Beneath the Crescent Moon: The Rise of a Sultan

The most legendary figures both in Islamic and in medieval history

His life is marked by remarkable achievements, starting with his involvement in a visionary pursuit of leadership that helped shape the Muslim world during a turbulent time. Salahuddin Ayyubi, known in the West as Saladin. For centuries, Salahuddin has remained a great living icon of justice and honor, due to his chivalry, nobility, and insight. To this day, his legend as a soldier and ruler is widely known around the world, and his story has inspired many generations.

Salahuddin Ayyubi was born in 1137 in the large city of Tikrit, located in the modern-day state of Iraq. He was born into a Kurdish family of the powerful Ayyubid dynasty. His early life was shaped by the political and military pressures that existed in the region. Salahuddin’s father, Najm ud Din Ayyub, was one of the prominent military leaders under the important Muslim ruler Imad ud Din Zengi. This meant that he grew up among military leaders, political advisers, and scholars, during which time he gained knowledge and experience that would serve him well as a military leader and ruler in the afterlife.

Salahuddin received both warfare and justice within the Islamic tradition. Much of his and his administration’s previous defining aspect is rooted in this training. Prior to that, he served under his uncle Asad ud-Din Shirkuh and the Sultan of Syria and one of the greatest leaders of his time Nur ud-Din, in his military career. His leadership aptitude was respected in advance, and he rose through the ranks as a mercenary with outstanding strategic and political achievements. He was soon given much smaller responsibilities, which became a stepping stone to his future success.

In 1169, Salahuddin became the vizier of Egypt under the Fatimid dynasty, a Shia Muslim dynasty that had ruled the region for centuries. After Salahuddin was appointed, his life changed completely. He was initially regarded as a representative of Nur ud Din, but soon consolidated his power and eventually became the monarch of Egypt. He ended the Fatimid Caliphate. Thus, Egypt was again under Sunni rule and under the patronage of the larger Sunni Islamic world. This was a significant achievement, as it established Salahuddin’s position to unite the Muslim world and helped shape the rest of his life.

Now in Egypt, Salahuddin began his plan to unite the divided lands of the Islamic world under his leadership. When he took control of Syria after the death of Nur ud-Din in 1174, he proclaimed himself Sultan of Egypt and Syria and established the Ayyubid dynasty. His unification of Egypt and Syria was a major achievement, often fraught with conflict. In addition to these diplomacies, military campaigns and a focus on achieving Islamic continuity were part of Salahuddin’s regional stabilization program, for he knew that a united Muslim world was the only effective bulwark against external challenges such as the Crusades.

Salahuddin’s most impressive achievement came during his third campaign. His legacy was defined both in the Islamic world and in the West. In 1187, after all this planning, Salahuddin led a crusade to recapture Jerusalem from the crusaders who had captured it about a hundred years earlier. The first campaign left the city in Christian hands and was a site of controversy several times, as both sides held religious objectives in high esteem.

The turning point of Salahuddin’s crusade came when he faced the Battle of Hattin in July 1187. Salahuddin’s forces suffered a crushing defeat for the entire crusade. They captured King Guy of Jerusalem and many other high-ranking crusader leaders. The success of this palm tree opened the door for Salahuddin to enter Jerusalem. Unlike the brutal raid the city had received in 1099 by the crusaders, Salahuddin took Jerusalem with gentleness and restraint. He allowed the Christian population to leave the city unharmed and, upon request, to move safely to Christian lands, where most had gone. His kindness in treating prisoners and civilians won him praise not only in the Muslim community but also in the Christian community, where he acquired a reputation for chivalry and justice.

This act of mercy was a radical change from the brutality often associated with these movements, and transformed Salahuddin into a noble and just leader. In every sense, his generosity was against the backdrop of deep religious and political pressure. For some reason, during this period, as Jerusalem was restored to Islamic control, Salahuddin became an icon in the Muslim world.

Although successful, Salahuddin had to fight many battles. Angered by the loss of Jerusalem, the Christian fiefdoms of Europe launched a third campaign to reclaim the metropolis. Salahuddin faced a coalition of European monarchs and the most revered king of England, Richard the Lionheart. The crusaders recaptured many palm trees and one of the largest anchorages, Acre, but they failed to retake Jerusalem.

Although the war was full of hostility between Salahuddin and Richard the Lionheart, it marked a dawn of collective respect that the two leaders showed toward each other. The two leaders exchanged gifts and letters, and effectively agreed to a truce. The third campaign eventually culminated in the Treaty of Ramla in 1192, which allowed Christians to visit the great city of Jerusalem for passage, but control remained in the hands of the Muslim elite. The agreement negotiated by Salahuddin and Richard was a testament to the military prowess, leadership and political ability that Salahuddin brought to the negotiating table, and enhanced his reputation for fairness and honesty.

Salahuddin was more than a mediator who could end the war with the Crusaders. He was also a politician and a visionary ruler who sought to develop the businesses under his control to the highest level of success of his time. In this regard, he introduced the Ayyubid dynasty that would rule Egypt, Syria, and other parts of the Middle East for generations after his death. He preserved madrasas and supported scholars, and such an intellectual atmosphere allowed Islamic culture and wisdom to flourish. Salahuddin also moved toward reform, but his focus was more on the profitability and development of his own house. His success in stabilizing and strengthening his conglomerate gave the state a long-term character as a single entity.

His death in Damascus on 4 March 1193 marked the end of an era, but his legacy endured. He was buried in a small tomb next to the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Such humility and piety characterize a man devoted to wealth and immense power. Salahuddin failed to acquire much of the extraordinary wealth to his name, as much as he gave to charity. He brought justice, humility, and compassion to his people, and through this he was respected by his people and his opponents. Today, Salahuddin Ayyubi is still considered a relatively great figure in Islamic history and is widely celebrated for his chivalry, leadership, and charity. He distinguished himself from other leaders in history by uniting the Islamic world, successfully recapturing Jerusalem, and dealing fairly with his opponents and collaborators. Justice, humility, and vision became strong and important in the presence of a true leader and lived long in Salahuddin’s life. His story continues to inspire society and generations.