Stories from Islamic History by Nayab Naseer Read Free Book Online Page A

were allowed
to run off further westward while there was still time.
    Amir Baidar, the leader of the Mongol
advance troop, sent a man to Ketbuga to inform him of the
situation. Ketbuga sent reply, "Stay where you are and wait for
me."
    ***
     
    Qutuz, knowing the important role scholars
play and their influence on the masses, had taken them as advisors,
and asked them to supplicate for victory. The most renowned scholar
who contributed to this cause was the renowned al-Izz bin
Abdus-Salam, may Allah have mercy on him. Qutuz sought a fatwa authorizing additional taxes to equip the Muslim army.
This honest scholar of Islam made it clear that the ruler cannot
impose new taxes unless his own wealth, and that of his close-by's
are all spent.
    The needed money was obtained without forcing
extra taxes on the people, who, witnessing the complete compliance
and submission of their leaders to the laws of Allah, supported
them wholeheartedly.
    ***
     
    Qutuz and Baybars moved fast, but when they
reached the Egyptian borders, the refugees who had seen the Mongols
before started to tremble with fear and refused to advance. Qutuz
argued, persuaded, stormed and bullied, but to no effect. He then
made a speech:
    “Oh ummah of Prophet Mohammed, may
Allah bless him, and grant him peace. It has been prophesied a day
will come when nations will call other nations to share them
against you as eaters call each other to eat from the food in front
of them in a large wooden place. Your number will be great, but you
will be rubbish like the rubbish of flood-water. And certainly
Allah will remove from the hearts of your enemies the fear from
you, and Allah will throw love for this world and hate for death in
your hearts. Humiliation will not be removed until you return to
your religion. As for me, I will go and fight the enemy single
handedly, if necessary. If anyone wants to leave, he can go
now.”
    With his disciplined Mamluke army Qutuz
marched forward. The Syrians and the other refugees, ashamed,
followed him. Qutuz was soon in crusader land. At Gaza, he made it
clear to them that he could smash them before he met the Mongols.
Realizing the authenticity of this threat and seeing the zeal of
Qutuz’ army, the crusaders found it prudent to stay neutral.
    Qutuz advanced to Caesera, and then turned
east through the valley of River Kishon, across the plains of
Megido, over the water shed and entered the valley of Nehr Jalut,
and settled east of Ayn Jalut, the head waters of Nehr Jalut.
    Ayn Jalut literally means the “Eye of
Goliath” - it was the very place where David, peace be upon him
defeated Goliath in ancient times.
    Before Ketbuga arrived, Qutuz attacked Amir Baidar and his Mongol advance regiment and drove him to
the banks of the River Jordan.
    Ketbuga his zeal stirred and confident in his
own strength and might flared up like fire. He advanced from his
base in Ba’labbak in Syria along the Jordan valley. But he was
surprised as well, for it was the first time that someone was
coming head on to meet him. It was customary for the enemy postpone
until the last possible moment confrontation with the dreaded
Mongols.
    In the narrow valley, hedged in by Mount
Gilboa in the south and Nehr Jalut on the north, the two armies
met.
    The Mamlukes under Qutuz were strong,
disciplined, and immune to fear and panic, but they were only
twelve thousand strong. To the overwhelming numerous Mongols,
conquerors of a dozen empires, destroyers of all ancient cities
that came across their path, supremely confident and till now
invincible, they seemed to be a bunch of mad suicides.
     
    Since the dawn of history, the Mongols had
been nomads, wandering and grazing their flocks over vast
tablelands of Central Asia. They hated cities and urban
civilization, which manifested itself in the widespread destruction
they brought forth. Ghengis Khan molded them into simple and
self-sufficient soldiers, having no physical barriers and requiring
no administrative