Tarikh (al-Tabari) 4354
Then the year 364 AH began
ذِكْرُ وِلَايَةِ الْفَتْكِينِ دِمَشْقَ وَمَاكَانَ مِنْهُ إِلَى أَنْ مَاتَ قَدْ ذَكَرْنَا مَا كَانَ مِنِ انْهِزَامِ الْفَتْكِينِ التُّرْكِيِّ، مَوْلَى مُعِزِّ الدَّوْلَةِ بْنِ بُوَيْهٍ، مِنْ مَوْلَاهُ بَخْتِيَارَ بْنِ مُعِزِّ الدَّوْلَةِ، وَمِنْ عَضُدِ الدَّوْلَةِ فِي فِتْنَةِ الْأَتْرَاكِ بِالْعِرَاقِ، فَلَمَّا انْهَزَمَ مِنْهُمْ سَارَ فِي طَائِفَةٍ صَالِحَةٍ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ التُّرْكِ، فَوَصَلَ إِلَى حِمْصَ، فَنَزَلَ بِالْقُرْبِ مِنْهَا، فَقَصَدَهُ ظَالِمُ بْنُ مَوْهُوبٍ الْعُقَيْلِيُّ الَّذِي كَانَ أَمِيرَ دِمَشْقَ لِلْمُعِزِّ لِدِينِ اللَّهِ لِيَأْخُذَهُ، فَلَمْ يَتَمَكَّنْ مِنْ أَخْذِهِ، فَعَادَ عَنْهُ وَسَارَ الْفَتْكِينُ إِلَى دِمَشْقَ فَنَزَلَ بِظَاهِرِهَا. وَكَانَ أَمِيرُهَا حِينَئِذٍ رَيَّانَ الْخَادِمَ لِلْمُعِزِّ، وَكَانَ الْأَحْدَاثُ قَدْ غَلَبُوا عَلَيْهَا، وَلَيْسَ لِلْأَعْيَانِ مَعَهُمْ حُكْمٌ، وَلَا لِلسَّلْطَنَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ طَاعَةٌ، فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ خَرَجَ أَشْرَافُهَا وَشُيُوخُهَا إِلَيْهِ، وَأَظْهَرُوا لَهُ السُّرُورَ بِقُدُومِهِ، وَسَأَلُوهُ أَنْ يُقِيمَ عِنْدَهُمْ، وَيَمْلِكَ بَلَدَهُمْ، وَيُزِيلَ عَنْهُمْ سِمَةَ الْمِصْرِيِّينَ، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَكْرَهُونَهَا بِمُخَالَفَةِ الِاعْتِقَادِ، وَلِظُلْمِ عُمَّالِهِمْ، وَيَكُفُّ عَنْهُمْ شَرَّ الْأَحْدَاثِ، فَأَجَابَهُمْ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَاسْتَخْلَفَهُمْ عَلَى الطَّاعَةِ وَالْمُسَاعَدَةِ، وَحَلَفَ لَهُمْ عَلَى الْحِمَايَةِ وَكَفَّ الْأَذَى عَنْهُمْ مِنْهُ وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِ، وَدَخَلَ الْبَلَدَ، وَأَخْرَجَ عَنْهُ رَيَّانَ الْخَادِمَ، وَقَطَعَ خُطْبَةَ الْمُعِزِّ، وَخَطَبَ لِلطَّائِعِ لِلَّهِ فِي شَعْبَانَ، وَقَمَعَ أَهْلَ الْعَيْثِ وَالْفَسَادِ، وَهَابَهُ النَّاسُ كَافَّةً، وَأَصْلَحَ كَثِيرًا مِنْ أُمُورِهِمْ. فَكَانَتِ الْعَرَبُ قَدِ اسْتَوْلَتْ عَلَى سَوَادِ الْبَلَدِ وَمَا يَتَّصِلُ بِهِ، فَقَصَدَهُمْ، وَأَوْقَعَ بِهِمْ، وَقَتَلَ كَثِيرًا مِنْهُمْ، وَأَبَانَ عَنْ شَجَاعَةٍ، وَقُوَّةِ نَفْسٍ، وَحُسْنِ تَدْبِيرٍ، فَأَذْعَنُوا لَهُ وَأُقْطِعَ الْبِلَادَ، وَكَثُرَ جَمْعُهُ، وَتَوَفَّرَتْ أَمْوَالُهُ، وَثَبَتَ قَدَمُهُ. وَكَاتَبَ الْمُعِزَّ بِمِصْرَ يُدَارِيهِ، وَيُظْهِرُ لَهُ الِانْقِيَادَ، فَشَكَرَهُ، وَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ أَنْ يُحْضِرَهُ عِنْدَهُ لِيَخْلَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَيُعِيدَهُ وَالِيًا مِنْ جَانِبِهِ، فَلَمْ يَثِقْ بِهِ، وَامْتَنَعَ ( مِنَ الْمَسِيرِ ) فَتَجَهَّزَ الْمُعِزُّ وَجَمَعَ الْعَسَاكِرَ لِقَصْدِهِ، فَمَرِضَ وَمَاتَ، عَلَى مَا نَذْكُرُهُ سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَسِتِّينَ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، وَوُلِّيَ بَعْدَهُ ابْنُهُ الْعَزِيزُ بِاللَّهِ، فَأَمِنَ الْفَتْكِينَ بِمَوْتِهِ جِهَةَ مِصْرَ، فَقَصَدَ بِلَادَ الْعَزِيزِ الَّتِي بِسَاحِلِ الشَّامِ، فَعَمَدَ إِلَى صَيْدَا فَحَصَرَهَا وَبِهَا ابْنُ الشَّيْخِ، وَمَعَهُ رُءُوسُ الْمَغَارِبَةِ، وَمَعَهُمْ ظَالِمُ بْنُ مَوْهُوبٍ الْعُقَيْلِيُّ، فَقَاتَلَهُمْ وَكَانُوا فِي كَثْرَةٍ، فَطَمِعُوا فِيهِ وَخَرَجُوا إِلَيْهِ، فَاسْتَجَرَّهُمْ حَتَّى أُبْعِدُوا، ثُمَّ عَادَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَتَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَحْوَ أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافِ قَتِيلٍ. وَطَمِعَ فِي أَخْذِ عَكَّا، فَتَوَجَّهَ إِلَيْهَا، وَقَصَدَ طَبَرِيَةَ، فِيهَا مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَالنَّهْبِ مِثْلَ صَيْدَا، وَعَادَ إِلَى دِمَشْقَ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْعَزِيزُ بِذَلِكَ اسْتَشَارَ وَزِيرَهُ يَعْقُوبَ بْنَ كِلِّسٍ فِيمَا يَفْعَلُ، فَأَشَارَ بِإِرْسَالِ جَوْهَرٍ فِي الْعَسَاكِرِ إِلَى الشَّامِ، فَجَهَّزَهُ وَسَيَّرَهُ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْفَتْكِينُ بِمَسِيرِهِ جَمَعَ أَهْلَ دِمَشْقَ وَقَالَ: قَدْ عَلِمْتُمْ أَنَّنِي مَا وَلِيتُ أَمْرَكُمْ إِلَّا عَنْ رِضًى مِنْكُمْ، وَطَلَبٍ مِنْ كَبِيرِكُمْ وَصَغِيرِكُمْ لِي، وَإِنَّمَا كُنْتُ مُجْتَازًا وَقَدْ أَظَلَّكُمْ هَذَا الْأَمْرُ، وَأَنَا سَائِرٌ عَنْكُمْ لِئَلَّا يَنَالَكُمْ أَذًى بِسَبَبِي. فَقَالُوا: لَا نُمَكِّنُكَ مِنْ فِرَاقِنَا، وَنَحْنُ نَبْذُلُ الْأَنْفُسَ وَالْأَمْوَالَ فِي هَوَاكَ، وَنَنْصُرُكَ، وَنَقُومُ مَعَكَ، فَاسْتَحْلَفَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَحَلَفُوا لَهُ، فَأَقَامَ عِنْدَهُمْ. فَوَصَلَ جَوْهَرٌ إِلَى الْبَلَدِ فِي ذِي الْقَعْدَةِ مِنْ سَنَةِ خَمْسٍ وَسِتِّينَ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، فَحَصَرَهُ، فَرَأَى مِنْ قِتَالِ الْفَتْكِينِ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ مَا اسْتَعْظَمَهُ، وَدَامَتِ الْحَرْبُ شَهْرَيْنِ، قُتِلَ فِيهَا عَدَدٌ كَثِيرٌ مِنَ الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَهْلُ دِمَشْقَ طُولَ مُقَامِ الْمَغَارِبَةِ عَلَيْهِمْ أَشَارُوا عَلَى الْفَتْكِينِ بِمُكَاتَبَةِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ الْقَرْمَطِيِّ، وَاسْتِنْجَادِهِ، فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، فَسَارَ الْقَرْمَطِيُّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْأَحْسَاءِ، فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنْهُ رَحَلَ جَوْهَرٌ عَنْ دِمَشْقَ، خَوْفًا أَنْ يَبْقَى بَيْنَ عَدُوَّيْنِ، وَكَانَ مُقَامُهُ عَلَيْهَا سَبْعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ، وَوَصَلَ الْقَرْمَطِيُّ وَاجْتَمَعَ هُوَ وَالْفَتْكِينُ، وَسَارَا فِي أَثَرِ جَوْهَرٍ، فَأَدْرَكَاهُ وَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِظَاهِرِ الرَّمْلَةِ، وَسَيَّرَ أَثْقَالَهُ إِلَى عَسْقَلَانَ، فَاقْتَتَلُوا، فَكَانَ جَمْعُ الْفَتْكِينِ وَالْقَرْمَطِيِّ كَثِيرًا مِنْ رِجَالِ الشَّامِ وَالْعَرَبِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، فَكَانُوا نَحْوَ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ فَارِسٍ وَرَاجِلٍ، فَنَزَلُوا عَلَى نَهْرِ الطَّوَاحِينِ، عَلَى ثَلَاثَةِ فَرَاسِخَ مِنَ الْبَلَدِ، وَمِنْهُ مَاءُ أَهْلِ الْبَلَدِ، فَقَطَعُوهُ عَنْهُمْ، فَاحْتَاجَ جَوْهَرٌ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى مَاءِ الْمَطَرِ فِي