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Known in the West as Saladin Al Ayoubi,
Salah-adeen Yusif ibn Ayoubi ibn Marwan
was born in the year 1137 in the region
of Iraq. Famous in the Western history
books for his challenge against Richard
the Lion heart, he is very seldom
portrayed in his true light.
He was a man of good build, with a
bright face, sharp eyes and a dark thick
beard. He was known for his courage,
strength of Iman and love of reading the
Holy Qur’an. He was also famous for
his eloquent speech and the kindness and
mercy he had for his people. Although
tough with the non believers he
respected their creeds and allowed them
to worship without facing any harm. Many
of them holding good positions during
his era.
Salah El Deen died and was, buried in
Damascus on the 4th February 1197,
leaving behind nothing more than 47
silver pieces and one gold coin.
During Salah El Deen‘s lifetime the
Muslims suffered being disunited and
subject to humiliation from anti-Muslim
powers.
In the coming line we will shed light on
how Salah El Deen set about liberating
Palestine from the Christian crusaders
after he had united the Muslim Nation
under his leadership.
In 1169 Salah El Deen took rule of
Egypt, and started to make a lot of
changes to improve its situation and
uniting the State. After establishing
his army in Egypt he proceeded to unite
the various smaller Arab States that had
become semi-independent states. In
particular he annexed these States
surrounding Palestine. Salah El Deen
considered it first necessary to unite
Muslims before he facing the Christian
kingdoms in the Holy lands.
In 1187 the Christian King of Karak, who
was called Arnat, launched an attack
against a number of pilgrims travelling
to make the hajj. The attackers, showing
no mercy, plundered, tortured men,
humiliated women. Whilst killing the
pilgrims Arnat said: “Go tell Mohammad
and ask him if he can save you.” This
event ended a period of temporary peace
that had ensued between Salah El Deen
and the Christians who were occupying
Palestine. Salah El Deen who was always
keen on setting free Al-Quds (Jerusalem)
and Al-Aqsa Mosque, was now given the
opportunity to face the Christians.
When the news of this event reached
Salah El Deen tried to overcome his
outrage and sent a polite message to
King Arnat. In the letter he asked him
to respect the peace agreement, to free
all the hostages and to return whatever
he had stolen. But the King refused
Salah El Deen‘s request, leaving him
no other choice but to teach him a good
lesson.
After preparing his army in Damascus, in
March 1187. Salah El Deen proceeded to
Karak. After seizing Karak Salah El
Deen’s next step was to move north
towards Tabarieh to assess the reaction
of the Christian armies.
The Christian army collected at Nazarate
under the leadership of the King of
Jerusalem. The battle commenced in May
1187 and ended in complete defeat for
the Christians. The Christian army, now
strengthened with reinforcements -
including Richard, known as the Lion
heart - were bent on seeking revenge. It
appeared as if the whole Christian army
collected at Safarid.
Salah El Deen, however, was always one
step ahead of them. He decided to avoid
Safarid and attack Tabarieh first. Salah
El Deen’s plan was to push the
Christian to leave their positions in
Safarid so that they would be tired and
exhausted by the difficult journey. In
July 1187 Salah El Deen destroyed
Tabarieh.
Forced into leaving their positions
Salah El Deen’s plan proved its
success. The Christians wore bulky
armour and heavy weapons, the intense
heat and shortage of water combined with
the difficult terrain, weakened the
Christian soldiers. And what was
awaiting them? Courageous Muslim
fighters were awaiting them, willing to
sacrifice their life for the sake of
Allah.
On the 4th July 1187, the Muslim army
had surrounded the Christians and when
the heat was unbearable and the fighting
reached its climax, Salah El Deen
ordered his soldiers to set fire to the
grass and shrubs surrounding the
enemy’s army. Their suffering
complete, Salah El Deen inflicted on
them a resounding defeat.
After this defeat the Christians amassed
a strength of 50,000 fighters to do
battle at Hiteen. The Christians lead by
the Kings of Jerusalem, Karak and
Tripoli were again defeated. Many of
their princes and knights were taken as
prisoners. It was Allah’s will that
Salah El Deen should meet face to face
with King Arnat of Karak, the butcher of
innocent pilgrims. Before killing him
with his own hands Salah El Deen told
him he was killing him for defaming the
honor and dignity of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
and for murdering innocent Muslims.
From Hiteen Salah El Deen opened the
Castle at Tabarieh. He then moved on to
Akka and on a Friday he opened it
peacefully. After performing the first
Friday prayer he left the city to his
son Al-Abdal. Salah El Deen then went to
north to Sida and Beirut. All this
occurred in one month.
At the outset Salah El Deen ‘s aim was
setting free Al-Quds, the eradication of
the Christian Kingdom and the uniting of
the Muslim Ummah. With Jerusalem his
target he moved to Askalan. This enabled
him to cut off Jerusalem from the
Mediterranean sea and by so doing
isolating Jerusalem. He accomplished
this on the 5th September 1187.
Before moving on Jerusalem he arranged
with the well known Egyptian sailor,
Hussain Uddeen El Hajeb, to move the
Egyptian navy close to Palestine so as
to prevent the Christian navy from
approaching the coastline.
On the 19th September 1187 Salah-a-deen
approached Jerusalem and proceeded to
lay siege on the City. He bombarded the
City with fire and projectiles until the
Christians surrendered. The Muslim army
led by Salah El Deen entered the City
peacefully on Friday the 2nd October
1187. He put the Islamic flag and took
down the large cross from the Dome of
the Rock.
Salah El Deen expressed in the most
practical way the kindness, and mercy of
Islam when, at the peak of his victory
and power he gave freedom for all
inhabitants of Jerusalem to leave the
City unharmed. When the Crusaders
defeated Jerusalem in 1099 the streets
of the City flowed with the blood of
70,000 slaughtered Muslims.
After Jerusalem, Salah El Deen opened
negotiated with the Christians to leave
the Islamic lands. The last stronghold
of the Christians, Akka, was removed by
the hand of Salah El Deen’s successor
Zahir Babers.
Indeed Salah El Deen was both a kind
merciful man and a great warrior.
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