|
Conqueror, ruler, brave & courageous leader; Muslim
world has ever seen, none other than Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi. He was the
ruler of the states of Egypt and Syria. He is known for his bravery
battles that he fought against the Christian world and defeated them
with courage and valor and conquered the state of Jerusalem.
History is full of his greatest achievements, but here, we are
highlighting his two major achievements that are recognized not only by
Muslim world but also his enemies. One was the Wars against Crusaders
and second was, the Capture of Jerusalem.
|
|
 |
|
The Wars against Crusaders and the Capture of
Jerusalem
Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi, the hero of hundreds of battles, was the person
who for twenty years braved the storm of the Crusaders and ultimately
pushed back the combined forces of Europe which had come to swarm the
Holy Land. The world has hardly witnessed a more chivalrous and humane
conqueror. The Crusades represent the maddest and the longest war in the
history of mankind, in which the storm of savage fanaticism of the
Christian West burst in all its fury over western Asia.
Christianity hurled itself against Muslims in expedition after
expedition for nearly three centuries, until failure brought lassitude,
and superstition itself was undermined by its own labor. Europe was
drained off men and money, and threatened with social bankruptcy, if not
with annihilation. Millions perished in battle, hunger or disease and
every atrocity imagination can conceive disgraced the warrior of the
Cross'. The Christian West was excited to a mad religious frenzy by
Peter the Hermit, and his followers to liberate the Holy Land from the
hands of the Muslims. `Every means', says Hallam `was used to excite an
epidemical frenzy'. During the time that a Crusader bore the Cross, he
was under the protection of the Church and exempted from all taxes as
well as frees to commit all sins.
On September 29, Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi crossed the Jordan River to
intercepted Crusader reinforcements from Karak and Shaubak along the
Nablus road and took a number of prisoners. Meanwhile, the main Crusader
force under Guy of Lusignan moved from Sepphoris to al-Fula. Salahuddin
sent out 500 skirmishers to harass their forces and he himself marched
to Ain Jalut. When the Crusader force—reckoned to be the largest the
kingdom ever produced from its own resources, but still outmatched by
the Muslims—advanced, the Ayyubids unexpectedly moved down the stream of
Ain Jalut. After a few Ayyubid raids—including attacks on Zir'in,
Forbelet, and Mount Tabor—However, Raynald of Châtillon, harassed Muslim
trading and pilgrimage routes with a fleet on the Red Sea, a water route
that Salahuddin needed to keep open. In response, Salahuddin built a
fleet of 30 galleys to attack Beirut in 1182. Raynald threatened to
attack the holy cities of Mecca and Medina and responded by looting a
caravan of pilgrims on the Hajj in 1185.
|
|
|
|
Capture of Jerusalem
In July 1187 Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi captured most of the Kingdom of
Jerusalem. On July 4, 1187, at the Battle of Hattin, he faced the
combined forces of Guy of Lusignan, King Consort of Jerusalem and
Raymond III of Tripoli. In this battle alone the Crusader army was
largely annihilated by the motivated army of Salahuddin. It was a major
disaster for the Crusaders and a turning point in the history of the
Crusades. Salahuddin captured Raynald de Châtillon and was personally
responsible for his execution in retaliation for his attacking Muslim
caravans.
Mannerism & Legacy of Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi
Salah-ud-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub known as Saladin in the Western World, this
great Muslim sultan is widely revered as the ideal of a warrior who is
fierce in battle and generous to his enemies.
Saladin used to perform the five obligatory prayers on time, along with
the supererogatory prayers. He never prayed except in congregation, and
he never delayed a prayer. He used to always have an imam with him, but
if the imam was not present, he would pray behind any pious scholar who
might be sitting with him. He never quit a prayer except when he slipped
into a come for three days before his death.
|
|
|
|
He would spend most of his money on Sadqa (optional charity), and he
never possessed enough wealth that would have required him to pay Zakat
(obligatory alms). Although he always wanted to perform Hajj, he was
occupied in jihad, so he did not have enough money to perform Hajj, and
he died without performing it. He never spoke badly about anyone and
never allowed anyone to do so in his presence. He never uttered a rude
word and never used his pen to humiliate a Muslim.
Ibn Shaddad also relates,
“When English King Richard the Lion heart, Saladin’s archenemy, fell
ill, Saladin asked about his health and sent fruits and ice to him. The
Crusaders, who were hungry and poverty-stricken, were astonished at that
noble chivalry and mercy from their enemy.”
Death
Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi died at the age of 57. His estate was only 47
dirhems and one dinar. He left no real estate or any other heredity. May
Allah honor him in the hereafter, lighten his grave, and raise his rank
in Paradise. Amen. |