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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Alleged Role of Nasir Al Din Al Tusi in the Fall of Baghdad Referring To the Khwajah's Term As Hulagu's Minister, Ibn Kathir Wrote The Khwajah was in his company during the episode of Baghdad. Some people imagine that the Khwajah had induced Hulagu to kill the caliph. How ever, my own belief is that such an act is not committed by an intellectual and a learned man.

[^55] Ibn Kathir's use of the phrase "some people", and then his pro ceding to reject the allegation means that he did not accept what Ibn Taymiyyah had written, for he had not come across any historical basis for the allegation. Moreover, he viewed it as something far from the dignity of the Khwajah.

(c) Sources which don't mention any role of the Khwajah in the Baghdad episode, but which mention a remark of his which led to such accusations: Even without it, the very presence of the Khwajah in the Mongol conqueror's retinue was sufficient evidence to some for making the accusation. As pointed out by Dr.

Shaybi, "In the episode of the sack of Baghdad, although it was a consequence of the general assault of the Mongols that overthrew the regimes that came in their way from Turkistan to Iraq, the Shiis came to be blamed for it due to an age-old Sunni-Shi'i hostility." [^56] The above-mentioned remark of the Khwajah is reported by Rashid al-Din in connection with Husam al-Din, the astrologer, and Khwajah Nasir al-Din al-Tusi. Ibn al-Tiqtaqa cites it without mentioning the names of the two.

Some others, too, took it from Rashid al-Din and reported it with modifications in its content. Before quoting Rashid al-Din, it is worthwhile to mention that since the Abbasids had been favourably treated by the times, the idea had become popular - and they themselves also propagated it - that they were invincible, that no one was capable of bringing about their downfall.

Five hundred and twenty-five years of standing, together with this propaganda, had given an impression of invincibility to the general public. Some time earlier, when Sultan Muhammad Khwarazm Shah wanted to attack Baghdad and overthrow the Abbasid caliphate, many of his soldiers were stricken by severe cold at Asadabid, near Hamadin, and the invasion had failed. This event, too, was interpreted as something of a miracle to the advantage of the Abbasids.

According to al-Juwayni, "When weakness and enervation affected his state and the miracle of the Muhammadan creed twisted his arm ....