الصَّهَارِيجِ وَهُوَ قَلِيلٌ لَا يَقُومُ بِهِمْ، فَرَحَلَ إِلَى عَسْقَلَانَ، وَتَبِعَهُ الْفَتْكِينُ وَالْقَرْمَطِيُّ فَحَصَرَاهُ بِهَا، وَطَالَ الْحِصَارُ فَقَلَّتِ الْمِيرَةُ، وَعُدِمَتِ الْأَقْوَاتُ، وَكَانَ الزَّمَانُ شِتَاءً، فَلَمْ يُمْكِنْ حَمْلُ الذَّخَائِرِ فِي الْبَحْرِ مِنْ مِصْرَ وَغَيْرِهَا، فَاضْطَرُّوا إِلَى أَكْلِ الْمَيْتَةِ، وَبَلَغَ الْخُبْزُ كُلُّ خَمْسَةِ أَرْطَالٍ، بِالشَّامِيِّ، بِدِينَارٍ مِصْرِيٍّ. وَكَانَ جَوْهَرٌ يُرَاسِلُ الْفَتْكِينَ، وَيَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْمُوَافَقَةِ وَالطَّاعَةِ، وَيَبْذُلُ لَهُ الْبُذُولَ الْكَثِيرَةَ، فَيَهِمُّ أَنْ يَفْعَلَ، فَيَمْنَعُهُ الْقَرْمَطِيُّ وَيُخَوِّفُهُ مِنْهُ، فَزَادَتِ الشِّدَّةُ عَلَى جَوْهَرٍ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ، فَعَايَنُوا الْهَلَاكَ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَى الْفَتْكِينِ يَطْلُبُ مِنْهُ أَنْ يَجْتَمِعَ بِهِ، فَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ وَاجْتَمَعَا رَاكِبِينَ. فَقَالَ لَهُ جَوْهَرٌ: قَدْ عَرَفْتُ مَا يَجْمَعُنَا مِنْ عِصْمَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ وَحُرْمَةِ الدِّينِ، وَقَدْ طَالَتْ هَذِهِ الْفِتْنَةُ، وَأُرِيقَتْ فِيهَا الدِّمَاءُ وَنُهِبَتِ الْأَمْوَالُ، وَنَحْنُ الْمُؤَاخَذُونَ بِهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى، وَقَدْ دَعَوْتُكَ إِلَى الصُّلْحِ وَالطَّاعَةِ وَالْمُوَافَقَةِ، وَبَذَلْتُ لَكَ الرَّغَائِبَ، فَأَبَيْتَ إِلَّا الْقَبُولَ مِمَّنْ يُشِبُّ ( نَارَ الْفِتْنَةِ ) فَرَاقِبِ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى، وَرَاجِعْ نَفْسَكَ، وَغَلِّبْ رَأْيَكَ عَلَى هَوَى غَيْرِكَ. فَقَالَ الْفَتْكِينُ: أَنَا وَاللَّهِ وَاثِقٌ بِكَ ( فِي صِحَّةِ ) الرَّأْيِ وَالْمَشُورَةِ مِنْكَ، لَكِنِّي غَيْرُ مُتَمَكِّنٍ مِمَّا تَدْعُونِي إِلَيْهِ بِسَبَبِ الْقَرْمَطِيِّ الَّذِي أَحْوَجَتْنِي أَنْتَ إِلَى مُدَارَاتِهِ وَالْقَبُولِ مِنْهُ. فَقَالَ جَوْهَرٌ: إِذَا كَانَ الْأَمْرُ عَلَى مَا ذَكَرْتَ فَإِنَّنِي أُصْدِقُكَ الْحَالَ تَعْوِيلًا عَلَى أَمَانَتِكَ، وَمَا أَجِدُهُ مِنَ الْفُتُوَّةِ عِنْدَكَ، وَقَدْ ضَاقَ الْأَمْرُ بِنَا، وَأُرِيدُ أَنْ تَمُنَّ عَلَيَّ بِنَفْسِي وَبِمَنْ مَعِي مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَتَذُمَّ لَنَا، وَأَعُودُ إِلَى صَاحِبِي شَاكِرًا لَكَ وَتَكُونُ قَدْ جَمَعْتَ بَيْنَ حَقْنِ الدِّمَاءِ وَاصْطِنَاعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ. فَأَجَابَهُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَحَلَفَ لَهُ عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ بِهِ، وَعَادَ وَاجْتَمَعَ بِالْقَرْمَطِيِّ وَعَرَّفَهُ الْحَالَ ( فَقَالَ: لَقَدْ أَخْطَأْتَ ) فَإِنَّ جَوْهَرًا لَهُ رَأْيٌ وَحَزْمٌ وَمَكِيدَةٌ، وَسَيَرْجِعُ إِلَى صَاحِبِهِ فَيَحْمِلُهُ عَلَى قَصْدِنَا بِمَا لَا طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ، وَالصَّوَابُ أَنْ تَرْجِعَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ لِيَمُوتُوا جَوْعًا، وَنَأْخُذُهُمْ بِالسَّيْفِ، فَامْتَنَعَ الْفَتْكِينُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَقَالَ: لَا أَغْدِرُ بِهِ، وَأَذِنَ لِجَوْهَرٍ وَلِمَنْ مَعَهُ بِالسَّيْرِ إِلَى مِصْرَ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِ، وَاجْتَمَعَ بِالْعَزِيزِ، وَشَرَحَ لَهُ الْحَالَ وَقَالَ: إِنْ كُنْتَ تُرِيدُهُمْ فَاخْرُجْ إِلَيْهِمْ بِنَفْسِكَ، وَإِلَّا فَهَمَّ وَاصِلُونَ عَلَى أَثَرِي، فَبَرَزَ الْعَزِيزُ، وَفَرَّقَ الْأَمْوَالَ، وَجَمَعَ الرِّجَالَ، وَسَارَ وَجَوْهَرٌ عَلَى مُقَدِّمَتِهِ. وَوَرَدَ الْخَبَرُ إِلَى الْفَتْكِينِ وَالْقَرْمَطِيِّ فَعَادَا إِلَى الرَّمْلَةِ، وَجَمَعَا الْعَرَبَ وَغَيْرَهَا، وَحَشَدَا، وَوَصَلَ الْعَزِيزُ فَنَزَلَ بِظَاهِرِ الرَّمْلَةِ، وَنَزَلَا بِالْقُرْبِ مِنْهُ، ثُمَّ اصْطَفَوْا لِلْحَرْبِ فِي الْمُحَرَّمِ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَسِتِّينَ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ، فَرَأَى الْعَزِيزُ مِنْ شَجَاعَةِ الْفَتْكِينِ مَا أَعْجَبَهُ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ ( فِي تِلْكَ الْحَالِ ) يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ، وَيَبْذُلُ لَهُ الرَّغَائِبَ وَالْوِلَايَاتِ، وَأَنْ يَجْعَلَهُ مُقَدِّمَ عَسْكَرِهِ، وَالْمَرْجُوعَ إِلَيْهِ فِي دَوْلَتِهِ، وَيَطْلُبُ أَنْ يَحْضُرَ عِنْدَهُ وَيَسْمَعَ قَوْلَهُ، فَتَرَجَّلَ وَقَبَّلَ الْأَرْضَ بَيْنَ الصَّفَّيْنِ، وَقَالَ لِلرَّسُولِ: قُلْ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ: لَوْ قَدَّمَ هَذَا الْقَوْلَ لَسَارَعْتُ وَأَطَعْتُ، وَأَمَّا الْآنَ فَلَا يُمْكِنُ إِلَّا مَا تَرَى. ( وَحُمِلَ عَلَى الْمَسِيرَةِ ) فَهَزَمَهَا، وَقَتَلَ كَثِيرًا مِنْهَا فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْعَزِيزُ ذَلِكَ حُمِلَ مِنَ الْقَلْبِ، وَأَمَرَ الْمَيْمَنَةَ ( فَحُمِلَتْ، فَانْهَزَمَ الْقَرْمَطِيُّ وَالْفَتْكِينُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُمَا، وَوَضَعَ الْمَغَارِبَةُ السَّيْفَ، فَأَكْثَرُوا الْقَتْلَ، وَقَتَلُوا نَحْوَ عِشْرِينَ أَلْفًا. وَنَزَلَ الْعَزِيزُ فِي خِيَامِهِ، وَجَاءَهُ النَّاسُ بِالْأَسْرَى، فَكُلُّ مَنْ أَتَاهُ بِأَسِيرٍ خَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَبَذَلَ لِمَنْ أَتَاهُ بِالْفَتْكِينِ أَسِيرًا مِائَةَ أَلْفِ دِينَارٍ، ( وَكَانَ الْفَتْكِينُ ) قَدْ مَضَى مُنْهَزِمًا فَكَظَّهُ الْعَطَشُ، فَلَقِيَهُ الْمُفَرِّجُ بْنُ دَغْفَلٍ الطَّائِيُّ وَكَانَ بَيْنَهُمَا أُنْسٌ قَدِيمٌ، فَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ الْفَتْكِينُ مَاءً، فَسَقَاهُ، وَأَخَذَهُ مَعَهُ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ فَأَنْزَلَهُ وَأَكْرَمَهُ، وَسَارَ إِلَى الْعَزِيزِ بِاللَّهِ فَأَعْلَمَهُ بِأَسْرِ الْفَتْكِينِ، وَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ الْمَالَ، فَأَعْطَاهُ مَا ضَمِنَهُ، وَسَيَّرَ مَعَهُ مَنْ تَسَلَّمَ الْفَتْكِينُ مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ الْفَتْكِينُ إِلَى الْعَزِيزِ لَمْ يَشُكَّ أَنَّهُ يَقْتُلُهُ لِوَقْتِهِ، فَرَأَى مِنْ إِكْرَامِ الْعَزِيزِ لَهُ وَالْإِحْسَانِ إِلَيْهِ مَا أَعْجَزَهُ، وَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِالْخِيَامِ فَنُصِبَتْ، وَأَعَادَ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعَ ( مَنْ كَانَ يَخْدِمُهُ )، فَلَمْ يَفْقِدْ مِنْ حَالِهِ شَيْئًا، وَحَمَلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ التُّحَفِ وَالْأَمْوَالِ مَا لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُ، وَأَخَذَهُ مَعَهُ إِلَى مِصْرَ وَجَعَلَهُ مَنْ أَخَصِّ خَدَمِهِ وَحُجَّابِهِ. وَأَمَّا الْحَسَنُ الْقَرْمَطِيُّ فَإِنَّهُ وَصَلَ مُنْهَزِمًا إِلَى طَبَرِيَةَ، فَأَدْرَكَهُ رَسُولُ الْعَزِيزِ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى الْعَوْدِ إِلَيْهِ لِيُحْسِنَ إِلَيْهِ، وَيَفْعَلَ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا فَعَلَ مَعَ الْفَتْكِينِ، فَلَمْ يَرْجِعْ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ الْعَزِيزُ عِشْرِينَ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ وَجَعَلَهَا كُلَّ سَنَةٍ، فَكَانَ يُرْسِلُهَا إِلَيْهِ، وَعَادَ إِلَى الْأَحْسَاءِ. وَلَمَّا عَادَ الْعَزِيزُ إِلَى مِصْرَ أَنْزَلَ الْفَتْكِينُ عِنْدَهُ قَصْرَهُ، وَزَادَ أَمْرُهُ، وَتَحَكَّمَ، فَتَكَبَّرَ عَلَى وَزِيرِهِ يَعْقُوبَ بْنِ كِلِّسٍ، وَتَرَكَ الرُّكُوبَ إِلَيْهِ، فَصَارَ بَيْنَهُمَا عَدَاوَةٌ مُتَأَكِّدَةٌ، فَوَضَعَ عَلَيْهِ مَنْ سَقَاهُ سُمًّا فَمَاتَ، فَحَزِنَ عَلَيْهِ الْعَزِيزُ وَاتَّهَمَ الْوَزِيرَ فَحَبَسَهُ نَيِّفًا وَأَرْبَعِينَ يَوْمًا، وَأَخَذَ مِنْهُ خَمْسَمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِينَارٍ، ثُمَّ وَقَفَتْ أُمُورُ دَوْلَةِ الْعَزِيزِ بِاعْتِزَالِ الْوَزِيرِ، فَخَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَعَادَهُ إِلَى وِزَارَتِهِ.
Translation
✧ Mention of the governorship of al-Fatikīn over Damascus and what he did until he died We have already mentioned what happened when al-Fatikīn al-Turkī, the client of Muʿizz al-Dawla b. Buwayh, fled from his master Bakhtiyār b. Muʿizz al-Dawla and from ʿAḍud al-Dawla during the turmoil of the Turks in Iraq. When he fled from them, he travelled with a good band of Turkish troops and reached Ḥimṣ, encamping near it. Ẓālim b. Mawhūb al-ʿUqaylī, who was governor of Damascus for al-Muʿizz li-Dīn Allāh, came against him to seize him, but he could not take him, so he turned back. Al-Fatikīn then went to Damascus and encamped outside it. The governor of Damascus at that time was Rayyān the eunuch, serving al-Muʿizz. The young men (aḥdāth) had gained control of the city, and the notables had no authority over them, nor did the government have obedience from them. When he encamped, its nobles and elders went out to him and showed joy at his arrival. They asked him to stay with them, take possession of their city, and remove from them the mark of the Egyptians, which they hated because of doctrinal opposition and the oppression of their officials, and to protect them from the evil of the young men. He agreed to that, made them swear to obedience and support, and swore to them to protect and withhold harm from them, both from himself and from others. He entered the city, expelled Rayyān the eunuch, cut off the khuṭbah of al-Muʿizz, and gave the khuṭbah for al-Ṭāʾiʿ li-Allāh in Shaʿbān. He suppressed the people of mischief and corruption, and all the people feared him. He set right many of their affairs. The Arabs had taken