Beautiful Egypt 233 – You Have Killed The Truth Inside Your House! – January 14, 2018

   In a previous article, we talked about the ruling age of “Ahmad ibn Tulun”, who established a hospital for the sick “Maristan” or “Bimaristan”, and cared about agriculture in Egypt; he repaired the Nilometer of Rhoda, then the rebellion launched by “Al Abbas” against his father “Ahmad ibn Tulun”  

He took all what was there in the Treasury and went to Baraqa

   Wars then were raged and ended with arresting “Al Abbas”, putting him into prison until his death

   We talked as well about the relation between “Ahmad ibn Tulun” and “Al Mowaffaq”, the brother of the Abbasid Caliph, which was spoiled with conflicts and disputes; “Ahmad ibn Tulun” omitted Al Mowaffaq’s name from sermons, whereas “Ahmad ibn Tulun” was cursed in the state’s mosques, then we talked about the character of “Ahmad ibn Tulun” which is featured by intelligence and foresight.

   Ibn Tulun’s character was featured by generosity, as many historians stated, he had never been mean in giving money to whoever asked him

   “Ibn Taghri” cited that his deputy for alms “Ibrahim Ibn Qeratghan” had once told him: “a hand surrounded by God’s grace (affluent person) may beg  from me, or a wrist in a bracelet (a round gold ornament as a sign of wealth),  or a soft sleeve (sign of luxury), shall I refrain from giving alms to them?” He was answered: “Woe unto you! Those hidden people are deemed wealthy by the ignorant due to their chasteness, be careful not to abandon someone who asked your help!”

   When “Ahmad Ibn Tulun” entered Damascus, a fire broke out in a church  built on the name of Saint Virgin Mary. Inspecting the effects of the fire,   Ibn  Tulun was accompanied by “Abu Zara’a Al Nasry” and his clerk     “Abu Abdullah”, he asked about that place name and he was told it was “Mary’s Church”; Abu Abdullah asked: “Did Mary have a church?”  and Abu Zara’a replied: “the Church is not built by Mary,  yet it is built on her name”

   Ibn Tulun then rebuked his clerk Abu Abdullah saying: “Why do you object  the Sheikh!” then he secured 70 thousand Dinars of his own money as a  compensation for whoever had something burnt

   The money was presented to the people and 14 thousand Dinars remained.

   He as well ordered money to be given to the poor people of Damascus and  Ghouta.

   Ibn Tulun also cared about feeding the needy: He caused kitchens in Al-Qata’I to cook for the poor and needy daily, he was used to slaying sheep  and cattle and serving them to people.

    Reportedly, he was used to holding a great banquet announced across Egypt’s streets that anyone could attend, while he ordered all the square doors to be opened, sitting at the top of his palace, happily watching people   eating and carrying food, he then thanked God for His blessings.

   Some historians praised Ibn Tulun’s traits, Ibn Al Atheer said: “He was strict reasonable, immensely giving alms and doing charity, religious, loving for scholars and religion men. He did many works of righteousness, fulfilling   the Muslims’ interests”

   Describing him, Shams Al Din Al Zahaby said: “He was a brave hero, dauntless, dignified ruler,bounteous and praised by clever kings”.

   However, such good traits were accompanied by some other traits which urged historians to criticize him!

   “Ibn Taghri” cited: “All Ibn Tulun’s traits were praised, however, he was of sharp character and mood, when ruled over Egypt and the Levant, he oppressed many and shed lots of blood; it was reported that 18 thousands died in his prisons”

   While Al Zahaby said: “Yet, he was a tyrant murderer”, whereas        Mostafa Saadeq Al-Rafe’ie described him in his book “Inspired Pen” saying: “He had a pleading hand with angels, and a knocking hand with devils.”!

   A tale said that Ibn Tulun once had a dream that truth had dies in his house!

   He woke up panic stricken and asked the dreams interpreters about the meaning of such dream made him disturbed, yet nobody answered him, until someone had asked to be granted safety in order to speak, then he told him: “you are an unjust man!, you have killed the truth inside your house!”

Ibn Tulun’s death

   It came to happen that Yazaman al-Khadim revolted against the Tulunid vice governor of Tarsus and arrested him, then he disobeyed Ibn Tulun who upon hearing those news, amassed the armies and moved to fight with Yazaman and to restore Tarsus. Receiving Ibn Tulun’s messages, Yazaman disregarded them, and was besieged by Ibn Tulun

   Ibn Al Atheer said: “Yazaman opened the river of the country and flooded the sites of Ibn Tulun’s soldiers, who were all about to perish, which forced Ahmad to leave angrily, and it was winter. He then sent to Yazaman saying: “I left only lest the enemies should exploit that port”

   Returning to Antioch, Ibn Tulun drank buffalos’ milk excessively, which stroke him by cholera, accompanied by its symptoms; severe vomiting, diarrhea and feebleness. He asked his Coptic doctor “Sa’id Ibn Tofail” who ordered him to abstain from eating for two days. yet, he felt hungry and secretly ate a sheep and chicken! so his treatment failed, that he used to be carried on a palanquin (a bed with two arms on each side) to facilitate carrying him. He arrived at Egypt filled with anger towards Sa’id,

   called doctor “Hassan bin Zirk” doctor and complained to him about Sa’id. Yet, his illness worsened and he called doctors and threatened them with being murdered in case they didn’t heal him, that “Hassan bin Zirak” left him fearfully – since he was an old man- his thoughts and fears greatened that he ceased to eat and sleep; his death on the next day was reported.

   When his illness further worsened, Ibn Tulun asked Muslims, Christians and Jews to pray  for him, and he was desperate to recover, he raised his hands to heaven and said: “O Lord, have mercy upon him who is unaware of his self value, and Your longsuffering had spoiled him”

   Then he died in 270 AH (884 AD) after ruling Egypt for sixteen years, his son Khumarawayh succeeded him.

Ahmad Ibn Tulun and The Copts

   During Ibn Tulun’s reign , Pope Shenouda I was the fifty fifth Patriarch of  St. Mark’s See, towards whom Ibn Tulun had felt reluctance and hatred for he thought the Pope had the ability to fight him, so he seized the pportunities to persecute the Copts.

   However, meanwhile, Ibn Tulun knew that Egypt’s Copts maintained great skills in industries and jobs, so he called the skillful Coptic engineer “Sa’id Ibn Kateb Al Ferghany”, asking him to create a water canal to pass water on to Al Qata’I, and truly the engineer created a wonderful canal that impressed whoever saw it, yet, the horse of Ibn Tulun stumbled in a pile of dust and so he ordered the engineer to be imprisoned.

And … About “Beautiful Egypt” talk has no end …!

The General Bishop,

The President of The Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center