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An-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known today as Saladin, was a Muslim ruler who founded the Ayyubid dynasty, which ruled over modern Egypt, Syria, Palestine, and some parts of Saudi Arabia during the 12th century. He is famously known for capturing Jerusalem from the Crusaders in 1187 and successfully defending the city during the Third Crusade.
However, there is so much more to him than just the military conquests. He is known to be very generous and kind. He always treated everyone with mercy, even the enemies he defeated in the battle. Not only Muslims but Christians also hold him in high regard today.
If you don’t know much about Saladin Ayubi then be sure to read this brief guide where we explain seven interesting facts about him.
Saladin was born in 1137 in Tikrit, Upper Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). His full name is Al-Nasir Salah al-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, but he was known simply as Yusuf during his younger years. Najm al-Din Ayyab, Saladin's father, was a politician and a soldier.
When Saladin was a kid, his dad sent him to the Zengid’s capital Damascus to study the Qur'an and Islamic sciences, as well as train with his uncle, a military officer under Nur Ad-Din. It was under his uncle's patronage that entered military life at such a young age.
Here are some interesting facts you need to know about Saladin Ayubi:
Saladin began training for his military career at the age of 14. He started working for his Shirkuh, who was at that time a high-ranking military officer of Nur Ad-Din, the Emperor of Damascus.
Saladin learned from Shirkuh and grew into a competent officer as a result. He fought every battle alongside Shirkuh and helped him win one of the most notable battles in history, the Battle of Babein in 1167, after which they could stop the Crusaders' advance.
Following the conquest of Egypt in 1167, Saladin was appointed the vizier (minister) of the region. Later, he helped dispose of Shawar (the Arab ruler of the Fatmid Caliphate) in 1171 and took control of all of Egypt. When Shirkuh died a year later, Saladin became both commander of the army and Sultan of Egypt simultaneously, and he had the support of the Abbasid caliphate too.
His rule expanded well beyond Egypt and included the areas of Syria, Hijaz, Syria, Yemen, northern Nubia, Tarabulus, Cyrenaica, and southern Anatolia.
After Saladin died in 1193 in Damascus, his descendants and family members continued to rule after him until 1260.
After becoming the Sultan of Egypt, Saladin started preparing to liberate Jerusalem from the Crusades, which had religious significance for the Muslims.
His first attempt to liberate was unsuccessful in 1177 when he was defeated by Baldwin’s army in the Battle of Montgisard. Even after the defeat, he never gave up and spent the next decade preparing for another attack. He focused on uniting Muslim territories and strengthening his military position.
Finally, Saladin's patience paid off in 1187 when he defeated the Crusaders at the battle of Hatin, and Muslims took control of the city after 88 years. Eventually, the whole city surrendered to him. The city was occupied by the Crusaders after the First Crusade when they slaughtered Muslims and Jews.
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Throughout history, Saladin has been recognised as a chivalrous knight due to his humble and generous nature. It was quite rare for a sultan (the ruler of a Muslim country) with an established military background to be concerned for the well-being of the civilians in a battle.
When he conquered Jerusalem in 1187, he had the opportunity to murder the Christian residents the same way the Christians did in the First Crusade but instead, he chose not to do so and spared everyone, even defeated armies.
Children, women, and the elderly got special protection, from him after the battle. Today, not only Muslims but also Christians respect him for his kindness.
The conquest of Jerusalem prompted European leaders, including Richard the Lionheart of England, to launch the Third Crusade. Saladin fought bravely against the Christians during the Third Crusade, but more importantly and uniquely, he offered his assistance to them in their hour of need. We hardly know any military leader in history who helped his enemies.
Notably, Saladin is believed to have assisted Richard in recovering from his illness, which occurred during the Third Crusade. He sent his personal physician to take a look and offer some remedy.
Later, Saladin sent his troops to King Richard to offer him fresh horses after his horse died on the battlefield. This was to ensure a fair contest and prevent Saladin from gaining an advantage over the king.
Saladin is credited for conquering people by winning their hearts, and he did that with King Richard by showing modesty and fairness during his difficult times. King Richard was so impressed by the gesture that he offered a truce to Saladin's army after they had defeated him at the Battle of Arsuf in 1191. This truce led to the signing of an important treaty known as the ‘Treaty of Jaffa.’ This treaty allowed Christian pilgrims to return to Jerusalem while the city remained under Muslim control.
In 1175, while reigning peacefully, Saladin faced a life endangering threat. He suspected that Rashid ad-Din Sinan, known as "the Assassins," was orchestrating a murder plot.
Two incidents happened which which made him feel this way. At one time he was stabbed fatally by an assassin while he was sleeping in a tent and at another instance, a poisoned dagger was found near his bed with a threatening letter.
In response to these threats, Saladin's army found the assassins' headquarters in Syria and laid a siege to it. Saladin wanted the Rashid ad-Din Sinan to sign a peace treaty and stop his assassination attempts and if he did not then their headquarters would be raided and destroyed.
There was a serious response to the warning, and a peace treaty was proposed. It was through the signing of the treaty that Saladin and Sinan established favourable relations between themselves.
Saladin is credited with several religious achievements in Islam. He fought numerous battles against the Crusaders. As a result of his conquests, he extended Muslim rule to some previously Crusader-ruled areas and some non-Crusader areas.
Under his rule, several important places in the Middle East were conquered, and Muslims from different sects were united, including Yemen, Jerusalem, Syria, and Mosul. For his indisputable contributions to the unification of various Islamic states, he is still highly respected by Muslims, Turks, Arabs, Kurds, and even Christians.
Here are some things that we, as Muslims, should learn from Saladin:
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Saladin will forever be remembered as a great name in history not just in Islamic states but also as a role model for every ruler. People can learn lessons from his compassion and kindness that even touched the lives of his opponents leading them to become his well-wishers too.
In Western and Muslim history, Saladin is a golden figure who symbolises compassion and empathy. With his successful conquests and admirable qualities, he is, to date, considered to be the most powerful and greatest emperor of the Islamic dynasty.
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