control of the countryside of the city and what adjoins it, so he marched against them, inflicted losses on them, and killed many of them. He showed courage, strength of spirit, and good management. They submitted to him, lands were assigned as grants, his forces grew numerous, his wealth became abundant, and his footing became firm. He corresponded with al-Muʿizz in Egypt, flattering him and showing submission. Al-Muʿizz thanked him and asked him to come to him so that he might robe him and send him back as governor on his behalf. But al-Fatikīn did not trust him and refused to go. Al-Muʿizz prepared and gathered armies to march against him, but he fell ill and died, as we shall mention in the year 365. His son al-ʿAzīz bi-llāh succeeded him. With his death, al-Fatikīn was secure from Egypt, so he marched against the lands of al-ʿAzīz on the Syrian coast. He went to Sidon and besieged it, where Ibn al-Shaykh was, with the leaders of the Maghribis, and with them Ẓālim b. Mawhūb al-ʿUqaylī. He fought them, and they were numerous. They grew eager against him and came out to him. He drew them on until they were far out, then he turned on them and killed about four thousand of them. He then hoped to take Acre and went there, and he marched to Tiberias, where there was killing and plunder like at Sidon, and then he returned to Damascus. When al-ʿAzīz heard of that, he consulted his vizier Yaʿqūb b. Killis about what to do. Yaʿqūb advised sending Jawhar with the armies to Syria, so al-ʿAzīz equipped him and sent him. When al-Fatikīn heard of his march, he gathered the people of Damascus and said, "You know that I only took charge of your affairs with your consent and at the request of your great and small. I was only passing through. This matter now shadows you, and I will leave you so that no harm reaches you because of me." They said, "We will not let you leave us. We will sacrifice our lives and wealth in your cause, support you, and stand with you." He made them swear to that, and they swore to him, so he stayed with them. Jawhar reached the city in Dhū al-Qaʿdah of the year 365 and besieged it. He saw from the fighting of al-Fatikīn and his men what he considered immense. The war lasted two months, and many from both sides were killed. When the people of Damascus saw how long the Maghribis remained against them, they advised al-Fatikīn to correspond with al-Ḥasan b. Aḥmad al-Qarmaṭī and seek his help. He did so. Al-Qarmaṭī marched to him from al-Aḥsāʾ. When he drew near, Jawhar departed from Damascus, fearing to be caught between two enemies. His stay there had been seven months. Al-Qarmaṭī arrived and joined with al-Fatikīn, and they marched in pursuit of Jawhar. They caught up with him when he had encamped outside Ramla, after sending his baggage to Ascalon. They fought. The force of al-Fatikīn and al-Qarmaṭī was large, comprised of men from Syria, Arabs, and others, numbering about fifty thousand horse and foot. They