Ayn Jalout Battle: 6 – 25 Ramadhan 658Ah (6 September 1260 C)

Ayn Jalout witnessed one of the most crucial battles in history on Friday, 25 Ramadhan 658 H (6 September 1260 CE). The Tartars had the logistic and scientific potential to win the fight against the Muslim army. Their advantages included.

-Efficiency and experience gained from the great number of wars they witnessed. -High morale because they were never defeated. They had a large number of fighters and more weaponry. -The efficiency of their cavalry who knew many advanced fighting techniques such as the thunderbolt method, which was a distinctive feature of the Tartarians. -They were able to manage well because they were close to the bases of their supplies and support. -The strategic locations of their army were better than those of the Muslim army

Despite the overwhelming superiority of the Tartarian army, the Muslim army scored a momentous, exceptional victory. The Qutz army was characterized by the fact that it was an "Islamic" army aimed at consolidating Islam and protecting its Holy Land. The great scholars and religious men of Egypt joined this army making it a sacred army constructed and built for the sole purpose of prioritising the word of Allah and supporting its religion, Islam, in the land. Moreover, the army was further characterized by having a faithful leadership who cherished a true "will to fight", a crucial factor in winning any battle.

Qutz told his army to wait until they finished the Friday prayers: "Do not fight them till it is sunset and the shadows appear and the winds stir, and the preachers and people start to implore Allah for us in their prayers", and thereafter the fighting began. Jullanar, the wife of Qutz, was killed during the battle. He rushed towards her saying, "Oh my beloved one". She told him while uttering her last breath, "Do not say that, and care more for Islam." Her soul ascended to Allah after telling her husband that the Jihad for the sake of Allah and Islam is more important than love and personal relations. Qutz stood up saying "Islamah…Islamah". The whole army repeated that word after him until they achieved their victory.

During the battle, the horse of Qutz was also killed, and he stepped down and started to fight on the ground till they brought him another horse. He refused taking the horse of the other princes who volunteered their horses to him saying that he did not want to impede them from their holy duty, rescuing himself instead. He was asked why he did not ride on a horse and why he jeopardized himself and Islam. He answered, "If I was killed, I would have gone to Heaven, and as to Islam, Almighty Allah is well capable of protecting it." After the battle was over and the victory was achieved for the Muslims, Qutz stepped down from his horse and smeared his face with the dust of the battleground and kneeled to Allah in thankfulness and gratitude.

The Muslims immediately started to chase the Mongolians, and Qutz entered Damascus five days after Ayn Jalout battle. The chase continued to Halab, and when the Mongolians felt the approach of the Muslims, they left behind the Muslim prisoners, and suffered a great deal. In one month's time, the Muslims were able to restore Belad El-Sham entirely from the hands of the Tartars and the Mongolians.

This battle is considered to be one of the greatest battles in history in which the Mongolian invasion was put to an end. It was the beginning of the end of the Mongolians, who were forced to retreat. This liberated Belad us-Sham from their occupation. It was reported that when Muslims defeated the Tatars in Bilad us Shaam, the scholar Ibn Taymiah asked the Tartar leaders to release the prisoners of war including the non-Muslims. Although the Tartar leaders agreed only to release Muslim prisoners of war, Ibn Taymiah insisted that all prisoners of war be released, including the non-Muslims, stating, "we will never allow you to hold one prisoner Muslim or otherwise." In fact even though Muslims were in a state of physical occupation, they were still able to influence the Tartars to become Muslims and that was another victory for the Deen of Allah.

Indeed scholars such as Ibn Taymiyah very well understood the necessity of defending the Islamic State.

In his book As-Siyaasatu Ash-Shar'iyah Fi Islah Ar-Raa'ee war Ri'ayyah (The Political Divine Rules in Assessing the Caretaker and the Caretaking), states in the first sentence of the last chapter of the book entitled "The Obligation of the Adherence to the Leadership (of the Ummah)":

"It is known that the Office of Wilayatul Amri An-Naas (one in charge of the entire Muslim Ummah, i.e. the Khalifah) is of the greatest of obligations of the Deen (Islam). Albeit, there is no establishment of the Deen, except by it." He continues, saying: "This is the opinion of the Salaf, such as Al Fadl ibn 'Iyad, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and others."

This battle is yet another example of the good attitudes of the Muslims. Whilst they prayed Nafl at night, read Qur’an, did Tasbeeh, asked for forgiveness, they also waged Jihad. The analysis of the state of the Ummah then revealed its clear direction towards Islam, its attachment to the highest peak of its religion (Jihad), its impassioned feeling towards fighting its enemies, the thrust of its youth to volunteer in every war front and the non toleration of the rule of kufr.

Indeed Imam Ibn Kathir when commenting about the verse “Do they seek then the judgement of the Days of Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allah.” [TMQ 5:50], said:

“Allah (swt) denies those who went out of the rule of Allah (swt), which is well established and is inclusive (law) of every good, forbidding every bad, and turned away from it toward the opinions, whims, terms and desires put by men without any supporting evidences from the divine law of Allah (swt). Like what the people of ignorance (jahiliyyah) used to govern with of false and foolish things they put by their opinions and desires; like what the Tartars governed with of the royal policies taken from their king Genghis Khan who put for them al-Yasiq. This is a book of laws extracted from Judaism, Christianity, Islam and others, and there is in this book many rules he inserted as his own opinion and desire, so it became for his descendants law which they follow and give priority over the Book of Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of His Messenger Muhammad (saw). So whoever does that, such a person is a kafir.”

It is in this month that Muslims must come together and meet regularly and intensely to discuss the affairs of this Ummah. Its problems, how to unify it, how to bring Islam back into life, how to carry it to mankind. Engaging in such activity in this month is more rewardable than other months. The Muslims must meet for these issues after or before Taraweeh.

"It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Deen of Truth. That He make it prevail over all (Deen) religion, even though the pagans may detest it. "(TMQ 61:9)