Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, is one of the greatest scholars of Islam. He was born in Damascus in 577 A.H., which means that when Qutuz took office, he was over eighty years old. He was of those scholars who never feared, for the Sake of Allaah, the blame of a blamer. He, more often, faced the sultans with their mistakes, and advised them bravely and daringly, just for the sake of Allaah. This is why his first disciple, the great scholar, Ibn Daqeeq Al-‘Eed, May Allah have mercy upon him, called him the "Sultan of Scholars". Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, combined both knowledge and work; strong compliance with the Sunnah and the correct Ijtihaad when needed; Fatwas in the affairs of worship and creed, and Fatwas in political and social matters. Thus, he was really the sultan of scholars, a model role for the callers to follow, and a good pattern for those who enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil.

He lived in Damascus until As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel took over, and he was the brother of As-Saalih Ayyoob of Egypt, about whom we talked so much as regards his righteousness and piety. But As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel was unlike his brother. He betrayed his religion and people. He allied with the Crusaders in war against his brother, Najm Ad-Deen Ayyoob of Egypt, on the condition that he should give them both cities of Sidon and Shaqif, allow them to buy weapons from Damascus, and set out along with them in one army to invade Egypt. Of course, the glorious scholar, Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, revolted, and stood on the pulpits to deliver Khutbahs, strongly disapproving of the behavior of As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel, and stating, clearly and explicitly, that As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel did not possess the Islamic cities in order to give them to the Crusaders, and that it was impermissible to sell weapons to the Crusaders, especially when the Muslims were certain that the Crusaders would only buy weapons to strike their fellow Muslims.

In this way, the Sultan of Scholars said the word of truth in the presence of the oppressing sultan, As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel. As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel ousted him from the office of judge, and prevented him from delivering Khutbahs, and later issued a detention order against him. The glorious scholar was put in prison for some time, after which he was released, but he was not permitted to talk to the people, give lessons or deliver Khutbahs. The glorious Imaam then left Damascus for Bayt Al-Maqdis, perchance he would have an opportunity to teach the people rather than to keep silent in Damascus.

He spent some time there before he was surprised by the coming of As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel, along with the Crusader kings and armies on their way to invade Egypt. As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel sent one of his followers as an envoy to Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, and he was very subtle towards him. He promised to return him to his office, on condition that he should seek to please and apologize to As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel, and not talk about political affairs, otherwise, he would be detained.

The envoy of As-Saalih Ismaa‘eel went to Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, and said to him, "Nothing separates you from taking back all your offices and rank, and even more but to submit to the Sultan and kiss his hand."
Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abdul-Salaam, May Allah have mercy upon him, gave his reply, in honor and supremacy, "By Allaah, O poor one, I do not accept that he should kiss my hand, then, how should I kiss his? O people! You are concerned with something, and I am concerned with something quite different. All perfect praise be to Allah who saved me from that which He tried you with."
Allaahu Akbar! These are real scholars!

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https://en.islamstory.com/en/artical/20803/sultan-scholars