath, and says it was narrated freely by the Christians, but that the Moslems were silent on the matter.] When the ’Abbasi Khalifah, Al-Mustazi B’nur-Ullah, received information that the Khutbah had been read for him in Misriah, he despatched ’Imad-ud-Din, with your solicitations, on the stipulation that you attend to a request of mine.” To this demand of his they signified their assent. Sultan Salah-ud-Din commanded that they should assemble, on the morrow, in the great mosque, at which time he would make his request known to them, and accept the sovereignty of Misr. To this all pledged their faith; and the next day they all assembled in the great mosque of Misr, and solicited that he would mention his request.
110.8
Salah-ud-Din demanded that they should give their allegiance to the Khalifahs of the house of ’Abbas as the successors of the Prophet and chief patriarchs. The people all agreed to pledge their fealty to the house of ’Abbas; and, at that time, the Lord of the Faithful, Al-Mustazi B’amr-Ullah, filled the office of Khalifah, and the Khutbah was pronounced in the name of the ’Abbasi family. A despatch announcing this triumph was forwarded to Baghdad, the capital of the Khalifahs, together with the standard of the Farangs, inverted, and the flags of the Karamitah heretics, to the presence of the Khalifah Al-Mustazi B’amr-Ullah. From the capital of Islam, Salah-ud-Din received the title of Malik-un-Nasir, and he became sovereign of Misr; and, at this time also, Sultan Nur-ud-Din died, Sultan Salah-ud-Din marched into Sham, and assumed the throne of sovereignty, as has been previously stated. He conferred the [government of the] territory of Misr upon one of his sons, Malik-ul-'Aziz, and another son, Malik-ul-Afzal, he nominated to be his heir; and upon his brother, Malik-ul-'Adil, he conferred the province of Diyar-i-Bakr.
110.9
One of the most distinguished [persons] of the trustworthy has related, that, when the news of the accession of Sultan Salah-ud-Din reached the territories of Rum and the Kaisars of the Farangs, a countless army came from the country of the infidels, and advanced into Sham, and fought a battle with Sultan Salah-ud-Din before the gate of Damashk. The army of Islam was defeated and overthrown, and the Sultan, flying before them, retired within the walls of the city of Damashk. The infidels pitched their camp before the gates of the place, and the Musalmans sustained great calamity and misery. Sultan Salah-ud-Din assembled the inhabitants of Damashk in a certain place, in order to induce them to pledge themselves to make holy war upon the infidels, and to attack them and drive them away. He deputed one of the godly 'Ulama to ascend the pulpit, to speak a few words in order to incite the people to holy warfare, and urge them to enter into conflict with the infidels. The godly ecclesiastic, with all sincerity of heart, turned his face towards Salah-ud-Din, and said: — “Oh, Salah-ud-Din, from thy mouth, thy tongue, and thy person, emanateth the effluvium of Satan’s urine ! How canst thou expect that the Most High God will ratify thy vow ? how can it be regarded as real and sincere ?”
110.10
This reproof, by the grace of God, took effect upon the august heart of Salah-ud-Din. He got up, and on the hand of that godly ecclesiastic he expressed contrition, and renounced wine and all other sins. The people, with sincere eagerness and willingness, renewed to him their vows to undertake holy war ; and from that very spot they turned their faces in the direction of the scene of holy warfare. The whole of the people issued from the city, and they fell upon the army of the infidels. The Most High God sent them heavenly assistance, and the enemies of the faith were defeated and overthrown, and such a vast number of them were sent to Hell by the stroke of the sword of the defenders of the true faith, as cannot be numbered or computed. The whole of the Maliks [princes], and nobles, and chief personages among the Farangs were made captives.
110.11
The Islamis having become victorious and triumphant, Sultan Salah-ud-Din directed every one to devise [means] for the disposal of the Farang captives. At last the Sultan determined to set the whole of them at liberty, and they were set free accordingly; and he made them signify their repentance, and conferred gifts upon them. After they had departed to the distance of a day’s journey, they sent a representation to the Sultan, saying:—“We are all your servants, set at liberty by you: send to each of us a ring that we may insert it in our ears, and then we will depart.” The Sultan commanded that a sufficient number of rings should be prepared, of pure gold, sufficient to supply every one of them with one of the weight of one miskal; and they were sent to them, and the whole of the liberated captives inserted the rings in their ears, and they went away; and of that host not one person ever again came to fight against the Sultan’s troops. Sultan Salah-ud-Din became firmly established, and his illustrious deeds in Islam will endure. He reigned for a very long period, and died. He had six sons, whose titles were as follows:—Malik-uz-Zahir, Malik-ul-Afzal, Malik-ul-’Aziz, Malik-ul-Muhsin, Malik-ul-Mushtammir and Malik-us-Salih.