encamped at the River of the Mills, three parasangs from the town, from which the townspeople took their water. They cut it off from them. Jawhar and his men were reduced to rainwater in cisterns, which was little and insufficient. He departed to Ascalon, and al-Fatikīn and al-Qarmaṭī followed and besieged him there. The siege lasted long, supplies dwindled, and provisions were lacking. It was winter, and provisions could not be brought by sea from Egypt or elsewhere. They were forced to eat carrion. Bread reached the price of one Egyptian dinar for every five Syrian raṭls. Jawhar corresponded with al-Fatikīn, inviting him to agreement and obedience, and offering him many concessions. Al-Fatikīn was about to do so, but al-Qarmaṭī prevented him and warned him against Jawhar. The hardship on Jawhar and his men increased, and they faced destruction. He sent to al-Fatikīn asking to meet with him. Al-Fatikīn came forward, and they met on horseback. Jawhar said to him, "You know what unites us in the bond of Islam and the sanctity of religion. This discord has lasted long, blood has been shed, and wealth has been plundered. We will be held accountable for it before God Almighty. I have called you to peace, obedience, and agreement, and I have offered you generous terms, but you would only accept from someone who fans the fire of discord. So fear God Almighty, reconsider, and let your own judgment prevail over the desire of another." Al-Fatikīn said, "By God, I trust you in the soundness of your opinion and counsel, but I cannot do what you call me to because of al-Qarmaṭī, whom you yourself forced me to placate and accept from." Jawhar said, "If the matter is as you say, I will tell you the truth, relying on your trustworthiness and the chivalry I find in you. Our situation has become dire. I want you to grant me and the Muslims with me our lives, protect us, and I will return to my master grateful to you. You will have combined the sparing of blood with the doing of a noble deed." Al-Fatikīn agreed to that, swore to him that he would fulfill it, and returned. He met with al-Qarmaṭī and told him the situation. Al-Qarmaṭī said, "You have made a mistake. Jawhar has judgment, firmness, and cunning. He will return to his master, who will march against us with what we cannot withstand. The right course is to go back on that so they die of hunger and we take them by the sword." Al-Fatikīn refused that and said, "I will not betray him." He permitted Jawhar and his men to go to Egypt. Jawhar went to al-ʿAzīz and explained the situation. He said, "If you want them, go out against them yourself; otherwise they will follow on my heels." So al-ʿAzīz set out, distributed money, gathered men, and marched with Jawhar at his vanguard. News reached al-Fatikīn and al-Qarmaṭī, and they returned to Ramla, gathered Arabs and others, and mobilized. Al-ʿAzīz arrived and encamped outside Ramla, and they encamped near him. Then they drew