Praise be to Allah 🙏
The One who has blessed us with Islam and guided us to the faith following the best of systems, and bestowed upon us the intercession of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who is the best of blessings and peace. Allah has made the lives of the righteous predecessors a lesson for those who understand, and the changes in circumstances serve as a reminder of how everything comes to an end. Thus, no one should be deceived by beauty, nor despair from the changing conditions controlled by the hands of fate. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without any partner, a testimony that soothes the hearts from the torment of desires. And I bear witness that our master, Muhammad ﷺ, is His servant and messenger, who opened the doors of guidance for those who seek it with sincerity, submission, and devotion. May peace and blessings be upon him and his family forever.
Upon witnessing the days of our master, Sultan, King al-Nasir, who united the word of faith and crushed the idol worshippers, raised the banner of justice and kindness, and secured both the world and religion, the Sultan of Islam and Muslims, the rescuer of Jerusalem from the hands of the disbelievers, the servant of the Two Holy Mosques, Abu al-Muzaffar Yusuf bin Ayyub bin Shadhi – may Allah bless his grave with the rain of paradise, I have come to affirm and testify to the truth of the reports from the righteous ancestors.
I have seen with my own eyes the patience in the face of hardships for the sake of Allah, which strengthened the faith. The extraordinary feats of his era were beyond what any mind could encompass, and no one could express their magnificence adequately in words or on paper. These rare occurrences were of such significance that they could not be hidden by any expert, nor could they be concealed from those who learned about them. The depth of its beauty and my admiration for it have compelled me to record what I have witnessed about the Sultan's noble qualities and actions.
I have chosen to write this summary of the Sultan’s history, focusing on the accounts that I have witnessed personally or those reports that have reached a high level of certainty. This work aims to give a glimpse into the much larger, more profound history, serving as an introduction to the greater whole.
The text is divided into two parts:
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Part 1: Early Life & Characteristics | Describes his birth, early life, exceptional traits, qualities, and virtuous ethics, as seen through Islamic teachings. |
| Part 2: Historical Events & Achievements | Discusses the transformations in his era, his battles, and conquests, focusing on his leadership, wisdom, and commitment to Islam. |
May Allah assist in protecting the truth from the errors of speech and writing, and safeguard us from the pitfalls of our thoughts. He is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.