Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam

Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam (Arabic: حلول التعب والآلام بوصول أبي الذهب إلى دمشق الشام, lit. 'The Influx of Toil and Pain upon the Arrival of Abu al-Dhahab in Damascus of the Levant') is an 18th-century historical treatise by the Damascene Hanafi scholar, preacher, and court deputy Sulayman al-Muhasani (d. 1187 AH / 1774 CE) al-Alam lil-Zirikli. It provides a detailed, firsthand narrative of the invasion, siege, and occupation of Damascus by Egyptian troops under Muhammad Bey Abu al-Dhahab and his allies in 1185 AH (1771 CE) Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam+1.

Background and Context

The author composed the work immediately after the withdrawal of the Egyptian forces, completing his draft on Friday, 17 Rabi al-Awwal 1185 AH Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. Serving as a preacher and instructor at the Umayyad Mosque, al-Muhasani witnessed the crisis firsthand and participated in the civic delegations of Damascene religious scholars who negotiated with the invading commanders to protect the city after the flight of the local Ottoman governing elite Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam+1.

Historical Events Recorded

The treatise documents the campaign in a precise chronological sequence covering the sixteen days of Abu al-Dhahab's presence Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam:

• Arrival and Initial Clashes (19–24 Safar 1185 AH): Abu al-Dhahab encamped outside Damascus on Monday, 19 Safar 1185 AH, leading an army of roughly 40,000 men with eighty cannons, accompanied by nine sanjaqs, five sons of Zahir al-Umar, and allied forces from the Metawalis and Safad Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. Ottoman forces commanded by the governor of Damascus, Uthman Pasha, his son Muhammad Pasha of Tripoli, Abd al-Rahman Pasha of Aleppo, and Khalil Pasha of Killiz engaged the invaders on Tuesday; the auxiliary pashas quickly routed, while urban fighting lasted three days and parts of the Turkman quarter burned Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. On the night of Friday, 24 Safar, Uthman Pasha fled toward Hama Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam.
• Flight of Notables and Civic Negotiations (24–25 Safar): On the night of Saturday, 25 Safar, the commanders of the local military corps (Yerliyya and Qapiqulu) and prominent notables—including Mufti Husayn Efendi al-Muradi and Asad Efendi al-Bakri—fled the city, while the Citadel garrison under Mustafa Agha barricaded themselves to resist Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. Left without defenders, a delegation of scholars, including Ali al-Daghastani, the author al-Muhasani, the Shafi'i mufti, and Khalil al-Kamili, met Abu al-Dhahab to halt his advance and obtained a pledge of safety (aman) for the civilian populace Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam.
• Political Confrontation and Bombardment (26–27 Safar): On Monday, 26 Safar, Abu al-Dhahab summoned the scholars and local figures, declaring his intention to appoint a new judge, mufti, and military commanders Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. The Damascene delegation resisted, insisting on their sole allegiance to Sultan Mustafa III, but accepted interim deputies (qa'im-maqam) Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. On Tuesday, 27 Safar, artillery bombardment directed at the Citadel caused widespread damage across the city and breached the ceiling of the Umayyad Mosque Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. Al-Muhasani went in person to Abu al-Dhahab's encampment, reproaching him for violating his pledge of safety and invoking traditions on the sanctity of Damascus, prompting the commander to cease bombardment and renew the aman Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam.
• Withdrawal and Aftermath (4–16 Rabi al-Awwal): On Monday, 4 Rabi al-Awwal, Abu al-Dhahab dispatched a letter stating that his quarrel was solely with Uthman Pasha and announcing his retreat to Egypt Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. He departed the following morning Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. On Thursday, 16 Rabi al-Awwal, Uthman Pasha returned from Hama alongside reinforcements and approximately 5,000 Druze auxiliaries Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam.

Themes and Authorship Perspective

Al-Muhasani frames the events through strong loyalty to the Ottoman Sultanate, opening the work with praise for the Ottoman dynasty and condemnation of rebellion Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. At the same time, he explicitly blames the local governor, Uthman Pasha, for triggering the catastrophe through tyranny, misrule, heavy-handed financial exactions—such as forcing a loan of roughly 1,000 purses from merchants—and appointing unqualified subordinates Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam. He also records that the former Mufti of Damascus, Ali Efendi al-Muradi, died out of severe distress and fear of communicating these grievances directly to Istanbul Hulul al-Taab wal-Alam.

Publication

Manuscripts of the text are preserved in collections such as Princeton University Library Khizanat al-Turath - Fihr…. The treatise was published in Beirut in 1962 and reissued in 1400 AH (1980 CE) Mujam Tarikh al-Turath al….