Stories from Islamic History by Nayab Naseer Read Free Book Online

near
Lake Urmiah in North West Iran, and left the task of annihilating
the Islamic state to his equally blood thirsty general Ketbuga.
    Ketbuga immediately set out for Syria and
Egypt – the last two Muslim states in the Islamic heartland. Though
Salauddin Ayyubi had recovered Jerusalem for the Muslims, the
Crusaders were still very much in Palestine, and they made common
cause with the Mongols.
    Sultan Jalaluddin of Syria opted for flight
instead of fight. His army went into hiding in the surrounding
areas, and later fled to Cairo, where they told their sad story to
Sultan Qutuz, the Mamluke sultan of Egypt. Qutuz showed them favor,
sympathized with them, and gave them much money.
    Hulagu’s messengers arrived in Cairo sooner
than anticipated. They read out what Hulagu had to say
    “God the great has elevated
Genghis Khan and his progeny and given us the realms of the face of
the earth altogether. Everyone who has been recalcitrant in obeying
us has been annihilated along with his women, children, kith and
kin, towns, and servants, as has surely reached the hearing of all.
The reputation of our innumerable army is as well known as the
stories of Rustam and Iskandar. If you are in submission to our
court, send tribute, come yourself, and request an audience;
otherwise be prepared for battle. "
    The council of war was on.
    Nasiruddin Qaymari, who had witnessed the
Mongols first hand in Syria spoke out. “In addition to being
Genghis Khan's grandson, Tolu Khan's son, and Mangu Khan's brother,
Hulagu Khan has power and might beyond description. At present he
holds the land from the gates of Egypt to the borders of China in
his mighty grasp, and has been singled out for heavenly assistance.
If we go before him under amnesty, it will not be blameworthy.
However, to drink poison willingly and to go out to greet one's own
death are far from paths of wisdom. A human being is not a grape
vine that doesn't mind having its head cut off.
    Hulagu does not keep his word, for with no
warning he killed the Shah of Khwarizm, Kalifah Muta'sim,
Husamuddin Akka, and the lord of Arbela after having made promises
to them. If we go to him he will do the same to us."
    "At the present time," said Qutuz, "everyone
in Diyar Bekir, Diyar Rabi'a and Greater Syria is filled with
lamentation. The land from Baghdad to Anatolia lies in ruins,
devoid of farmers and seed. If we don't make a pre-emptive strike
and try to repulse the Mongols, soon Egypt will also be
destroyed.
    Given the multitudes with which they are
proceeding in our direction, one of three things must be done: we
must make a truce, offer resistance, or go into exile. Exile is
impossible, for there is nowhere we can go other than North Africa,
and a bloodthirsty desert and vast distances lie between us and
there."
    "A truce is also imprudent," said Nasiruddin
Qaymari, "for their word is not to be trusted."
    The other commanders said, "We do not have
the power to resist either. You must say what you think the best
plan is."
    Baybars, who had been attentively listening
all this while, stood up.
    "My opinion," said Baybars" is that we should
kill the emissaries and ride as one to attack Ketbuga. Win or die,
in either case we will not be blamed, and we will have people's
gratitude."
    A through soldier, Qutuz was of a different
breed – the breed of the early Muslims, and his chief amir Baybars al-Banduqdari was even fiercer.
    They had decided to receive all fugitives,
the cowardly refugee chieftains included, not due to affection
towards them, but because they needed the soldiers to fill up the
numbers. But they still doubted whether it would be of much
help.
    The next morning, Cairo saw dead bodies of
Mongol messengers hanging in four quarters of the city.
    Open mouthed, the Syrians and Egyptians alike
realized the Mongols would follow them even to the distant Atlantic
and it was better off to face the inevitable, at least in
manifestly brave company of Qutuz.
    The few weak hearted chieftains