The first confrontation between Salih Bey al-Malik and the preacher Ibn al-Basir surprised us. He marched from al-Ta'alina to Fadasi with about sixty thousand fighters armed with Remington rifles, cannons, and rockets. This was in the middle of Jumada al-Ula, year 1301.

When Abu Qurja arrived in al-Malawiyyin, he assigned his agents to the regions and dismissed Ibn al-Basir's agents. The conflict intensified between them, and the occurrence of evil was feared. So, al-Mahdi wrote to Ibn al-Basir, ordering him to obey Abu Qurja. He could not but submit to his obedience. Abu Qurja then appointed his brother Nasr as governor of al-Muslimiyya and entrusted him with confiscating the wealth of many people who secretly supported the government, thus obtaining a large amount of this wealth.

Nasr arrested Sheikh Muhammad bin al-Qubba, who was a scholar of jurisprudence, because he had spoken out to the people of al-Muslimiyya and presented them with the legal evidence that showed the invalidity of all the false claims that al-Mahdi had permitted. When Sheikh Muhammad was brought before Nasr, he asked him what he was accused of. He replied, "I do not fear death for the sake of God. If you wish to kill me, then do so." He was taken to the market and beheaded.

It is narrated by some witnesses that Abu Qurja regretted his killing, as he believed him to be righteous.

Salih Bey al-Malik fought in Fadasi. Salih Bey al-Malik was from the former ranks and led three hundred Bashi-bazouks. He was brave and had sound judgment. He participated in most of the battles with Abd al-Qadir Hilmi Pasha, who testified to his courage and bravery.