It is the twenty-fifth of Ramadan in the year 658 AH, when the nation fell into the clutches of Genghis Khan, then Hulagu, and the great Abbasid Caliphate was brought down by the Tatars, one emirate after another, and one city after another, like weak moths falling before a fire surrounding them on all sides. Amidst these dire circumstances, the Mamluk Sultan Qutuz arose from Egypt, striking the nation at its core. People thought that Islam would never rise again, and that Allah Almighty would no longer be worshipped on earth after those bloody events. Baghdad had drowned in a sea of blood, and the rest of the Islamic world was preoccupied with its princes fighting among themselves, racing to surrender what remained to the Tatar leaders in a way the nation had never known before. Suddenly, a new sun illuminated the world, changing the course of humanity once again, and "Ain Jalut" emerged to form a new trajectory, after all paths had vanished and the way had been lost amid the turmoil. Then appeared a man from among the greatest in history, to lead one of the greatest battles of humanity.

Read also : Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate: A Reflection on the Causes and Consequences

Who is Sayf ad-Din Qutuz, the conqueror of the Tatars?

He is "Mahmoud bin Mamdood," from a royal household, the nephew of "Jalal al-Din al-Khwarazmi,"⁽¹⁾ who resisted the Tatars, was defeated, and had his family killed while the rest were kidnapped. His uncle's son was among those who were kidnapped and was given the name "Qutub" (or "Qutuz"), to be later sold in the markets of Damascus, where he was purchased by one of the Ayyubids and taken to Egypt. Ultimately, he came to serve under Izz al-Din Aybak, becoming one of his leaders. After his leader's assassination and then the death of Shajarat al-Durr, the child Mansur, her son, assumed control, even though he was still a small child, during extremely harsh circumstances that could have swept away the entire nation. There was no choice but to impose guardianship over the young ruler and then terminate that guardianship so that Qutuz himself would take control of affairs. He had to confront the abyss facing Egypt from one side—the Tatars—and from the other side—the Crusaders. Qutuz ascended to the throne of Egypt at a time when ruling was more of a burden and a massacre than an honor and distinction.⁽²⁾  To fulfill the will of God Almighty, in a little boy whose family is defeated, who is stolen and deprived of them in distant lands, and is raised far away in a country he knows nothing about, to one day become a king over it, then a fierce protector of it, and then a defender of all the lands of Muslims, chasing the Tatars and liberating Muslims from them. These are the circumstances that prepare for Muslims when He moves and when He wills. Destiny has fashioned him into an extraordinary man, raised on toughness, continuous training, the arts of horsemanship, and combat techniques. Like all Mamluks, he was nurtured with a love of faith, morals, leadership, and strict military training.

The wise management is a characteristic of the successful fighter.

Serious challenges faced Qutuz at the beginning of his rule, which lasted only one year. In that year, he was able to defeat the strongest and most ferocious army known to history—an army that had overthrown the great caliphate in Baghdad and killed millions of Muslims without mercy. Facing this army is not easy, and in the eyes of some, it might even seem impossible, especially with the nation in such weakness, disarray, repeated defeats, and catastrophic falls. How can he face the greatest state and the strongest ruler? How can he, when he doesn't even possess enough money to form an army to defend that nascent kingdom, which is still struggling for power among its princes without awareness, and without regard for its painful reality? But the strength of the leader lies in his wisdom, understanding, awareness, religion, morals, and fortitude, as well as his comprehension of the conflicts and fears that occupy the minds of his rivals. He gathered them and reassured them with the strength of his character, then created a cause for them to unite around. He gathered the leaders of the Mamluks and said to them: "My intent in seizing power is only so that we unite to fight the Tatars, and this cannot be achieved without a king. If we go out and defeat this enemy, then the matter is yours. Establish authority for whom you choose.⁽³⁾  Thus, he was able to unify the internal front with him in the face of the enemy.

