 In Hama, the Mamluks had permitted the Ayyubids to continue to govern until 1341 (its popular governor in 1320, Abu'l Fida, was granted the honorary title of sultan by an-Nasir Muhammad), but otherwise the "nuwwab" of the provinces were Mamluk emirs.A consistent accession process occurred with every new Mamluk sultan.It more or less involved the election of a sultan by a council of emirs and mamluks (who would give him an oath of loyalty), the sultan's assumption of the monarchical title "al-malik", a state-organized procession through Cairo at the head of which was the sultan, and the reading of the sultan's name in the "khutbah" (Friday prayer sermon).