up for battle in Muḥarram of the year 367. Al-ʿAzīz saw such courage in al-Fatikīn that it amazed him. He sent to him in that moment, calling him to obedience, offering him generous terms and governorships, and saying he would make him commander of his army and the one to whom he turned in his state. He asked him to come to him and hear his words. Al-Fatikīn dismounted, kissed the ground between the two lines, and said to the messenger, "Tell the Commander of the Faithful: if he had offered this before, I would have hastened and obeyed. But now nothing is possible except what you see." Then the left wing charged and routed them, killing many. When al-ʿAzīz saw that, he charged from the center and ordered the right wing to charge. They charged, and al-Qarmaṭī and al-Fatikīn and their men were defeated. The Maghribis put the sword to them and killed many, about twenty thousand. Al-ʿAzīz dismounted in his tents, and people brought him captives. He robed everyone who brought a captive, and he offered a hundred thousand dinars to anyone who brought al-Fatikīn as a captive. Al-Fatikīn had fled and was overcome by thirst. Al-Mufarrij b. Daghafl al-Ṭāʾī met him. There was old friendship between them. Al-Fatikīn asked him for water, and he gave him drink and took him to his house, where he lodged him and honored him. Then he went to al-ʿAzīz bi-llāh and informed him that he had captured al-Fatikīn, and he asked for the money. Al-ʿAzīz gave him what he had promised, and sent with him men to take al-Fatikīn from him. When al-Fatikīn reached al-ʿAzīz, he did not doubt that he would be killed at once. But he saw such honor and kindness from al-ʿAzīz that it astonished him. Al-ʿAzīz ordered tents set up for him, restored to him all who used to serve him, so that nothing of his condition was lost, and sent him gifts and wealth the like of which had never been seen. He took him with him to Egypt and made him one of his most special servants and chamberlains. As for al-Ḥasan al-Qarmaṭī, he reached Tiberias in defeat. A messenger from al-ʿAzīz caught up with him, inviting him to return so that he might treat him well and do more for him than he had done for al-Fatikīn. But he did not return. Al-ʿAzīz sent him twenty thousand dinars and made it an annual payment, sending it to him every year. He returned to al-Aḥsāʾ. When al-ʿAzīz returned to Egypt, he lodged al-Fatikīn in his palace, and his standing increased, and he became powerful. He grew arrogant toward the vizier Yaʿqūb b. Killis and stopped riding to visit him. Deep enmity arose between them. The vizier arranged for someone to poison him, and al-Fatikīn died. Al-ʿAzīz grieved for him, suspected the vizier, and imprisoned him for more than forty days, taking five hundred thousand dinars from him. Then the affairs of al-ʿAzīz's state halted because of the vizier's absence, so he robed him and restored him to his vizierate.
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