The first incident:

Despite the Tatars’ incursion into the Russian territories and despite their several victories, in the end, they faced a Russian faction called the Bulgars, in Russia rather than Bulgaria, in a great battle, in which the Tatars received the first defeat in those regions, and a huge number of casualties. The Tatarian advance in the Russian territories stopped, and their number decreased so much that they lost control of all the territories lying west of the Caspian Sea: Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Chechnya, Daghistan, Azerbaijan and North of Iran. This was supposed to provide a good opportunity for the Muslims to rearrange themselves and get prepared to face the Tatars who were in such troubles, after their defeat at the hands of the Bulgars. Although this was expected (of the Muslims), it did not take place!

A Muslim governor in this region, namely in Armenia, affiliate to Al-Ashraf Moosa, son of Al-‘Aadil, ruler of Diyaar Al-Jazeerah, from the Kurds who ruled the North of Iraq, gathered his forces and equipment and attacked the tribes of the Kurg in Georgia.

The incident itself was amazing; although there were continuous wars between the Muslims and the Kurg, at that time, they were in a semi-official armistice, and it was unwise to open new fronts upon the Muslims in the presence of their greater enemy, the Tatars, given that the Kurg themselves were hostile to the Tatars, and suffered from them as the Muslims did. The Muslims, at that time, were expected either to make a careful alliance with the Kurg against the Tatars, or, at least, to adopt a neutral stance, in order not to deplete the Muslim power in side wars, especially that the Kurg knew well the hideaways and alcoves of those areas, and had the Tatars attracted them in their war against the Muslims, this would have led to severe adversities upon the Muslims.

At that time, the Muslims were afflicted by what could be called political squint, and lacked the correct vision, the military wisdom, the oneness of the objective, and the unity of array; and the result was those acts that lacked balance, control and deliberation!

War broke up between the Muslims and the Kurg, during which both received a lot of casualties, and lost confidence in any possible alliance against the Tatars. In this way, the Muslims failed to avail themselves of the balance of powers at that time; and this was among the causes of their weakness. Then, the war was over, and reconciliation was concluded between both parties, but after each had lost a great deal of power.

To Continue.......

https://en.islamstory.com/index.php/en/artical/20713/significant-incidents-1