Sīrat al-Ẓāhir Baybars (Arabic: سيرة الظاهر بيبرس, lit.
'Biography of al-Zahir Baibars'), also known as al-Sīrah Ẓāhirīyah (السيرة الظاهرية), is a long Egyptian folkloric epic poem that narrates the life and heroic achievements of the Mamluk Sultan al-Zahir Baibars al-Bunduqdari.
The poem features romantic images of gallant cavaliers, soldiers and explorers.
For example, in telling the tale of the Syrian Ismailis of the Mamluk period the Banu Isma’il, descendants of ‘Ali, are depicted as the archetype of honor and justice.
Here, the Banu Isma’il is charged with special tasks such as saving Baybars from captivity by Genoese pirates.