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December 30. Homs. [al-Manṣūr Ibrāhīm], in the name of Sultan [as-Ṣāliḥ Najm ad-Dīn Ayyūb] writes to Pope [Innocent IV], addressing him as holy, illustrious, pure, excellent, disdaining temporal things, worshipper of God, venerable, sublime, knowing, great, the head of the Christian sect and the leader of the sons of baptism, sitting on the seat of Symon, having knowledge of holy theology, and the pope of Roma – may God perpetuate his prosperity – and referring to himself as Salehinus. I. on the part of Sultan Saleh of Egypt (Egyptius), victorious king, protector of the world and the law, surnamed Ubutaher, which means 'father of the pure one', Habraam by name, son of the defender of the king, surnamed Leon of the law, Serlxouh by name, of the son of Machometus, helder emir elmumemin, that is emperor of the faithful, who is the caliph. The author first proposes at great length the basics of Islam, including the places of Moses (Moysen) and Jesus (Ihesus) in it. Then he relates that the pope's letter arrived, full of theological understanding and knowledge. He read and understood what it contained, finding it full of proof for the point on matters that only the wisest can comprehend. But the author does know the intent of the letter in order to respond point-by-point. If it is to certify the truth and its demonstration and manifestation so that the truth is accepted and held by way of proof, not according to the custom of the tradition of men, then the pope should know that for this is it necessary to come together and inspect the truth with objections, responses, and discussions. If he is content with pithy letters and nuncios for this business, he will find the same from their side. For now he has decided not to write anything about this until he receives another letter from the pope, and he will not do anything until he knows the pope's purpose and will. He shall await his letter on this so that he can respond. Regarding the letter's statement that it is the pope's duty to care for his and others' salvation, for which purpose the pope is vigilant, this is praiseworthy, and the author must be eager to be freed from sin and arrive at sublime levels and acquire a dwelling-place with the angels next to God and God's prophets, the martyrs, and the just. But at the same time he would like to come together with the pope, if he could, and dispute and discuss face-to-face concerning the divine. But because this was impossible, he wanted to do this with the Friars Preacher (Dominicans) whom the pope had sent, but it was not completely safe for them to dispute concerning their law and the [Muslim] law in [Muslim] lands with wise [Muslims]. Obviously this was because of the obstacle of the Arabic language and monastic humility, and because they were not accustomed to disputing except in Latin or French. Signs of virtue shined in them, the marks of knowledge were apparent from their expressions, and traces of their religion and their contempt of the world as well as their praiseworthy manners were manifest in them. In their letter it was suggested that they wanted to proceed to the Mongols (Tartari) and that the author should help him fulfil their purpose and remove impediments. But for many reasons that he gave, he did not advise the friars to proceed to the Mongols (Tartari). Concerning what the letter said about the Mongols (Tartari), that they wish to destroy everything and have laid waste to lands and peoples and direct their fury to everyone indifferently, it did not describe the precise and whole truth, because this people is a sea of pestilence that floods so much that if the Antichrist himself saw part of the evils that they do his tears of compassion would flow. But with His immense grace and goodness flooding everywhere God has restored the Saracens, or rather all sects, through a certain sultan, who will put an end to the Mongols’ (Tartari's) depravity with his surgical swords against their iniquity. This is their lord sultan the greatest King Saeleh, the star of the king, the sultan of sultans, who is described at length. Everyone goes to him for protection, hoping that through his power the vile people will be destroyed. There are already signs of this, because after the [Mongols (Tartari)] entered Syria this year, the armies of the magnificent sultan drove back the armies of the Mongols (Tartari), sending them back whence they came, without reaching their goal, whereas when they entered this land the previous year they laid waste to it, even the land of Aleppo (Halapia). They are confident in God's generosity and mercy that next year, God willing, the army of the magnificent sultan will return to the dominion of the Saracens (Sarraceni) all that was taken away and expel the Mongols (Tartari) from the liberated lands that they occupied. But this year nuncios of the Mongols (Tartari) came to the sultan's door offering him servitude and peace, and he did not admit them or grant them permission to kiss his feet, out of defence for his law, for the [Mongols (Tartari)] had departed from the custom of kings and sultans by which one shows justice and clemency in lands subject to one's rule. The pope should be certain about what has been said about the sultan and the holy man should know that the sultan wishes above all the show kindness, and he has done more than what was said above. The holy man should know for certain that the Mongols (Tartari) are contemptible compared to the sultan and his army. Enumerating the sultan's virtues, the letter closes by saying that when the pope's letters arrive they bring joy and solace, so let him send them often.