别儿哥汗

The Battle of Marj al-Saffar (or Marj al-Suffar), also known as the Battle of Shaqhab, took place on April 20 through April 22, 1303 between the Egyptian Mamluks and the Mongols and their Armenian allies near Kiswe, Syria, just south of Damascus. The battle has been influential in both Islamic history and contemporary time because of the controversial jihad against other Muslims and Ramadan related fatwas issued by Ibn Taymiyyah. The battle, a disastrous defeat for the Mongols, put an end to Mongol invasions of the Levant.

Previous Mongol-Muslim conflict

A string of Mongol victories, starting in 1218 when they had invaded Khwarezm, quickly gave the Mongols control over most of Persia as well as the Abbasid Dynasty of Iraq and the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum of Asia Minor. Incorporating troops from vassal countries such as Cilician Armenia and the Kingdom of Georgia, the Mongols had sacked Baghdad in 1258, followed by the taking of Aleppo and Damascus in 1260.……

Events just before the battle

In 1303, Ghazan sent his general Qutlugh-Shah with an army to recapture Syria. The inhabitants and rulers of Aleppo and Hama fled to Damascus to escape the advancing Mongols. However, Baibars II was in Damascus and sent a message to the Sultan of Egypt, Al-Nasir Muhammad, to come to fight the Mongols. The Sultan left Egypt with an army to engage the Mongols in Syria, and arrived while the Mongols were attacking Hama. The Mongols had reached the outskirts of Damascus on April 19 to meet the Sultan's army.……

Battle

The battle commenced on 2 Ramadhan 702 in the Hijri calendar, or April 20, 1303. Qutlugh-Shah's army was positioned near a river. Hostilities began when Qutlugh-Shah's left wing attacked the Mamluk right wing with his brigade of 10,000 soldiers. The Mamluks reportedly suffered heavy casualties. The Mamluk center and left wings under the command of the emirs Salar and Baibars al-Jashnakir, together with their Bedouin irregulars, then engaged the Mongols. The Mongols continued their pressure on the right flank of the Mamluk army.……

Role of Asandamur Kurji

The battle is remembered in particular for the decisive role played by the Mamluk commander Asandamur Kurji. Modern scholarship highlights that the outcome of the battle was largely determined by his leadership and strategic skills. According to Amir Mazor, Asandamur quickly understood the Mongols' intention when they tried to distract the Mamluk army with a large amount of booty. He prevented his soldiers from being diverted into looting and reorganized the troops effectively.

Role of Ibn Taymiyyah

During the campaign, Ibn Taymiyyah played a prominent role in boosting morale. According to Ibn Kathir, he participated in the night patrols on the Damascus ramparts, encouraged the population with Qur’anic verses on jihad, and accompanied volunteers leaving to fight the Ilkhanids. He issued a fatwa permitting the soldiers to break the Ramadan fast in order to give full strength to the battle effort.……

Aftermath

According to the medieval Egyptian historian Al-Maqrizi, after the battle, Qutlugh-Shah reached the Ilkhan Ghazan at Kushuf, to inform him of the defeat of his forces. It was reported that Ghazan, upon hearing the news, had gone into such a rage that it resulted in a nose bleed.

Messages were sent to Egypt and Damascus to tell of the victory, and the Sultan went to Damascus. While the Sultan was in Damascus, the Mamluk army kept chasing the Mongols as far as Al-Qaryatayn.……