The epic rise of Baybars, the Panther Sultan
Published: 04:07 PM,Jul 11,2025 | EDITED : 08:07 PM,Jul 11,2025
If you’re a 90’s high school graduate, you must remember the novel 'Wa Islamah' written by Yemeni author Ali Ahmed Ba’katheer and read in Arabic classes.
You must also remember the super-long Egyptian movie by the same name produced in 1961 starring Ahmed Mazhar and Lubna Abdul Aziz (while researching this article I discovered that this movie was directed by two directors: Italian Enrico Bomba - who was also the writer and the producer - and Hungarian-American Andrew Marton.
It had two names, La Spada del’Islam and Oh Islam. The movie follows the story of the Mamluk Sultan Saif Al Deen Qutuz from birth to his death in 1260. As for the novel, I wasn’t a fan as I found the romance between Sultan Qutuz and princess Julnar tedious.
However, the side character that always fascinated me was the Sultan’s friend Baybars - another Mamluk from a humble background - who ruled after his sudden death. As I’m now in the phase of catching up with Arabic historical series on YouTube that I either missed or never heard of, I came across a Ramadhan series by the name Al Zahir Baybars that was broadcasted in Ramadhan of 2005 (unfortunately no English subtitles provided).
The series talks about the rise of Baybars (1223/1228-1277 AD) from a Mamluk slave to becoming the Sultan of Egypt. Baybars was a Kipchak (a tribe form the north of the Black Sea) whose name meant great panther.
As a young boy, his parents were massacred by the Mongols and he was sold into slavery. When reaching Egypt, he’s bought by Alaa Al Deen al Bunuduqdari, a high rank official who when losing favour with the Ayyubid Sultan Al Saleh Ayub ends up fleeing, leaving behind all his possessions.
Under the new Sultan, Baybars joins the Bahari Mamluks headed by Faris Al Deen Aktai and meets his new comrades: Izz Al Deen Aybak and Qutuz. After the death of the Sultan, his wife Shajar Al Durr decides to marry Aybak to maintain her status quo.
The power-loving wife manipulates Aybak and orders him to assassinate Aktai when she senses his dissatisfaction with her decisions and fears a future military coup lead by him.
Consequently, Baybars flees to Levant with his deputy Qalawun and a few loyal soldiers where he keeps travelling for years between different countries trying to convince rulers to help him invade Egypt. However, things change after Qutuz come to power and asks Baybars to return to Egypt and under his command, the Mongols are defeated in the battle of Ain Jalut in 1260.
When Qutuz is assassinated, Baybars becomes the first Sultan of the Bahri Mamluk Dynasty and entitles himself Al Zahir (the discernible). During his 17 years of reign, he ends the presence of the Crusaders in Levant, develops Cairo’s infrastructure, builds mosques, libraries, and funds scientific research.
He also establishes the first waqf garden that provides food and shelter for stray cats. The series highlights the political and military side of Baybars life which made it interesting.
Abid Fahad who plays Baybars was convincing but this can’t be said about the rest of the cast who were struggling to speak in Classic Arabic, especially Aybak and Qutuz. Besides, director Mohammed Aziziya’s signature battle scenes were too long at times (with close shots of smiling extras supposedly facing death) and some historical facts were tampered with like the death of Aybak and his wife Shajar Al Durr.
The fun part was the opening song lyrics that sent viewers on heated discussions in different forums trying to decipher the lyrics and the language used.
Rasha Al Raisi
The writer is the author of 'The World According to Bahja'
You must also remember the super-long Egyptian movie by the same name produced in 1961 starring Ahmed Mazhar and Lubna Abdul Aziz (while researching this article I discovered that this movie was directed by two directors: Italian Enrico Bomba - who was also the writer and the producer - and Hungarian-American Andrew Marton.
It had two names, La Spada del’Islam and Oh Islam. The movie follows the story of the Mamluk Sultan Saif Al Deen Qutuz from birth to his death in 1260. As for the novel, I wasn’t a fan as I found the romance between Sultan Qutuz and princess Julnar tedious.
However, the side character that always fascinated me was the Sultan’s friend Baybars - another Mamluk from a humble background - who ruled after his sudden death. As I’m now in the phase of catching up with Arabic historical series on YouTube that I either missed or never heard of, I came across a Ramadhan series by the name Al Zahir Baybars that was broadcasted in Ramadhan of 2005 (unfortunately no English subtitles provided).
The series talks about the rise of Baybars (1223/1228-1277 AD) from a Mamluk slave to becoming the Sultan of Egypt. Baybars was a Kipchak (a tribe form the north of the Black Sea) whose name meant great panther.
As a young boy, his parents were massacred by the Mongols and he was sold into slavery. When reaching Egypt, he’s bought by Alaa Al Deen al Bunuduqdari, a high rank official who when losing favour with the Ayyubid Sultan Al Saleh Ayub ends up fleeing, leaving behind all his possessions.
Under the new Sultan, Baybars joins the Bahari Mamluks headed by Faris Al Deen Aktai and meets his new comrades: Izz Al Deen Aybak and Qutuz. After the death of the Sultan, his wife Shajar Al Durr decides to marry Aybak to maintain her status quo.
The power-loving wife manipulates Aybak and orders him to assassinate Aktai when she senses his dissatisfaction with her decisions and fears a future military coup lead by him.
Consequently, Baybars flees to Levant with his deputy Qalawun and a few loyal soldiers where he keeps travelling for years between different countries trying to convince rulers to help him invade Egypt. However, things change after Qutuz come to power and asks Baybars to return to Egypt and under his command, the Mongols are defeated in the battle of Ain Jalut in 1260.
When Qutuz is assassinated, Baybars becomes the first Sultan of the Bahri Mamluk Dynasty and entitles himself Al Zahir (the discernible). During his 17 years of reign, he ends the presence of the Crusaders in Levant, develops Cairo’s infrastructure, builds mosques, libraries, and funds scientific research.
He also establishes the first waqf garden that provides food and shelter for stray cats. The series highlights the political and military side of Baybars life which made it interesting.
Abid Fahad who plays Baybars was convincing but this can’t be said about the rest of the cast who were struggling to speak in Classic Arabic, especially Aybak and Qutuz. Besides, director Mohammed Aziziya’s signature battle scenes were too long at times (with close shots of smiling extras supposedly facing death) and some historical facts were tampered with like the death of Aybak and his wife Shajar Al Durr.
The fun part was the opening song lyrics that sent viewers on heated discussions in different forums trying to decipher the lyrics and the language used.
Rasha Al Raisi
The writer is the author of 'The World According to Bahja'