Saladin's Legacy And Manners

The Way to Jerusalem

Saladin's Legacy and Manners * Compiled By Mona Salama Most of us know the great sultan and pious mujahid Saladin as the man who conquered the Crusaders and liberated Jerusalem. This is in fact very true, yet what we really ought to understand is the character and manners of this great man to know the kind of people whom Allah grants victory. Without certain prerequisites, victory will remain an unachievable dream. Birth and Origin Pious King and Devoted Worshipper Fair Sultan and Wise Judge Courageous Mujahid Humanity and Simplicity Chivalry and Magnanimity Death of Saladin

Birth and Origin Born Salah-ud-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub and later 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. He united the Muslim territories and succeeded in driving out the Crusaders from the holy city of Jerusalem. Saladin was born in AH 532 (1137–1138 CE) to a Kurdish family in Tikrit (now part of northern Iraq). He was sent to Damascus where he finished his education. His father, Najm-ud-Din Ayyub, was governor of Baalbek. For 10 years, Saladin lived in Damascus and studied Islamic theology at the court of Nur-ud-Din after an initial military education under the command of his uncle, Nur ad-Din's lieutenant Shirkuh.

Pious King and Devoted Worshipper Undoubtedly, piety, fear of Allah, and trust in Him are the first and best characteristics of true Muslims. They motivate Muslims to be brave heroes. These virtues were characteristics of Saladin, who was a good Muslim with sound belief that is devoid of innovations. Twelfth-century Muslim jurist and scholar Baha'-ud-Din ibn Shaddad stated in his book Sirat Salah-ud-Din (the Biography of Saladin), He [Saladin] learned from famous scholars and jurisprudents, such as Sheikh Qutb-ud-Din An-Naysaburi (may the mercy of Allah be