Abu al-Ghayth ibn Abi Numayy

After Abu Numayy's death in Safar 701 AH (October 1301) a succession dispute ensued. A faction of the ashraf supported Abu al-Ghayth and his brother Utayfah against their brothers Humaydah and Rumaythah, who had already been proclaimed as joint emirs two days before their father's death. Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah were captured and imprisoned for some time, but they managed to escape. When the Egyptian hajj caravan arrived (led by Baybars al-Mansuri al-Dawadar), Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah met with a number of high-ranking emirs, chief among them Baybars al-Jashnakir, and complained to them about their brothers. After the completion of the hajj rites (August 1302), Baybars arrested Humaydah and Rumaythah. He installed Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah to the throne, and had them pledge their fealty to the sultan al-Nasir Muhammad. Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah's assumption of the emirate is reported by Baybars al-Dawadar in Zubdat al-fikrah. However, Ibn Abd al-Majid writes in Bahjat al-zaman that it was Muhammad ibn Idris, not Utayfah, who was installed alongside Abu al-Ghayth. After a few days, Abu al-Ghayth expelled Muhammad ibn Idris. There was fighting between them and many ashraf were killed.[1]

In 702 AH, al-Nasir sent orders to Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah to put an end to certain perceived heresies that had been reported by Baybars al-Jashnakir, among which were the inclusion of the Shia formula, "Ḥayya ‘alá khayri l-‘amal (Hasten to the best of deeds)," in the adhan (call to prayer), and the posting of a Zaydi imam in the Masjid al-Haram.[2]

When the amir al-rakab returned to Cairo in early 703 AH, he complained to the sultan about the brothers' lack of solemnity and the excessive greed of their slaves.[3]

In Dhu al-Hijjah 704 AH, after the completion of the hajj rites (July 1305), Baybars al-Jashnakir informed Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah that al-Nasir had returned the emirate to their brothers. When they refused to accept, he arrested them and took them back with the returning caravan. In Egypt Abu al-Ghayth and Utayfah were granted stipends and rode with the sultan's emirs.[4]

In Shawwal 713 AH (January/February 1314) al-Nasir dispatched an army with the hajj caravan to remove Humaydah and Rumaythah from the emirate, as he had received many complaints against them. Abu al-Ghayth was reappointed as Emir of Mecca and accompanied the army, which included 320 Mamluk cavalry and 500 horsemen from the Banu Husayn of Medina. The emirs included Sayf al-Din Taqsuba al-Nasiri, Wali of Qus and commander of the army, Sayf al-Din Baktamur, Sarim al-Din Saruja al-Husami, Ala al-Din Aydughdi al-Khwarizmi, and Sayf al-Din Balaban al-Tatari, the amir al-rakab from Damascus. When Humaydah and Rumaythah learned of the army's approach, they fled towards Haly Bani Ya'qub.[5]

After the hajj, Taqsuba remained in Mecca with the army for about two months to support Abu al-Ghayth. In Muharram 714 AH (April/May 1314) they took out an expedition to track down Humaydah and Rumaythah, but were unsuccessful. Taqsuba refused to enter Haly Bani Ya'qub without a marsum (written order) from al-Nasir, as it was within the dominion of the Rasulid sultan al-Mu'ayyad Da'ud. Soon after that the army departed, reaching Cairo in Rabi I 714 AH.[6]

When Humaydah learned of the army's departure, he gathered his forces and captured Mecca. Abu al-Ghayth's killed numbered around 15 foot soldiers and over 20 horsemen. He took refuge with his Hudahyl relatives at Wadi Nakhlah and sent to al-Nasir for assistance. The sultan sent Abu al-Ghayth reinforcements, and reportedly ordered the Emir of Medina to assist him. On Tuesday, 4 Dhu al-Hijjah (11 March 1315), Abu al-Ghayth and Humaydah fought near Mecca. Though Abu al-Ghayth's forces were greater in number, he was once again defeated. Wounded in battle, he was captured then executed on Humaydah's orders at Khayf Bani Shadid.[7]

• Ibn Fahd, ‘Izz al-Din ‘Abd al-‘Azīz ibn ‘Umar (1986–1988) [Composed before 1518]. Shaltūt, Fahīm Muḥammad (ed.). Ghāyat al-marām bi-akhbār salṭanat al-Balad al-Ḥarām غاية المرام بأخبار سلطنة البلد الحرام (in Arabic) (1st ed.). Makkah: Jāmi‘at Umm al-Qurá, Markaz al-Baḥth al-‘Ilmī wa-Iḥyā’ al-Turāth al-Islāmī, Kullīyat al-Sharīʻah wa-al-Dirāsāt al-Islāmīyah.
• Ibn Fahd, Najm al-Din Umar ibn Muḥammad (1983–1984) [Composed before 1481]. Shaltūt, Fahīm Muḥammad (ed.). Itḥāf al-wará bi-akhbār Umm al-Qurá إتحاف الورى بأخبار أم القرى (in Arabic) (1st ed.). Makkah: Jāmi‘at Umm al-Qurá, Markaz al-Baḥth al-‘Ilmī wa-Iḥyā’ al-Turāth al-Islāmī, Kullīyat al-Sharīʻah wa-al-Dirāsāt al-Islāmīyah.