On Wednesday, the twenty-sixth of Shaʿbān, the deputy of the sultanate and the qāḍīs gathered near the Qaysān Gate. Artisans began the work of opening the gate upon the sultan's firman from the land of Egypt, the order of the deputy of the sultanate, and the permission of the qāḍīs regarding this matter. When the month of Ramaḍān began, they were still continuing their work.
After the twentieth of Shaʿbān, the muhaddith and great scholar, as well as the author of many important works, Sharīf Shams al-Dīn Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. Masʿan b. Ḥamza al-Ḥāʾinī passed away. He had read many hadiths, listened, collected, and authored a work concerning the names of the hadith transmitters in the Imām Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal tradition; moreover, he summarized a useful book related to the names of hadith transmitters. He endowed his mansion within the Torna Gate as a Dar al-Ḥadīth (house of hadith) and appointed Bahāʾ al-Dīn Qāsim b. Asākir as the shaykh of hadith there. The readings of al-Bukhārī were completed at the end of Ramaḍān.
A dispute arose between Shaykh ʿImād al-Dīn b. Sirāj and Shaykh Badr al-Dīn b. Shaykh Jamāl al-Dīn al-Sharīshī, who were reading al-Bukhārī near the ṣaḥāba miḥrāb in the Umayyad Mosque. They argued in front of witnesses about the pronunciation of the word Yabtiz. This word, meaning "to accumulate," was written as yatīru in another manuscript. Ibn Sirāj, citing al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Mizzī, stated that the correct form was yabtiz, meaning "precious," thus confirming al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Mizzī. He told Shaykh Badr al-Dīn that if he wished to dispute, his opponent should be al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Mizzī. Since he sided with al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Mizzī, the other appeared as if he were an enemy of al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Mizzī. The argument prolonged until Shaykh Jamāl al-Dīn stood up and, following the Sufi method, uncovered his head. When Ibn Sirāj did not pay attention to Shaykh Badr al-Dīn, both went together before the Shāfiʿī qāḍī, where a trial was held. After lengthy discussions, al-Ḥāfiẓ al-Mizzī's opinion was confirmed. They then reconciled, and thus the dispute was resolved.
Deaths increased during Ramaḍān. Approximately one hundred people per day, sometimes more than a hundred, were passing away. Among them were acquaintances and friends. Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rājiʿūn (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return). Locusts increased in the gardens, causing a great disaster; a large quantity of crops, fruits, and vegetables were destroyed. Prices rose, produce diminished, and the value of goods increased. A qintār of molasses was sold for more than 200 dirhams. Rice began to be sold at an even higher price. The opening of the Qaysān Gate was completed. It was named Bāb al-Qiblah. The bridge there was removed and placed on the Salik road. Since its width exceeded ten carpenter's zīrāʿ, protective barriers had to be constructed on both sides. Pedestrians and horsemen entered through it. The gate was very beautiful. The people proceeded to the road leading to the Jewish quarter. Entry was now easier. The people began to use the road to the Jewish quarter. Thus, they were relieved from the tricks, smoke, filth, and traps of the Jews, and they were considerably comforted thanks to this blessed gate.
At the beginning of Shawwāl, locusts had destroyed much of the country's goods, vegetables, and trees. The people of Damascus also suffered from this devastation; prices rose, deaths and scarcity continued. Lamentations and cries increased. We had lost many friends and companions, but after a while, deaths decreased. The disease and locusts lost their effect. In Dhū al-Qaʿdah — praise be to Allah — deaths greatly diminished. The daily death toll fell below twenty.
On the fourth of Shawwāl, an elephant brought from Cairo and a camel were brought into the city of Dimashq. They were stopped near Kasr al-Ablak close to the Aḥdār Square. People went to see them as was customary.
On Friday, the ninth of Shawwāl, the funeral prayer was performed for Shaykh Jamāl al-Dīn ʿAbd al-Samad b. Ḥalīl al-Baghdādī, known as Ibn Ḥudārī, a muhaddith and preacher from Baghdad. This man was of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah. May Allah have mercy on him.