New Crusader

Saladin was born in Tikrit (now Iraq) during 1138. His father, Najmuddin, was a Kurd of Azerbaijan. On the night of his birth, his father, Najmudin, moved to Aleppo and worked for Imaddin Zangi, the powerful Turkish governor in northern Syria. He received a taste of military life under the direction of the eyes of his uncle, Asaddin, and academic and religious elements of his father. Following the tradition in those days, Saladin was trained by an expert horseman and handled various weapons in combat, like the sword and archery. During growth, Saladin was a normal young indistinct, with a greater interest in religious studies, rather than military conquest.

Uniting the Muslims. Egypt became the springboard for the ambitions to recapture Jerusalem from Saladin. This opportunity came when he was part of “triumphant army sent to Egypt with the Emir of Damascus to face the onslaught of the Crusaders. After the death of his uncle and vizier (Asaddin Army) was appointed vizier of Egypt, the maintenance of the alliance by the emir of Damascus. When the emir of Damascus died, Saladin proceeded with his plan to unite the Muslim states one mind with the intention to organize a fractional holy war.

Battle of Hattin. This is the beginning of the fall of the Crusaders. The exhausted army was trapped. So great were the losses in the ranks of the crusaders in the battle that the Muslims were able to overcome only through almost the whole kingdom of Jerusalem. One by one, their strength has fallen under the sway of Saladin, Acre, Toron, Beirut, Sidon, Nazareth, Caesarea, Nablus, Jaffa (Yafo), and Ascalon (Ashqelon) within three months. Achieving real Saladin and a mortal blow to the Christian was the surrender of Jerusalem (1187), after 88 years in power. In sharp contrast to the Christians, when blood flowed freely during the barbaric slaughter of its inhabitants, the Muslim reconquest was marked by civil conduct and courtesy of Saladin and his troops. In 1189 the Crusaders occupied only three cities across the Middle East. Saladin’s conquest provoked the Third Crusade, which was directed by the famous leader of Richard I (Lionheart). The clash between these two great powers ended in a draw, but a treaty was drawn up which allowed the Christians to visit holy sites in the area. Saladin died a natural death in Damascus in 1193. The result: Saladin’s every act was inspired by an attitude of intense and comprehensive idea of jihad, or holy war, taking the example of the struggle of the Prophet and his companions. He opened schools and mosques and has created a support system to search for knowledge. He urged scholars and commissioned to write edifying works, both in religious and academic interests. Through the religious principle, which was a true celebration of their own way of life, tried to re-create his own kingdom in the same amount of zeal and enthusiasm as valuable to the early generations of Muslims when, five centuries before, had conquered half the known world.

In the wars against the Christian crusaders, achieved ultimate success with the disciplined capture of Jerusalem (October 2, 1187), ending 88 years of its occupation by the Franks. It has proven its high level of moral courage, which provides opportunities for Christian troops to leave within 40 days.

His gentlemanly behavior was noted by Christian writers, especially during the siege of Kerak in Moab. While the enemies of the Crusaders who had earned the respect of many, including Richard the Lionheart. As such, rather than become a hated figure in Europe, has become a famous example of the principle of leadership.