Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Salahuddin Yusuf Ayubi
As promised, I will talk more about the book that I'm reading, whose main characters will be represented in an upcoming movie. The book is by a western historian and is about the two chief personalities of the crusades: Salahuddin and Richard the Lionheard.
Now to provide a little background on the crusades. Jerusalem is a city considered to be holy by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. For the last thirteen hundred years or so, there has been a tussle between the Muslims and Christians as to its control (Jews were pushed out of the picture due to a lack of strength on the international scene up until now). The muslims had controlled Jerusalem from about 7th century onwards. But around the 10th century, one of the Christian popes raised an army to take over the holy land and bring it to Christian control once again. This was called the first crusade. They succeeded in their mission but subsequently were beaten by the Muslims (thanks to Salahuddin). Over the next 4-5 centuries, more armies were raised to get Jerusalem back into Christian hands, but none of them were completely successful.
The main reason for my interest was the character of Salahuddin. Its my sincere belief that after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the four pious Caliphs, he was one of the best rulers that the world had ever seen. Some of the stories about him that I will mention next come from non-muslim historians thus alleviating any fears of a bias:
1. Once, when he was attacking a Christian fort, he was told of a wedding take place inside of it. His immediate response was to stop the attack for the day and let the wedding finish.
2. HIs caravan carrying his sister was attacked by a Christian ruler, even though a truce had been in place between the two sides, and she was held captive. That ruler then also launched an army to attack the holy cities of Makkah and Madina (to no avail). These actions caused Salahuddin to swear an oath that he would kill the ruler by his own hands. After capturing Jerusalem, this ruler was brought before Salahuddin. Salahuddin gave him new clothes to wear and offered him rose water to drink. He then said to the ruler that even though he swore an oath to kill him, he would let him go as a free man if the ruler converted to Islam. Upon his refusal, Salahuddin cut his head off.
3. History writes that when the Christian took over Jerusalem after the first crusade, the jews were burnt in their synagogues and muslim blood flowed like river in the streets. But ninety years later, when Salahuddin was on the verge of taking the city over, he refused to storm the city and create a massacre. He negotiated a surrender deal according to which the people of the city could keep their wealth and possessions but would have to pay a fixed price to buy their freedom. Those not able to pay the price were let go free.
4. After the victory at Jersulaem, instead of living in one of the mighty palaces, he resided in a dimly lighted room in a mosque in which barely six people could fit. He also held his military council there.
5. Years later, the Christians gathered an army to fight him. Some of the soldiers were captured and brought before Salahuddin who noticed a very old man as one of the captives. Upon Salahuddin's inquiry as to the reason for him to join the army at such an age, the man replied that he just wanted to visit the holy city of Jerusalem. Salahuddin was so moved by the answer, that he not only released the man but also gave him safe passage back to his people.
6. After the Christians takeover in the first crusade, many of the islam's holy sites were vandalized. The al-Asqa mosque was used as a stable and also a washroom. Crosses were put on the mosques and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) name were painted over. But when Salahuddin took over the city, he ordered the Church of Nativity (place of brith of Jesus Christ) to be protected and be unharmed. He also allowed the Christians to visit it.
7. NOW HERE IS THE TOPPER: When Salahudding died, they went to his treasury so his funeral can be paid for. They found that he had no money in it because he had given it all away to people in need.
The last point brings the story of Umar Ibn' Khattab (one of the companions and the second caliph) to mind. They said that we died, even though he was the ruler of the Islamic empire, he did not have a cloth in possession that could cover his whole body. When they tried to cover his dead body's head, his feet would be exposed and when they covered the feet, his head would be uncovered.
Where is the Salahuddin of today??
Now to provide a little background on the crusades. Jerusalem is a city considered to be holy by Muslims, Jews, and Christians. For the last thirteen hundred years or so, there has been a tussle between the Muslims and Christians as to its control (Jews were pushed out of the picture due to a lack of strength on the international scene up until now). The muslims had controlled Jerusalem from about 7th century onwards. But around the 10th century, one of the Christian popes raised an army to take over the holy land and bring it to Christian control once again. This was called the first crusade. They succeeded in their mission but subsequently were beaten by the Muslims (thanks to Salahuddin). Over the next 4-5 centuries, more armies were raised to get Jerusalem back into Christian hands, but none of them were completely successful.
The main reason for my interest was the character of Salahuddin. Its my sincere belief that after the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the four pious Caliphs, he was one of the best rulers that the world had ever seen. Some of the stories about him that I will mention next come from non-muslim historians thus alleviating any fears of a bias:
1. Once, when he was attacking a Christian fort, he was told of a wedding take place inside of it. His immediate response was to stop the attack for the day and let the wedding finish.
2. HIs caravan carrying his sister was attacked by a Christian ruler, even though a truce had been in place between the two sides, and she was held captive. That ruler then also launched an army to attack the holy cities of Makkah and Madina (to no avail). These actions caused Salahuddin to swear an oath that he would kill the ruler by his own hands. After capturing Jerusalem, this ruler was brought before Salahuddin. Salahuddin gave him new clothes to wear and offered him rose water to drink. He then said to the ruler that even though he swore an oath to kill him, he would let him go as a free man if the ruler converted to Islam. Upon his refusal, Salahuddin cut his head off.
3. History writes that when the Christian took over Jerusalem after the first crusade, the jews were burnt in their synagogues and muslim blood flowed like river in the streets. But ninety years later, when Salahuddin was on the verge of taking the city over, he refused to storm the city and create a massacre. He negotiated a surrender deal according to which the people of the city could keep their wealth and possessions but would have to pay a fixed price to buy their freedom. Those not able to pay the price were let go free.
4. After the victory at Jersulaem, instead of living in one of the mighty palaces, he resided in a dimly lighted room in a mosque in which barely six people could fit. He also held his military council there.
5. Years later, the Christians gathered an army to fight him. Some of the soldiers were captured and brought before Salahuddin who noticed a very old man as one of the captives. Upon Salahuddin's inquiry as to the reason for him to join the army at such an age, the man replied that he just wanted to visit the holy city of Jerusalem. Salahuddin was so moved by the answer, that he not only released the man but also gave him safe passage back to his people.
6. After the Christians takeover in the first crusade, many of the islam's holy sites were vandalized. The al-Asqa mosque was used as a stable and also a washroom. Crosses were put on the mosques and Allah and the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) name were painted over. But when Salahuddin took over the city, he ordered the Church of Nativity (place of brith of Jesus Christ) to be protected and be unharmed. He also allowed the Christians to visit it.
7. NOW HERE IS THE TOPPER: When Salahudding died, they went to his treasury so his funeral can be paid for. They found that he had no money in it because he had given it all away to people in need.
The last point brings the story of Umar Ibn' Khattab (one of the companions and the second caliph) to mind. They said that we died, even though he was the ruler of the Islamic empire, he did not have a cloth in possession that could cover his whole body. When they tried to cover his dead body's head, his feet would be exposed and when they covered the feet, his head would be uncovered.
Where is the Salahuddin of today??
Faraz Ahmed 10:29 p.m.