While Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, was preparing his army enthusiastically, and taking quick steps (towards the war), the envoys of Hulagu, May Allaah Curse him, came carrying a message overflowing with poison, menace, threat and terror; and no one could have power to read it save him whom Allaah The Almighty Strengthens.
The message of Hulagu was brought by four Tatarian couriers and Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, read it; and it went as follows:
"In the Name of the God of Heaven, Whose right is due, and Whose earth we have possessed, and Who Invested us with authority over His creatures.
What is known to King Muthaffar, who belongs to the Mamluks, Ruler of Egypt and its peoples, emirs, soldiers, scribes, officers, city and desert dwellers, old and young people, that we are the soldiers of God on His earth. He Created us out of His wrath, and Invested us with authority over those upon whom His anger has fallen.
You then should take a lesson to learn from all the regions (we have conquered), and be deterred by our determination (to destroy your country).

Receive admonition by (what happened to) the peoples other than you, and surrender to us before the veil is removed, and (the evil consequence of) your mistake returns upon you.
We are neither moved by lamentations, nor touched by tears.
We have conquered countries and purified the land from corruption.
You could hardly escape, for we would inevitably pursue you.
Which land would shelter you, and which country would protect you (from us)?
What do you see, given that all the water and all the earth belong to us?
You will have no salvation from our swords, or a way to flee from our hands.
Our horses are very swift, our swords (as strong as) thunderbolts, our lances very sharp, our arrows penetrating, our hearts as (hard as) mountains, and we are as numerous as sand.
Fortresses could not detain us, nor could armies stop us, nor could your supplication avail against us.
That is because you have devoured the unlawful, felt too arrogant to return salutation, broken the oaths, and proved undutiful and disobedient.
So, receive the glad tidings of humiliation and disgrace.
Today, you will be awarded for what you used to do; and those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.
It has been established that we are the disbelievers, whereas you are the wicked.
We have been invested with authority over you; by Him in Whose Hand are the regulated matters and the decreed judgments.
Your great number seems few in our sight, your honored humiliated, and your kings have nothing with us but humiliation.
Hasten your reply to our message, before the fire of war would be kindled.
At that time, you would find with us neither majesty nor honor, nor a book nor a deed, where our lances would incite you to evil with clear incitement; and you would be afflicted by us with the greatest calamity, your country would become void of you, and fall into ruin.
Assuredly, we have been just to you when we sent our book to you, and conferred favor upon you by dispatching our envoys to you."
That was the conclusion of this strange message which had no diplomatic spirit; it was rather an explicit declaration of war, otherwise the alternative of humiliating surrender, unconditional and void of any rights.
Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, held a supreme advisory meeting of major leaders, emirs and ministers, and started to discuss this very dangerous matter which was raised to them, in which the options were limited: war with its consequences, or unconditional surrender.
As for Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, the matter was clear-cut in his mind. But the emirs who attended the meeting with him did not have the same high level of comprehension and understanding. How should that wise leader deal with such a situation? How should he remove fear and terror from the hearts? Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, followed two of the greatest approaches of upbringing. The first approach is the "upbringing by means of presenting an ideal to follow”. Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, said to them: "I would face the Tatars by myself."
The other way is to amplify the great purpose for which man has been created, and the noble end because of which we live on earth. Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, said to them explicitly: "O Muslim emirs! You have been eating from Bayt Al-Maal for a long time, even though you dislike fighting (in the Cause of Allaah). I am going (to fight); whoever chooses Jihaad, let him accompany me, and whoever otherwise chooses, let him return home, and Allaah Knows his secrets, and the crime of (violating the honor of) the Muslim women would be laid upon those who remain behind."
Then, Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, was moved more and more, and stood and addressed the emirs and ministers while weeping: "O Muslim emirs! Who would defend Islam if we do not?"
All the emirs were impressed by his words, and went on weeping loudly. Some emirs stood and said good words, thereupon the remaining emirs announced their approval of Jihaad, and readiness to face the Tatars whatever the price might be.
In this way, Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, succeeded in one of the most difficult, and even one of the greatest steps of his life. For this reason, Qutuz, May Allaah Have mercy upon him, liked to do a thing therewith to cut off the line of return on the emirs, and the hope of surrender, so that they would have no way but the military option.

 To Continue..........

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