Five Interesting Facts About Muslim Conquerer Saladin
Tags: Role Models, Leadership, Crusades, History, Islam

Five Interesting Facts About Muslim Conquerer Saladin

A man loved by Muslims and admired by Christians.

Saladin The Victorious | Photo Credit: TheFamousPeople

History can rarely boast of a ruler who fought countless battles with minimal bloodshed. That is why those who won more with kindness than with a sword are real gems and Saladin is one of them.

An-Nasir Salah ad-Din Yusuf ibn Ayyub, known as “Saladin” (1138–1193), was the great Muslim ruler in the Middle East and the first Muslim ruler to hold the title of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

His empire included Egypt, Syria, Upper Mesopotamia, Yemen, and some parts of North Africa.

Today, we hear many interesting stories of leadership, kindness, and military capabilities of this unusual warrior. He famously said,

I warn you against shedding blood, indulging in it and making a habit of it, for blood never sleeps.

1. A man without a home

Saladin was born on the very night that his family left Tikrit (Iraq) forever. It is unknown where he lived as a child, but he spent part of his youth in the most beautiful Syrian city, Damascus. He remained in love with this city for his entire life.

Before ending up in Egypt, Saladin was a traveler, he visited many countries and lived there for short periods of time but didn’t pick any single place that he called home.

It’s hard to tell which place should be called his actual home. The fairest would be to say that his home was the entire Middle East.

2. A man who was underestimated

The Caliph of Egypt, al-Adid, made Saladin his Vizier, thinking he could be easily controlled, clearly neglecting Saladin’s abilities. This was a defining moment in his life. Using his position, young Saladin executed Egyptian who he found out to be traitors. Al-Adid underestimated Saladin’s influence in Cairo and that mistake made him the last ruler of the Fatimid dynasty. Saladin took over Egypt and became the first ruler of the Ayyubid Sultanate.

3. A man of kindness and mercy

Saladin is recognized as the most significant Muslim commander of the Crusades. Yet, not hated by Christians, but quite the opposite — he deserved their admiration. When he conquered Jerusalem, many Christians were offered free passage out of the land. The ones that were held captive were allowed to buy freedom. Men had to pay ten dinars, women had to pay five dinars, and children had to pay one.

Dante Alighieri, one of the most Christ-centered philosophers of all time, was amazed by him. In his works, Dante equates Saladin with Alexander the Great. And in his “Divine Comedy”, the philosopher places him among other non-Christian virtuous leaders.

4. A man who respected his enemies

Saladin and the King of England, Richard the Lionheart, were enemies in the Third Crusade. Both were so passionate that the whole war seemed to be a personal duel between the two great leaders.

One of the most exciting stories is when Richard lost his horse and Saladin sent him two of his horses because he wasn’t interested in winning the unequal battle.

That wasn’t the only mercery that Saladin did. Michael Hamilton Morgan in his book “Lost History”.

“When Richard fell sick at the siege of Acre in 1192, Saladin not only sends his personal physician Maimonides over to treat him, he sends ice to help him fight the fevers and certain healing fruits,”

In the Third Crusade’s final battle, these leaders finally made a peace deal called the Treaty of Jaffa, according to which, Jerusalem remained under Saladin’s control, while it was open to Christian pilgrims. Richard praised Saladin as being “the greatest and most powerful leader in the Islamic world”.

5. A believer, a lover of poetry and horses

Saladin considered himself a student of Islam. His love for Islam earned him strong support in the Muslim world. He was able to unite most of the Muslim kingdoms under his leadership.

He studied the Holy Quran, it was more important to him than any sort of education. Many religious institutions were established to spread the Islamic principles that he followed.

This warrior of a tender heart was a passionate lover of poetry, and his favorite book was Hamasah.

It is widely known that Saladin was an admirer of horses and knowledgeable about their bloodline. Saladin was the first person in history to use horse-archers.