Mahmud, son of Zengi, son of Uqsunqur, who bore the title Nur ad-Din (Light of the Religion). He ruled Syria for several years, waged the jihad on the frontiers of Islam and took from the hands of the Unbelievers something over fifty cities and fortresses, including Edessa. In Damascus he built a hospital on which he spent a large sum of money, and in Mosul a Friday Mosque, which cost him 60,000 dinars.

His rule was more virtuous than many of the provincial regimes. During his rule the roads were secure and many were the praises bestowed on him! He was scrupulous in his obedience to the Caliphate, and cancelled the non-canonical taxes before his death. He dispatched the troops that conquered Egypt. He was himself a modest, humble man, and loved the men of religion and the scholars; he wrote to me several times.

He had his Emirs swear allegiance to his son as his successor, and he came to terms with the Frankish prince, the Lord of Tripoli [Raymond III], whom he held captive in his power, on condition that he pay a ransom of 300,000 dinars, 150 horses, 500 coats of mail, 500 Frankish shields, 500 lances, and that he free 500 Muslim captives and make no incursion into Muslim territory for 7 years, 7 months and 7 days. He took as hostages of his good faith a hundred children of the Frankish nobles and commanders; if he [Count Raymond] broke his word, their blood would be shed.

He planned to conquer Jerusalem, but fate intervened in the month of Shawwal of this year [Wed. 11 Shaw. 569 = Wed. 15 May, 1174] His reign lasted 18 years and a few months.