Preparation for battle:

The right without strength is more of a temptation for its followers than a truth that must be followed. It is not necessarily the case that the holder of the right is the victor, and history bears witness to rights that have been violated due to the weakness of their holders and their failure to defend them. Therefore, the first step for Qutuz in his rule was to establish a strong and cohesive army to confront the enemy. The Mamluks were fierce, strong, and experienced in combat, but if the men are not united by a common goal, their strength will be scattered and will not serve them against an army like that of the Tatars. Thus, gathering men around an idea was essential before organizing them into the ranks of an army, so that the idea could be solidified, and the army could prevail. He issued a general amnesty for the Mamluks who fled after the death of their leader Aqtaï, among whom was the fierce leader Baybars, who played a significant role in the decisive battle between the Muslims and the Mongols. Baybars advised Qutuz to execute the four Mongol messengers and hang their heads at the gates of Cairo to break the people's fear of the Tatars. Qutuz acted upon this advice, which served as a declaration of war against the Mongols.

Every leader has his mentor, and the Sultan of scholars was Sheikh Qutuz.

The decisive moment came, and Hulagu sent his messengers to threaten Egypt and demand that Qutuz surrender the country without a fight. The decision for war was definitive, and it was the turn of the Sheikh of Scholars, Ibn Abd al-Salam, to issue a fatwa and give orders, while Qutuz would carry them out. But from where would the army be equipped? Where was the budget when the state treasury was empty? The esteemed scholar refused to impose new taxes on the people who were already crushed by high prices, calamities, and need, while there were rich people in the country enjoying its wealth!

Sheikh al-Islam Izz al-Din ibn 'Abd al-Salam said: "Those filled treasuries must be opened first, so that when people are equal, taxes can be imposed, and everyone will be treated equally, with no rich man excessively wealthy and no poor man starving. All the properties of the princes that they have acquired from the state should be confiscated, and the jewelry of their wives should be brought forth. When the funds are not sufficient to equip the army, a dinar should be imposed on every individual from among the people, so that justice becomes the path to victory.

Read also: Historical Stances of Islamic Scholars

Ain Jalut and the Unity of Muslims ⁽⁴⁾

The anger of Hulagu was provoked by the killing of his men, an act that no one had dared to commit before. The entire caliphate had submitted to him, so he commanded his general, Kitbuqa , to prepare an army to crush the Mamluks who had the audacity to kill his men. Kitbuqa  immediately moved with an army of twenty thousand towards the plain of Ain Jalut, located between Nablus and Bissan in the blessed land of Palestine. At the same time, Qutuz was also preparing with twenty thousand men and decided to go out to fight outside Egypt rather than wait for the Mongol army to come to it. He moved forward with soldiers from Egypt and greater Syria joining him, reaching the battlefield concealing a large part of his army among the thickets and hills. On the morning of the twenty-fifth of Ramadan in the year 658 AH, the decisive battle began, which saved the nation from certain destruction.

In the beginning, the Mongols appeared against the Muslims, but the steadfastness of Qutuz and his trust in God's victory inspired the rest of the soldiers to show unparalleled resilience and courage when he shouted at the top of his voice: "O Islam, O Islam!" The soldiers who had previously hidden behind the hills gathered and charged at the Tatars all at once, which disoriented them and broke their ranks. Then Sultan Qutuz personally entered the battle, surprising the soldiers by being among them, which ignited their enthusiasm even more. The Muslims raised their voices in takbeer (the call to prayer) and the fighting intensified until they killed Kitbuqa . The Mongols fled to the hills, and the Muslims pursued them, killing them brutally. That battle marked the beginning of the unity of all Muslims under the banner of the Mamluk state.

May God have mercy on the victorious leader, Sayf ad-Din Qutuz, and reward him for the nation, Egypt, Palestine, Jerusalem, and the Levant.

1) The lessons in the news of the past, 3/291, by Al-Dhahabi.
2) Al-Maqrizi: The Path to Knowing the States of Kings, 1/208.
3) The Website of the Story of Islam by Dr. Raghib Al-Serjani, The Story of the Tatars: From Invasion to Ain Jalut.
4) The Path to Knowing the States and Kings by Al-Maqrizi (with some modifications).

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