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ascended the pulpit, and forbade the Muezzins to call their cry loudly, or to utter the "Praise to God!" at the hour of chanting, that night. When, then, the king rose in the morning, the Kádí was present with him; and he asked about the Muezzins, and remarked that he had not that night heard this service of the loud voice from the minarets, nor the cry of "Praise to God!" And the Kádí said to him, I have forbidden that, in honour of the king. For this, thy complaisance, may God repay thee, O Kádí!

Now, when the Prince Al-Násir-Uddín, lord of Karak, had changed his course of conduct with respect to meddling with these trifling matters on the part of the princes, and had ceased to squander away his time in transacting such things, he earnestly desired to accomplish that his blessed design, which hastened him on to rescue the Consecrated House from the hands of the Franks, -that wicked race (who sit on one side in the saddle), hoping to receive a recompense both in this world and in the next. He assembled, then, a great array, and arranged them for the purpose of making a sudden attack upon the Franks, on the feast of the Temple, at a time when they would be negligent. He arranged all his army, therefore, in divisions, and divided them into sections, and prescribed for every section (a dis

tinguishing watchword), and appointed for every company a certain quarter of the city, in order that they might summon from thence men to join in the sudden attack; thereby to raise up the sound of Alláh Akbar, and to expect victory over the Infidels, the Trinitarians, the enemies of the Faith, on the day of their greatest feast, whilst they were assembled to enact infidelity, and to drink fermented liquor, and to lift up the Cross, after their custom on the seasons of their feasts. Therefore the man came, and those who were with him, on the night of the feast; and he stationed every band in the place which he had assigned unto it. Now the Christians were all occupied with their errors, their games, their infidelity, their Trinitarianism, and their drunkenness. Then the Musalmáns kindled their lights, and raised up their standards, and cried out, Alláh Akbar! and before the dawn of morning suddenly attacked the Christians in the very shrine of their infidelity and their Trinitarianism. Therefore they were astounded and stupified when they heard the cry, Alláh Akbar! from every quarter of the city. The Moslems then laid the sword on them, and continued to slay, to carry captive, and to plunder. The king then came to Al Nasir and his army, and began to call out loudly upon Al Násir for an explanation of what

had occurred. But he drew his sword, and cut off the head of the king of the Franks. Upon this the Moslems shouted the Alláh Akbar, and chanted the jubilate of praise. This massacre was terrific; nor did the dawn arise before the brilliant valour of the Moslems had prevailed, and they had succeeded in their design of tracking the footsteps of the Franks even to the deepest and narrowest passages whereunto they had in consternation betaken themselves. Thus God graciously prospered this sudden attack (and that eager craving of his people which had caused them to adjure him to grant his aid), and thus graciously apportioned his favour to his people. Thus did the Beneficent One illustrate his say ing, "The work incumbent on you shall not be a grief."

Now Al Nasir took care to establish all those sacred rites (especially the sacrifices of victims and the praise of Mecca) which his uncle Sálah Uddin (whom may God compassionate!) had established. He also commanded that they should write to all the princes, to announce the joyful tidings of this distinguished victory and great success. They wrote, therefore, and answers of acquiescence were received in return; amidst a number of which there was an Ode, or Didactic Poem, by Ibn Nábát, the Egyptian, wherein Al

Násir was panegyrized. This poem was of the kind called 'The Long.' The following couplets were contained in it :-"Truly a regular recurring train of vicissitudes seems to be the lot of the Mosque Al Aksá. It undergoes one change, and again reiterates a similar course. First, its turn was to be an abiding-place for the Infidels; then God sent unto it Násir (a protector). Thus Násir purified it first, and Násir purified it last." Now Násir, having accomplished this remarkable victory, returned to Al Karak. This greatly-meriting deed of his hath been inscribed in the volume of good actions. Then did the tongues of men utter prayer and praise; and now, at this moment, may we praise the Giver of good success! He who is worthy of praise; He who marketh out events; He who hath assembled Victory, Power, and Conquest, in one abiding-place, which is the Baitu-l-Mukaddas-that point of direction, and goal whereunto we must perform pilgrimage; which we must magnify, until the conclusion of the revolving course of years! Praise be to God, the Almighty, the Omniscient!

CHAPTER X.

Account of all the illustrious Prophets and Chiefs of the noble Company of Confessors and Followers of Truth, (the satisfying favour of God be with them all!) who have entered the Holy City. Account of others who did so: also, who of them departed this life here: and their tombs, &c. &c.

Now the number of these Prophets is said to be 124,000. Muhammad said, God sent consecutively 80,000 prophets; 40,000 of the sons of Israël, and the rest of all men. Muhammad also made to Dhurr, one of his disciples, the following declarations:-Before me there were sent 313 apostles a great number taken all together. (The greater blessing, said Dhurr.) Of these, the first was Adam; also, of prophets, who were apostles in addition, there have been four Greeks (or Ionians), Adam, Sheth, Enoch (who is Idrís, and who was the first who employed characters written with the pen) and Noah, and four Arabians, Húd, and Shaíb, and Sáleh, and myself.

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