SALAHUDDIN AYYUBI

 SALAHUDDIN AYYUBI

Salah ud din seems to have relatively disinterested in politics and warfare. Raised in Damascus, he studied traditional Islamic sciences under some of the greatest scholars of his era. He was staunchly sunni, following the shafi’i school of fiqh and the Asha’ari school of theology. It even seems he was more interested in a life of scholarship and religious studies than government, but his uncle’s insistence that he accompany and the egyption expedition altered the destiny of the young salahuddin. when he inherits his uncle’s position as vizier of Egypt in 1169, his religious leanings greatly influenced his policies. Nur ud din zengi died in 1174 from disease, and salahuddin was able to march into Syria unopposed with broad public support. The crusader kingdom of Jerusalam was now surrounded by a powerful, united muslim state under a ruler who believed it was his religious duty to liberate the city of jerusalam. Reynold the chatilon, who had broken numerous peace treaties, massacred a muslim pilgrimage caravan , and even attempted to attack mecca itself. The kingdom of jerusalam became involved in the conflict , leading to the final confrontation between the united muslim forces of salahuddin and the kingdom of jerusalam. At the battle of hattin in 1187 , Salahuddin’s army completely routed the army of jerusalam. Salahuddin keen to follow in the footsteps of the caliph Umar(RA) who had first conquered the city in 637 , did not cleaned the crusader occupation with another massacre. All the occupants of the city were given safe passage to Christian lands, and were allowed to take their belongings with them.

Reference: Lost Islamic History - Firas Al Khateeb