An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades

INTRODUCTION 21
Arabic language, an attempt has been made to include among
the references books in their translations into European languages.
The attention of the reader is here called to the fact that the
division of the text into sections, subsections and paragraphs, with
one exception indicated in its proper place, is the work of the translator.
He is also responsible for all headings of these divisions and
for the figures in square brackets which indicate his pagination of
the manuscript.
On Monday, the 23d of Ramadan, of the year 584 (November 16,
1 1 88), the year after the conquest of Jerusalem by Saladin, Usamah
passed away in Damascus at the age of 96 lunar (93 solar) years
and was interred on the second day at the east side of Mt Qasiyun,
considered by Moslem tradition "sacred and most venerated" 48
and associated with the names of Adam, Abel, Abraham and many
other prophets and martyrs.
His tomb was visited a few decades
later by the Damascene biographer, ibn-Khallikan, who writes:
"I entered his mausoleum, which lies on the northern bank of the
Yazid River, 49 and recited an extract from the Koran over his
grave, imploring Allah's mercy upon him."
48
YSqut, op cit , vol IV, p 13
* A branch of the Barada. I' or this quotation see Ta'rikh, vol I, p 112 = Biographical
Dictionary, vol. I, pp. 179-80.