Facsimile · p. 114
The path was facilitated for the weakness of the country by the Arab Islamic influence. This migration led to the weakening of the authority of the Nubian kings, who could no longer protect their subjects. Hence, the people had to seek those who would protect and shelter them from the aggression of external enemies against that kingdom. The Arab tribes settled in those vast regions, by virtue of their customs and traditions, were better suited to shelter the Nubian inhabitants, as many intermarriages had occurred between Arabs and Nubians. The Nubians hoped through these intermarriages to secure strong support and protection amidst the factors of weakness and chaos that had swept the country. Therefore, the Nubian kings at that time had no reason to prevent these Arab migrations or interfere in their affairs, especially since they did not cause them the slightest trouble or disturbance in this region. As for these incoming Arab tribes, they, for their part, worked to spread Islam on a wide scale, and thus the tide of migration to the land of Nubia led to the spread of Islam in this country. In the Mamluk era, we observe that the Egyptian Islamic influence was not limited to Lower Nubia, but rather we find that the Mamluk Islamic influence became strong in the kingdom of Alwa, to the extent that the kings sought to approach the Mamluk Sultan with gifts, after the king of Alwa became certain of the reality of Islamic power in Egypt. Hence, we find the sources mentioning that "Edward," the king of Alwa (sometimes referred to as Alwa), sent a delegation in the year 685 AH / 1286 AD to Sultan Qalawun, expressing his loyalty and submission to the Mamluk Sultan. The delegation also conveyed King Edward's complaint to the Sultan about the mistreatment by the king of Dongola. The king of Dongola, King Samaoun, promptly sent a delegation to Sultan Qalawun to explain his point of view, which is evidence of the deepening power and control of the Mamluks in the land of Nubia. When Sultan Qalawun met with the two embassies, he decided to send his representatives to the two regions to investigate the causes of the dispute. The Sultan wanted to obtain more accurate information, and the sources that dealt with the news did not mention