The Battle of Shaqhab (Marj al-Suffar)

The Muslims, led by the Mamluks and the scholars of Syria — foremost among them Ibn Taymiyya — repelled the last Mongol invasion from Damascus at the decisive Battle of Shaqhab. The troops were fasting, so Ibn Taymiyya gave them a ruling to break their fast to gain strength for battle.

The Mongols advanced under Qutlushah upon Syria in 702 AH after defeating the Muslims at Wadi al-Khazindar three years earlier. The people panicked and were about to flee, so Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya rose to steady the emirs and the commoners, swearing: In this encounter you shall be victorious.

He went himself to Egypt to urge on Sultan al-Nasir Muhammad; the Egyptian troops came, and the two hosts met at Marj al-Suffar near Shaqhab south of Damascus on 2 Ramadan 702 AH. Ibn Taymiyya gave the soldiers a ruling to break their fast and broke his own before them so they would take the dispensation and gain strength.

A tremendous battle raged for three days and ended in a crushing defeat of the Mongols, after which they never rose again in Syria. The victors entered Damascus in a memorable celebration, and Shaqhab was counted among the decisive days of Islam.