Editing Kitab al-I'tibar (section)

=== Political structure of Islamic society ===

After getting into trouble with his uncle who ruled [[Shayzar]], Usama was exiled, traveling to [[Damascus]], [[Jerusalem]], [[Cairo]], [[Mosul]] and [[Mecca]]. Usama was in the army of the [[Atabeg]] [[Imad ad-Din Zengi|Zengi]], went to the Fatimid court in Egypt and was in the army of Nur al-Din. The political structure of the area changed considerably during Usama's lifetime. The Islamic world was very fragmented and divided at the time, between the [[Abbasid]] [[caliphate]] of [[Baghdad]] and the [[Fatimid]] caliphate based on [[Cairo]]. By the late 11th century neither caliph held any real power and autonomous rulers were establishing themselves. In reality, the three great powers at the end of the 11th century were the Great [[Seljuk Turks|Seljuk]] Sultanate, the Seljuk [[Sultanate of Rum]] and the Fatimid Caliphate which was ruled by a military [[vizier|wazirate]]. By the end of his life, however, Syria and Egypt were united under [[Saladin]] and had re-conquered most of the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] from the crusaders.

The Fatimite court was full of conspiracies and feuds. Usama shows how the power of the caliph was limited by the military rulers and how the instability of the government caused feuds and assassinations For example, in 1150 the Fatimite caliph tried to kill his [[vizier]]:

''[[Al-Zafir]] [the caliph] now planned to put [[al-Adil ibn al-Sallar|al-Adil]] (his vizier) to death. He concerted with a group of young men from his special bodyguard, together with others whom he won over to the scheme by distributing money among them, that they attack al-Adil in his home and put him to death.''<ref>Hitti, ''An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades'' p. 33</ref>

Another instance is when al-Adil is killed by Nasr ibn Abbas, and Ibn Abbas' father ([[Abbas ibn Abi al-Futuh]]) becomes the vizier.

''When al-Adil had gone to sleep, that prefect notified Ibn Abbas who, with six of his attendants, made an assault upon him in the house in which he was sleeping and killed him.''<ref>Hitti, ''An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades'' p. 43</ref>

Also revealed is the corruption and bribery that went on. Usama gives the example of when the caliph tried to persuade Ibn Abbas to kill his father so that he would succeed to become vizier. The caliph bribes him to do this:

''He received twenty trays of silver holding twenty thousand dinars. After neglecting him for a few days, the caliph sent him an assortment of clothing of all kinds. ..''<ref>Hitti, ''An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades'' p. 45</ref>

Ibn Abbas, however tells his father about the plot and they decide to kill the Caliph:

''Nasr invited the caliph to come to his residence. ..after having installed a band of followers on one side of the house. As soon as the caliph was seated, the band rushed upon him and killed him''<ref>Hitti, ''An Arab-Syrian Gentleman and Warrior in the Period of the Crusades'' p. 45</ref>